Charnock and Dunn.

CHARNOCK AND DUNN.

(From the National School Magazine.)

355

SAM Charnock was reckoned a sharp lad at school, and he thought himself so; he was a conceited boy; and, when a lesson was set him to learn, he would say that a very little time would do for him to learn it in; and he would often laugh at Joseph Dunn for plodding over his lesson, and being so long in learning it. Sam prided himself on his quickness, and thought Dunn a slow stupid boy, and would often call him so. Now this was very unkind; for, if Dunn was a slow boy, he could not help that, and if Charnock's abilities were better, there was nothing in this for him to pride himself upon. Moreover, the truth of the matter is, that though one boy may be quicker than another, yet, if he is idle, and will not exercise his understanding, he will gain but very little knowledge, and thus he will soon be considered a dull boy by every one who examines him: whilst, on the contrary, a boy who is not so quick, will, if he be industrious, get together a great deal of knowledge; and the practice which he gives his mind, will make it every day better; so that, in time, he will find his work become easy to him, and will so improve his understanding, that people will soon leave off considering him a dull boy. The understanding of a quick idle boy will, in truth, every day grow worse; that of a slow diligent boy will grow every day better. Thus it was with the two boys we are talking about. Sam Charnock thought himself so quick that he never gave himself time to study his lesson properly, and so never said a good one; and thus he grew into such a slovenly way of doing business, that at last he seemed as if

Dunn gave plenty of time and study to his lessons, and always repeated them in a neat, clear, and exact manner; it cost him a good deal of labour at first, but he went on steadily, till, in a very little time, he found it quite easy to learn all the lessons that were set him. Dunn had read the story of the hare and the tortoise, where the quick, frisking hare lost the race, being beaten by the steady tortoise, who was constantly at work.

Charnock and Dunn are now both grown up men, and both in business; Charnock is a man who knows little or nothing, and whatever he undertakes seems to fail; but Dunn is considered as a man who knows well what he is about; he is diligent and intelligent, and whatever he undertakes he gives his mind to it as a man should do. He is in a prosperous and flourishing way of business, and is a man whose opinion is respected by every tradesman in the neighbourhood.

THE HARE AND THE TORTOISE; OR “SLOW AND STEADY."

A Fable.

IN days of yore, when time was young,
When birds conversed as well as sung,
When use of speech was not confin'd
Merely to brutes of human kind,
A forward hare, of swiftness vain,
The genius of the neighbouring plain,
Would oft deride the drudging crowd;
For geniuses are ever proud.

He'd boast his flight "twere vain to follow,
For dog and horse, he'd beat them hollow,
Nay, if he put forth all his strength
Outstrip his brethren half a length,"

The Hare and the Tortoise.

A tortoise heard his vain oration
And vented thus his indignation:
"O Puss! it bodes me dire disgrace
When I defy thee to the race.
Come, 'tis a match; nay, no denial,
I'll lay my shell upon the trial.”

"Twas done, and done-all fair-a bet-
Judges prepared-and distance set,
The scampering hare outstript the wind,
The creeping tortoise lagg'd behind,
And scarce had passed a single pole,
When puss had almost reached the goal.
"Friend tortoise," quoth the jeering hare,
"Your burden's more than you can bear;
To help your speed it were as well,
That I should ease you of your shell:
Jog on a little faster, pr'ythee,
I'll take a nap, and then be with thee."
So said, so done, and safely sure,
For say, what conquest more secure,
Whene'er he waked (that's all that's in it)
He would o'ertake him in a minute.
The tortoise heard his taunting jeer,
But still resolved to persevere;
Still drawl'd along, as who should say
"I'll win, like Fabius,* by delay;"
On to the goal securely crept,
While puss unknowing soundly slept.
The bets were won, the hare awoke,
When thus the victor tortoise spoke:
"Puss, though I own thy quicker parts,
Things are not always done by starts;
You may deride my awkward pace,
But slow and steady, wins the race.'

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LLOYD.

*Fabius was a Roman general whose plan was to weary out the enemy by delay.

THE STRANGER.

MR. WILSON was a gentleman of fortune, whose principal business in the world was that of doing good. He was the friend and favourite of all the deserving poor in the village where he lived, and it was in one of his walks among his neighbours, that his notice was one day attracted by the sight of a little knot of people collected together. As he drew nearer, he perceived their attention was directed to a body in an apparently lifeless state, that lay under the shade of a spreading tree: it was that of an elderly man, whose appearance altogether, (though his dress was somewhat shabby) indicated a respectable situation in life. His countenance was ghastly pale, and many a careworn line distinctly shewed he had endured his share of misery here below. The body was removed to a neighbouring cottage, and medical aid instantly called in by the direction of Mr. Wilson. Suspended animation was, after some hours, restored, but he was in so weak a condition, that he was not able to continue his journey for several days; during which time he was treated with all possible hospitality by the worthy cottagers; and the kind-hearted gentleman visited him every day, and spared no trouble in supplying him with every comfort.

The stranger, one day, thus addressed his benefactor:-" Once I was prosperous."-" You seem to have known better days," said the gentleman, "but no earthly prosperity is to be depended on,

"The dispensations of the Almighty with respect to me, Sir," replied the stranger, "have been merciful, just and good. In the outset of life, his bounties were bestowed on me in abundance. I was unworthy of them, and they were withdrawn."-" For wise and gracious purposes, no doubt," observed Mr. Wilson." True, Sir," said the stranger, "from

The Stranger.

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that conviction has arisen much of the comfort I have experienced in the darkest hours of depression and misery. Prosperity proved a snare to me;-the abundance of the good things that I possessed, only induced me to covet more: temporal gratifications became the sole object of my thoughts, and, in the folly of my heart, I sought in them that perfect happiness which they were never intended to confer. I quite lost sight of the end for which I was created, nor ever considered that to whom much is given, of him also shall much be required.' A long course of adversity has given a different direction to my feelings-I can now, with truth and thankfulness, exclaim, it is good for me that I have been afflicted,' and I can perceive (on looking back) the traces of my Maker's fatherly care and kindness in all that has happened to me. I see, indeed, many errors, and many sins, which, though I humbly trust they will be forgiven, I cannot now reflect on without heaviness of heart. My father was a man who had amassed in trade a large share of wealth. He became a widower at an early age; and, as he seemed to have no thoughts of marrying again, I was brought up to consider myself his only heir. I received the best education our neighbourhood afforded; and, when I left school, my father's great desire was to furnish me with every amusement that it lay in his power to procure. He was strongly inclined to raise me completely beyond my proper station, by sending me to College; but he was advised against this, and I, therefore, idled my time away at home. My name, it is true, was joined with his as a partner in the shop, and I did occasionally shew myself behind the counter, but I acquired no knowledge of business whatever. I became, in short, a man of pleasure: I don't mean that my life was such as would be generally considered one of vicious indul