pellation. While nothing depended on his judgment in the business of the office, his progress was satisfactory, and he appeared likely enough to become a clever lawyer. But unhappily, at the same time, his foible laid him open greatly to flattery. Instead of choosing for his friend the youth most estimable for his good conduct and upright character, he leaned only to those who gratified his love of admiration. He was open to flattery, and of this a designing character, whom I will name Felix, took advantage. Alfred was liberally supplied with money by his parents, as a reward for what they deemed his great merit, and Felix was desirous to participate in the enjoyments thus placed within reach, and he found that he had only to keep up a supply of adulation in order to obtain his ends.

Being a low-minded vicious character, poor Alfred became his pupil, and was by him initiated into the immoral excesses which money can easily procure. Such was the ascendancy obtained over him by his deceitful flatterer, that Alfred became completely his dupe. At the same time his growing self-conceit repelled from him all really worthy and sensible companions. They answered his demand for admiration with as much contempt as good manners admitted. No one likes to converse with an individual who claims to be listened to like an oracle; and who shows that he has

fred to borrow large sums, for the repayment of which his fond parents became answerable to the parties who lent the money. Felix took possession of as much money belonging to the firm as he could lay hold of, and absconded. Alfred's father had to pay his son's creditors, and was reduced to poverty. He has since died of grief. Felix has never been heard of. Alfred has gone to one of the West India Islands, where the inhabitants are very fond of going to law, and obtains a scanty and discreditable living. I might have extended this sad history by detailing at length the many difficulties and troubles in which Alfred's foible, or rather vice, involved him. But I have said enough to show you the sad results of self-conceit, as well as of self-will. And now, perhaps, you will ask me for a cure for these disorders. In this case, I shall reply, in the words of the prophet, 'Do justly; love mercy; and walk humbly with thy God.'"

SENEX.

It will be of no use for a parent or teacher to tell a child, respecting any particular vice, such as lying, profanity, deception, and so forth, that it is displeasing to God, if he tells him with such a lifeless tone, and in such an indifferent manner, as to show that it is not very displeasing to himself.

inclination to make a display, led many to think Alfred the more clever of the two. Once Simon was listening to an old man of plain appearance, with respectful attention, and after they had separated, Alfred said, 'Simon, I wonder what you can find in that dull old fellow;' to which Simon briefly replied, 'They who never seek never find.' Poor Alfred thought he had no need to seek beyond the rich stores of his own mind. Simon had, however, no difficulty in obtaining a partnership at a much lower premium than Alfred's father offered. His unassuming worth had not passed unobserved.

"But Alfred did find a partner, and that was no other than the unprincipled Felix; whose practised duplicity enabled him to gain the favourable opinion of Alfred's parents. With such a partner, there was little hope of success; but still the chief hindrance to success was Alfred's self-conceit. Hasty in forming an opinion of law cases that came into his hands, for want of comparing carefully his own judgment with that of others, he was very shallow and very frequently at fault. His want of success in the law courts, and his mistakes in his drawing of law deeds, soon led to a great decrease of clients. This did not suit Felix, whose legal skill consisted chiefly in discreditable tricks, and who was idle, neg ligent, and dissipated. He had induced Al

sometimes. People do such provoking things, and make me angry."

"No, Rosa; they do not make you angry. They perhaps tempt you to be so, but temptation can be resisted. All good persons are tempted to do wrong, and it is because they do not yield to the temptation, that they are good. It is very hard to be good when you are tempted; but you know God can give you strength, and that He will, if you really wish Him to help you to be good."

HINTS TO YOUTH IN THE ACQUIREMENT OF KNOWLEDGE.

In looking forward to the time when you shall have finished your education, you may expect to find some leisure to devote to miscellaneous reading. As this is one of the principal means by which you will become acquainted with the sentiments of others, you must easily perceive that it cannot but exert, either for good or evil, an important influence on your character. You will, therefore, I trust, be thankful for any direction that shall assist you to regulate this employment, so that it shall be useful and agreeable.

In the first place, then, do not, like too many, read merely to occupy time, but rather with a clear object in view; for if you have

not this, you may be sure you will accomplish none; and thus your reading will be a mere waste of time, and may be productive of evil rather than good. When you take a book, and are about to read, ask for what purpose. Look at the title, and decide, if possible, whether it is likely to improve your mind, or what moral dispositions it will strengthen; and having settled this point, if the book be likely to fix your attention, you can hardly fail to be profited by reading it.

The next thing to be attended to is, be careful to reflect while you read; for it is possible for the eye to be engaged, while the intellect is wandering far away. Hence the necessity with most persons sometimes to reperuse a certain paragraph. We can reflect while we are not reading, but then it must be upon information previously acquired. When in the act of reading, we should fix the mind upon the subject contained. It is true, that different books require different degrees of exertion of the mind. That which is suitable to, and confirmatory of, our own tastes and desires will be received with appetite; but that which disturbs our minds by opposing our wishes, will often be rather unpalateable, though it may prove corrective and beneficial in the end. Never pass over a sentence without endeavouring to understand the full meaning: and be assured that a book that does not