Bǝ thou contented, whate'er may befall,
Cheerful in knowing that God is o'er all,"

What saith the river,

Majestic in flow,
Moving forever

Calmly and slow?

"Over my surface the great vessels glide,
Ocean-ward borne by my strong heaving tide;
Toil on, my brother, life vanisheth fast,
Labor unwearied, rest cometh at last."

What saith the ocean,

Boundless as night,
Ceaseless in motion,

Resistless in might ?

"Fountain to streamlet, streamlet to river,
All in my bosom commingle forever;
Morning to noontide, noontide to night,
Soon will eternity veil thee from sight,"

IN

ADVICE TO YOUTH.

climbing a ladder, always look up-never

down, for in doing the latter a fall is imminent. So in life aim to keep company with those above you, rather than those beneath you, in intellectual capacity and acquirement. Emulate your superiors. If you can't find them, you are blind; if you won't find them, you are not fit for their society, and better at once turn your ears, and immerse your muddy faculties in the mysteries of poudrette or puttymaking.

THE WAY TO BE HAPPY.

A HERMIT there was,

And he lived in a grot,
And the way to be happy,
They said he had got.
And I wanted to learn it,
I went to his cell,
And when I came there,

The old hermit said, "Well, Young man, by your looks, You want something, I see, Now tell me the business. That brings you here?

"The way to be happy,
They say you have got.
And as I want to learn it,
I've come to your grot,
Now I beg and entreat,
If you have such a plan,
That you'll write it me down,
As plain as you can."
Upon which the old hermit

Went to his pen,

And brought me this note

When he came back again.

“”Tis being, and doing

And having, that make
All the pleasures and pains,
Of which things partake,
To be what God pleases—
To do a man's best,
And to have a good heart-
Is the way to be blest.

A

If you will examine

CHINESE opium smoker! Have you, young reader, ever seen one? Do you know what his character is? Perhaps not. Here then is the picture of one for you to look at. the picture closely, you will see that the person represented is not a common citizen, but an officer of the gevernment. You may know this from his cap, which hangs upon a kind of ornamented tripod, standing upon the table; from the long string of beads, which hangs from his shoulders down in front; and from the square piece of figured silk, at

tached to his dress in front, which is partly covered by his hand in holding his pipe. The opium smoker usually lies down, while smoking, that he may conveniently sleep off the drowsy effects of the drug; for the smoking commonly puts its victim to sleep, and he will often fall asleep and wake up several times at a single smoking.

But we must now tell you how this officer became an opium smoker. He was probably, in the first instance, invited, as an act of politeness, to smoke with some friend; it being fashionable in China to offer a friend the opium pipe, just as it is thought to be in some circles in this Christain land to offer a guest a glass of wine, or of some other spirituous liquor. This officer probably accepted the invitation of his friend, and found the effects of the pipe very exhilarating and pleasant. This induced him to try it again, and to continue the practice for a few days; when, alas! he found he had contracted a habit, which he could not throw off, without serious consequences to his health, and perhaps, not without endangering his life. Yes, my young friends, such is the inevitable lot of those who indulge in the luxury of the opium pipe for only a few times, or a few days. A habit is formed, far more inveterate than the habit of drinking ardent spirits. The victim of the habit feels compelled to indulge it, as a means of preserving his health, if not his life. He knows of no medicine, which would prevent his suffering severe pain and disease, if he should cease

smoking or fail to be regular to the hour. If, for example, he has smoked every day at nine o'clock. in the morning for a fortnight, his habit has become so fixed, that he must smoke at that hour, whatever may be his circumstances or occupation. He cannot defer the indulgence till ten o'clock, for a single day, without exposure to very severe pain. Does he not, then, make a fatal mistake, when he indulges in the use of the pipe for the first time? Can the friend, who offers him the pipe as an act of politeness, be innocent in respect to his pitiable condition?

Do you now wish to know what is the character of the opium smoker? Or what is the result of the habit which he has formed? This is painful to describe. It is not easy to conceive of any thing more so; for the effects of the opium smoking are disastrous in the extreme. It leads men to be careless in respect to their personal habits; negligent and even incapable of attending to their business; indifferent to the interests of their families and friends; and reckless in respect to moral character. The victim, as we have already intimated, is the slave of his habit; and in serving it, he loses his health; he loses his property; he loses his self-respect and his character. As he passes before you, his appearance is haggard and wretched; his features pale and his system emaciated; his step is not firm, and, did you not know to the contrary, you might think he was suffering from extreme poverty, and the advanced stages of consumption. Should you