studying diligently and committing your lessons well.

They do this because they love you, and wish to see you hereafter respected and happy. They know that if you are idle now, it will be a terrible calamity to you till And you die. you should ever remember that your teacher is one of your best friends and benefactors. You should always speak of him with respect and affection. And if you will resolve to improve diligently your time, to resist the temptation which idle boys will hold out to you, your hours will glide away pleasantly in school, you will daily increase in knowledge, and as long as you live, you will rejoice that you were a studious school-boy.

The emperor Alexander, of Russia, when a youth, had an instructor by the name of La Harpe. He was exceedingly attached to him, and always went to him, as his best friend, for advice.

Alexander ascended the throne of Russia when he was but twenty-four years of age. He wrote then several letters to his respected teacher. One of them was thus:

"My dear Friend,

I feel the load of my responsibility. I feel how incompetent my youth and

inexperience are to wield the sceptre of such an empire. All that I can hope is, that I may be guided by the precepts you have taught me. I pray you, if you ever find me departing from them, to remind me of them. Do not wait for me to send for you; this I shall probably not do, when I act in opposition to them; but write to me, come to me, to recall me from my errors."

It is very observable that nearly all great men have highly respected and loved their instructors. In many cases, as in that of Alexander, an attachment has been formed, between the instructor and the pupil, which has lasted for life. When you see a youth manifesting this affection towards one, who guides him in the paths of knowledge, you may be pretty sure that he has a great mind, and that he will make a distinguished man.

CHAPTER II.

CONSCIENTIOUSNESS.

A SHORT time ago, a clergyman was talking with me, in my study, and he took up a book, called an Encyclopædia. Turning over the pages, he happened to turn to the name of Levi Parsons. Perhaps the young reader knows that Levi Parsons was one of the most distinguished missionaries of the American Board. He went to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel there. He then went to Alexandria, in Egypt, where he died a very happy death.

Said the gentleman, as he read the name, Levi Parsons, "I used to know him very well. When he was a little boy, about ten years old, we went to Leicester Academy together. I can remember perfectly how he then looked, and how he used to be dressed. When we left school, for a great many years I heard nothing about him. I could not learn whether he was living or dead. At last, when I had grown up to manhood, and was settled in the ministry, in the interior of the state of New York, one day a gentleman called upon me, as an agent of the

American Board, and wished to present the cause of missions to my congregation. introduced himself as Mr. Parsons.

He

"In the course of conversation, it occurred to me that he might be the same person whom I had known as a little boy in Leicester Academy."

"Did you ever go to Leicester Academy?" said I.

"Yes," he replied, "nearly fifteen years ago, I was there a short time."

you

"I knew you then," said the gentleman, 66 very well; and if had looked now as you then did, I should have known you at once. I have often felt very desirous to know what had become of you, and have made many inquiries, but could never learn where you were."

Why," said Mr. Parsons, "did you feel so much interest in me?"

66

Because," said the gentleman, “you were then the most conscientious boy I ever knew, and I felt greatly interested to know what kind of a man such a boy would make."

66 "Well," said Mr. Parsons, "if I am a Christian now, I think I was then. I am not aware of any important change in my character, since that time. And though I had not then a suspicion that I was a Christian, so far as I can

judge, if I am now governed by Christian motives, I then was.'

This anecdote interested me very much, because it came in confirmation of my whole experience, that the conscientious boy is a Christian.

I never knew a boy or a girl who was conscientious, who seemed really desirous of doing that which was right, who did not, in mature years, give evidence of piety, and become an active and useful Christian. In fact, there can be no better evidence of the piety of a child, or of a man, than conscientiousness. If a boy is sincerely desirous of doing that which his conscience tells him to be duty; if this be his habitual frame of mind, exhibited at home and at school, with parents, with teachers, with playmates, we want no better evidence, nay, we want no other evidence, that he is a child of God. With this disposition he will pray for guidance; he will read the Bible with a humble and teachable spirit, and, conscious of his many failings, he will be penitent for sin, and seek the aid of the Holy Spirit to resist temptation.

Does any boy ask, How am I to serve the Savior? I reply, Be conscientious. Do you

ask, How am I to secure God's favor in this