essential that we enter upon it at the appropriate period. So much is expected of the young in these days of science, that we must begin early to furnish the memory and cultivate the understanding; but let us beware of overworking the opening faculties. Bodily health is essential to intellectual vigour; and we should apportion both to the mind and body that degree of exercise only that will contribute to strength without producing fatigue. Let parents and teachers carefully guard against overexcitement in the young. Precocity, however it may gratify the vanity of the master, will ultimately injure the pupil. Steady perseverance will accomplish more than violent efforts, and lay the foundation of valuable habits as well as of sound knowledge. One most important lesson, which should be early taught, is the duty of self-denying exertions for the benefit of others. The young should be made to feel how greatly they are blessed in enjoying those advantages which millions of their fellow-creatures want; and the desire of doing something to relieve the distress they witness, or to contribute out of their little funds towards some benevolent institution, should be encouraged. Generosity should

be cultivated, and selfishness not suffered to into a habit.

grow

Let no man who is himself blessed with the possession of knowledge be satisfied to enjoy the privilege alone. If he be a father, let his children share abundantly the advantages of paternal instruction; if he be a master, let his servants walk in that light of truth, which the head of every Christian family should shed upon the members of his household; and let them at least have the opportunity to kindle at the altar of family devotion their own individual piety. Let a feeling of the solemn responsibility which attaches even to the holder of one talent prompt him to communicate to others the good tidings which have gladdened his own heart, and strive to bring others to that Saviour whom he has found precious to his own soul. Let him seek to awaken the careless, and encourage the timid, and guide the youthful friends who surround him towards that land of heavenly rest, where he hopes himself to dwell, and where his spiritual children may one day join him in the inheritance of immortal glory.

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CHAPTER V.

THE NECESSITY OF EMPLOYMENT, AND THE EVILS ARISING FROM THE WANT OF IT.

BUT though I have advocated the cause of education, and represented the training of our infant population as the most sure method of improving society, it is not the only method. If it were so, no good could be hoped for till the present race of children were grown up, and become the busy actors on the theatre of the world. It is easy to direct the child, and it is not impossible to direct the man. If we would divert his mind from evil, we must present to him some object which is good, and, by stimulating his energies in laudable pursuits, withdraw them from baneful exercise.

When we consider the powers both intellectual and physical with which man is endowed, and reflect that such powers must be employed

in some way, or else render their possessor miserable, we must be struck with the conviction that occupation is essential to human happiness. By the constitution of nature, or rather by the creative word of the Almighty, activity is impressed on all things living. Even the ground we tread on will not remain idle, but will cover itself with herbage, and if not sown with good seed, will spontaneously produce weeds.

Such being the condition of man, it becomes a question alike important to the philosopher and the moralist, the legislator and the political economist, how to find suitable employment for a people. Condemn a population to indolence by the repression of industry, occasioned by an insecure right of property, or destroy commerce by excessive imposts or royal monopoly, and you degrade the character of a nation,—you drive them to insurrection, discontent, or drunkenness. Again, if you deprive man of the power of exercising his mind by withholding from him knowledge, you degrade the intellectual part of his nature, and give all the energies of his character to the animal propensities. History and experience alike prove the truth of the position, that man must do something. If he is not employed

in good, he assuredly will be employed in evil. In the dark ages, when knowledge was rare, and printing unknown, the intervals of war were probably occupied by the noble in the sports of the field; while the serfs were glad to close the day spent in agricultural toil with revelling and intemperance.

Such a state of society was unfavourable to the improvement of the human race. It is when each individual is settled in the occupation that befits his powers that the greatest measure of happiness, knowledge, and prosperity, is most likely to be secured. Some minds of wider grasp and more enlarged views are fit to govern and to guide the vessel of the state; but when all the crew of the ship are crowding to the helm, and deserting their own subordinate but necessary duties, the steersman would in vain attempt to direct the rudder aright;-clamour, and not judgment, would point the course, while in vain the compass and the chart would warn of hidden dangers.

May not the preceding comparison illustrate the factious spirit of the present times?—And should it not arouse those who have influence, to