For is it not one part of the broad and general commission I have received, to give advice and direction to all, but, I may say, especially to the young, under all contemplated changes in circumstances, and in all projected enterprises? Even at this time, and at the last moment, I would willingly have addressed a few words of kind and loving caution to my inexperienced owner, and whispered in his ear, "In all thy ways acknowledge Him," who is thy Master and mine, "and He shall direct thy paths."* I would have appealed to him in terms of faithful remonstrance, and asked, "Wilt thou not from this time cry unto me, My Father, thou art the guide of my youth?" But my thoughtless owner gave me no opportunity for a word of counsel or caution. Indeed, he appeared uncertain whether he would permit me to accompany him on his journey. He took me in his hand, and then laid me aside almost disdainfully, among several others of my unworthy companions, whom he seemed willing to discard; probably because he was so well acquainted with all they had to communicate, that he could dispense with their society. At length, however, finding that there was a vacant space in the temporary prison, he thrust me in, and closing the door upon. my fellow-prisoners and myself, we were left in darkness and silence.

Some time passed away, leaving us in this condition, and, during this period, it was manifest, from

several severe shocks I received, as well as by other tokens, that our journey was in progress. At length we were safely landed at our destination; and shortly after this we were released from our confinement uninjured.

I now found myself in a small room, adjoining that of my owner, and which seemed designed to be his daily apartment when he was not engaged in business or pleasure abroad. From a conversation between him and another person, it appeared that my owner had left the home of his childhood and youth, to enter upon the business of life, in a city in which he was a stranger; and that his present home was merely a lodging which had been provided for him among strangers.

I may hope to be believed when I say that these circumstances, though not by any means uncommon among those to whom I and my fellow-messengers are sent, excited my deep sympathy. And I could not but indulge some glimmering of hope that an unusual shade of thoughtfulness which I perceived had gathered on my owner's countenance, might be a hopeful sign of a better acquaintance with me in future.

Indeed, his conduct towards me gave promise of this. It happened that the day following that on which we were liberated, and placed on shelves prepared for our reception, was that which I have been emphatically directed to call "the Lord's day." On this particular day, my young owner appeared rest

less and uneasy. He absented himself part of the day from his room, but having dined, he said that he should spend the remainder of his Sunday at home.

When, on other occasions, he had heretofore done this, he had usually summoned one of my light and gay companions to bear him company; but at this time he fixed his eyes upon me, and after some hesitation, as though he were afraid of my just rebukes, which, indeed, he had reason to fear, he took me into his hands. I was not, as my readers will understand, allowed to hold communication with him untrammelled or undirected by himself; though sometimes-as I shall have hereafter to relate —a few words of mine spoke at random have been like the arrow of which I sometimes tell, which, being shot from a bow "drawn at a venture," produced wonderful and unexpected results: but, on this occasion, the youth made several attempts to fix his languid attention on me without success. At length he seemed to remember that I had a story to tell of a young man who left his father's home and country to seek his fortune, as my young owner said, in a distant place, among strangers. I therefore repeated the history to him, and some parts of it appeared somewhat to touch his better feelings, especially when I spoke of Jacob vowing a vow, and saying, "If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, so that I come

again to my father's house in peace; then shall the Lord be my God."*

I thought it a circumstance of good omen that when my young owner arrived at this part of my story, he laid me aside, and, with his head pillowed in his hands, and resting on the table, he seemed immersed in thoughts and recollections; and it was a favourable sign that more than one tear was hastily brushed away.

Perhaps my young owner's prospects were not very bright at that time. If they were not, he would have done well and wisely to have confided his cares to me, and sought my assistance. I might have told him that the day of adversity was a proper time for consideration, and have encouraged him to cast his burden, whatever it might be, upon the Lord, with the assurance that if he would truly and sincerely seek him in the day of trouble, he would be sustained under his load of care. I could have said to him, "Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed; delight thyself also in the Lord, and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart; commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him, and he shall bring it to pass."+ But my owner gave me no opportunity of putting him thus in the way of comfort and peace; for after the solitary conference which I have recorded, I was not permitted again to hold intercourse with him.

*Gen. xxviii. 20, 21.

Psa. xxxvii. 3-5.

had for care and

Whatever cause the young man grief, he managed, in a short time, to banish their outward appearance. But I knew very well, by unmistakable tokens, that he had no true peace in his mind. It was quite manifest, indeed, that to "the way of peace" he was an entire stranger.

CHAPTER IV.

THE YOUNG MAN IN BUSINESS.

FOR some time there was but little alteration in the

habits of my owner. His days were occupied in the active business of life; and, in this particular, it is not my province to find fault. Indeed, he might have learned from me how honourable and praiseworthy it is to be "diligent in business;" and I could have given him numerous exhortations to industry and perseverance; though, at the same time, I should have informed him that a man may rise early and sit up late, and eat the bread of carefulness, and toil on from day to day, and all in vain, without that blessing which maketh rich, and adds no sorrow to success. I could also have asked him one or two questions, such as, "What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul ?"* which might have startled

* Mark viii. 36, 37.