carry.' The servant was then ordered to put a whole loaf into my hands, and I ran as fast as before, and in a few minutes reached the object of my care. And if you had seen the poor man when I reached him, and placed these several bounties in his hands, you would never have forgotten it. He lifted up his eyes to heaven, and implored the richest blessings on my head. But I did no more than it was my duty to perform, and what I hope you will do on some future day, if occasion should require it. Depend upon it, if you do, you will feel as great a pleasure as I felt on that occasion, and which I can pronounce to be one of the greatest that has ever been experienced by me in my journey through life. I have never had cause to repent that deed. On the contrary, when I returned home, my finances were well replenished by my parents and their visitors; and I believe the Almighty has added his bounty to theirs in after life. Blessed are

the merciful,' said the Saviour of mankind, ‘for they shall obtain mercy:' and he enjoins us to be merciful, even as our Father in heaven is merciful.

'The quality of mercy is not strained;

It droppeth as a gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath.-It is twice blessed :
It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes.""

By this time the shades of evening had thickened, and we had nearly reached our home. Before we did, our preceptor called upon us to reflect upon all we had seen and heard. "You must not," said he, "walk abroad as though the earth were a dull vacuum, or hear as though you

heard not. Sight and hearing are given that you may profit thereby, and you will one day be called to an account for the use you have made of those precious faculties. And I would have you recollect that

'Nature's care, to all her children just,
With richer treasures and an ample state
Endows at large, whatever happy man
Will deign to use them. His, the city's pomp-
The rural honour's his. Whate'er adorns

The princely dome, the column, and the arch,
The breathing marbles, and the sculptured gold,
Beyond the proud possessor's narrow claim,
His tuneful breast enjoys. For him the Spring
Distils her dews, and from the silken gem
Its lucid leaves unfold; for him the hand
Of Autumn tinges every fertile branch
With blooming gold, and blushes like the morn.
Each passing hour sheds tribute from her wing;
And still new beauties meet his lonely walk,
And loves unfelt attract him. Not a breeze
Flies o'er the meadow, not a cloud imbibes
The setting sun's refulgence, not a strain
From all the tenants of the warbling shade
Ascends, but whence his portion can partake
Fresh pleasure unreproved.'
AKENSIDE.

And you must not think, my boys, that you are too young thus, by contemplation, to derive pleasure from the works of nature. The poet Wordsworth tells of a boy, who, from his sixth year, was wont to contemplate the stars above his head, and the scenery around him, in solitude; and he bears this remarkable testimony to the effect which such a habit had upon his conduct in after years:

'While yet a child, and long before his time,

He had perceived the presence and the power
Of greatness; and deep feeling had impressed
Great objects on his mind, with portraiture
And colour so distinct, that on his mind
They lay like substances, and almost seemed

To haunt the bodily sense.

He had received

A precious gift; for as he grew in years,

With these impressions would he still compare

All his remembrances, thoughts, shapes, and forms;
And being still unsatisfied with aught

Of dimmer character, he thence attained

An active power to fasten images

Upon his brain; and on their pictured lines
Intensely brooded, e'en till they acquired
The liveliness of dreams.'

Hence, you see, my boys," continued our tutor, "that you are not too young to muse upon the works of creation, or to derive benefit from thence. It was while he was yet young, that David, the sweet singer of Israel, treasured up in his mind those thoughts and feelings in solitude which have afforded peculiar delight and solace to mankind since his days. I would have you, then, reflect upon all you see and hear, for the sake of others as well as yourselves. Who can tell the amount of benefit you will confer upon the world if you become contemplative in youth? And the hour is now approaching rapidly in which full opportunity will be afforded you for contemplation. In the silent hour of the night ponder deeply over the scenes you have witnessed, the lessons you have received, and the events that have transpired during the day. Above all, reflect upon your conduct; and, reviewing the sins of your youth, pray heartily for pardoning grace, through the atonement of Christ. Lift up your hearts with gratitude to Almighty God, also, for the mercies you have received during the day; for

'Minutes and mercies multiplied,

Have made up all the day.

Minutes came quick; but mercies were
More fleet and free than they.'

You should see us sometimes labouring to get up a single round. I am sure if you did, you would say, 'Do not trouble yourselves, young gentlemen, about the matter, you will be much happier on the ground.""

Such a display of metaphor, had, perhaps, never before been uttered within the limits of Dame Dunton's cottage, and being unable to comprehend it, she again asked what the young gentleman meant. Charles was silent; probably from fear of offending our master, who sat smiling, and who, during the pause, gave me a look which demanded an interpretation. I understood it, and observed:-"Charles means that our lessons are sometimes so difficult and long that we can scarcely master them, and that you would recommend us to remain in ignorance rather than take so much trouble about the matter."

"That is plain sense," answered Dame Dunton; "but the young gentleman is mistaken. I hope he does not dislike learning; and if he does, I hope there is not any one else before me like him. For my own part, I would give all the little I possess to be a good scholar. But I am thankful that I am able to read, and that enables me to go through the world with comfort."

As soon as Dame Dunton had uttered the latter sentence, Charles Murphy exclaimed that it was a happy idea. "I can read," he added, "and why should I trouble my head about Latin and Greek? I know sufficient to enable me to get through the world with comfort."