My mother smiled sadly, and shook her head.

66

66

Altogether then, do you mean?" I asked. "Yes," she replied, "altogether."

Well, then, give me the fifty-three francs (£2), and I will set out to-morrow morning for Paris."

"And what will you do when you get there, my son ?"

"I will call on my father's friends, the Duke de Bellune, who is Minister of War; Sebastiani, Jourdan, &c."

This conversation resulted in the departure of the young Dumas for Paris with the fifty-three francs in his pocket. The hopes he had formed were, however, soon destined to be dispelled by the cold realities of life. He waited upon one after another of his father's friends; they barely seemed even to remember that such a friend had once existed. His fifty-three francs were rapidly melting away; and he knew but too well that when this stock was once exhausted, he had no friend on earth from whom he could expect a fresh supply. Happily, however, before leaving his home, he had provided himself with a letter of introduction to General Foy, the deputy for his department, and though not very sanguine of success in that quarter, he determined to try it as a last resource. He gives a most graphic description of his interview with the general

"Let me see, what can we make of you?" said the General.

66

Anything you please, General."

"I must first know what you are fit for."

"Not for much, I am afraid."

"What kind of education have you had? I suppose you have some slight knowledge of mathematics?""

"No, General, I have not."

"You have probably some acquaintance at least with geometry, or with physics?"

"None whatever."

"You have studied law, perhaps?"

"No, General, I am quite ignorant of the subject."

"Have you learnt Latin and Greek?”

"Very little of either."

66

Perhaps you are a good accountant ?" "No, General, I am not."

"As the General asked me one question after another," added M. Dumas, "I felt my cheek glow with shame; this was the first time in my life that I had been made thoroughly to feel my own ignorance."

General Foy appeared embarrassed. "Give me your address, young man,” said he, "and I will see whether I can do anything for you."

Alexander Dumas took up a pen, and wrote down his address, whilst the General looked on. He had no sooner concluded, however,

than the latter clapped his hands together, and exclaimed—

"That will do; your handwriting is good!" "I hung down my head," continued M. Dumas, "I was ashamed to raise my eyes from the ground—a good handwriting-this was my sole recommendation."

It was, then, to this single talent that the future author was indebted for being placed on the ensuing day in a situation where he received a hundred francs (£4) a month as a copying clerk in the office of the Duke of Orleans' (afterwards Louis Philippe's) secretary.

Scarcely was the young Dumas installed in his new office, before he formed a serious resolution that he would one day live by his pen, using the word in a higher term than that which merely implied the mechanical occupation of the scribe. With this object in view, he resolutely applied himself to the work of self-education. "And now," he says, "commenced that obstinate struggle of my will, a struggle which was the more singular inasmuch as it had no fixed aim, and required so much the more perseverance, because I had everything to learn. Occupied daily during eight hours at my desk, and obliged to return every evening to the office and work from seven till ten, my nights only were left to me for self-improvement. This interior life, which I led unknown to all around me, lasted during three years without producing any apparent result. During that time I did not produce anything."

of "

Having received a new impulse from reading the works of Shakspere, the young author laboured more indefatigably than ever to perfect his style; and on the 10th of February, 1829, produced his drama Henry III.," which obtained an immense success in Paris. The Duke of Orleans, who was present at its first representation, immediately raised Alexander Dumas' salary to 6,000 francs (£240), instead of twelve hundred, and he was no longer obliged to observe the office hours. Since that period, the career of Alexander Dumas has been one of almost unexampled success. Let us at least learn from his history the truth of the old proverb, "Where there is a will, there is a way." Let us take care that our aim be good-our intentions pure -and then, whatever be the obstacles in our path-however apparently hopeless our endeavours-never, never let us despair: but through all, even in the darkest hour, with a brave heart labour on, taking for our motto in all our undertakings, "Hope on, hope ever"—so, uniting together cheerful trust and earnest endeavour, seldom shall we fail at last to reach the goal.

THE Dutch present a remarkable instance of perseverance and industry, when we consider that a great part of the fertile and cultivated soil of Holland has been redeemed by degrees from the ocean, and that the country has been preserved from inundation by immense labour in erecting mounds of sand to protect it from the invasion of the sea. By this wonderful energy and enterprise, to which there is no parallel, the Dutch have gained fertile pastures, extensive meadows, magnificent pleasure grounds, noble parks, smiling villages, and populous cities. No landscape is more rich, and no country of the same extent, supports

such a number of inhabitants, or contains so many marks of comfort and happiness.

At one period the Dutch had nearly the whole trade of the world, and had a navy which cost England greater efforts to crush than the Spanish Armada, which, as my young readers know, was dispersed and destroyed in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. They are still a prosperous people, and this is entirely owing to their good qualities. "Nothing," says a late traveller, "can exceed the cleanliness, the personal proI did not, priety, and the apparent contentment of the Dutch. throughout my journeys, observe a house or a fence out of repair, or a garden that was not carefully cultivated. We met no ragged nor

dirty persons, nor any drunken man, neither did I see any indication that drunkenness is the vice of any portion of the people. The Dutch appear to be strongly attached to their government, and few countries possess a population in which the domestic and social duties are so carefully performed. Economy seems to be the characteristic virtue of every class."

In the cultivation of these good principles, they are influenced by many excellent precepts that have been handed down for many generations from their wise old forefathers; some of them are in the form of narratives, and are very popular among all classes. One, although it is but a fiction, I will relate, as the object is to show the wickedness of selfishness and pride, and the punishment to which they are exposed :—

The most wealthy of the people of Stavoren, in Holland, was a certain maiden, whose name has not transpired. Proud of her riches and possessions, and holding the male sex in contempt, her chief passion was the accumulation of money-no matter the means by which it was acquired. Her heart was corrupt, and her tongue uttered nothing but maledictions and impieties. The other rich inhabitants of the city (which existed before Amsterdam was known, and when Rotterdam was but a small village), had also abandoned the paths of virtue.

One day, the maiden caused the captain of one of her trading vessels to be summoned, and ordered him to set sail, and return with a cargo of whatever was considered the most precious in the world. Vainly did the captain, who was accustomed to receive precise and detailed instructions, request more explicit commands; in an authoritative manner he was desired to obey, and proceed at once to sea. He accordingly departed, but in a humour uncertain and irresolute, not knowing how to execute such a commission, and auguring the worst from the implacable disposition of his mistress.

After reflecting a long time, a sudden idea came to his assistance, and greatly comforted him. "I will take back a cargo of wheat; for where on the globe can anything be found more precious than the bounteous grain, which is indispensable to the wants of mankind?"

In pursuance of this resolution, he made for the port of Dantzic, took in a large supply of rich wheat, and returned to Stavoren, satisfied that he had complied with the wishes of the capricious lady.

"How is this, captain?" she exclaimed, when he was introduced

into her presence, "What! already at Stavoren? I expected you

were now on the African coast, purchasing gold and ivory. see what you have brought!"

Let me

The seaman was greatly disconcerted at this address, for he saw at once that his cargo was hardly likely to find favour; and he, therefore, replied with hesitation

replied M. Perregaux, "every place being occupied. Later, should I require any assistance, I will consider your claims; but, in the meanwhile, I would recommend you to enquire elsewhere, for I do not expect there will be a vacancy in my office for a long time."

The young man saluted the banker, and left the apartment. While crossing the court-yard, with drooping head, and his heart sinking with disappointment, he observed a pin on the ground, and stooping down, he raised it, and placed it carefully in the corner of his coat. He was far from supposing at the time, that this action, purely accidental and natural in itself, would decide his future fortune, and be the means of attaining wealth and distinction.

The banker had observed the departure of the young man, from the window of his apartment, and being one of those persons who attach importance to trifles, and who judge humanity from details insignificant in appearance, and completely overlooked by the rest of the world, he had remarked the circumstance of the pin, and was struck with it. This simple action, according to him, revealed the character of Laffitte. It was a guarantee of order and economy, an assurance of all the qualities that constitute a good man of business. A young man who could thus store a pin, must certainly make a worthy clerk, merit the confidence of his employer, and eventually attain prosperity.

The same evening young Laffitte received a note from M. Perregaux, containing the offer of a situation in his counting house, and inviting him to take immediate possession of the place.

The discerning banker was not deceived in his expectations. The young pin collector possessed not only the requisite qualities for a banking house, but displayed a capacity and intelligence greater than could have been anticipated. From a clerk, he speedily advanced to be cashier, and at length, after being received in partnership, Laffitte became the proprietor of the largest banking establishment in Paris.

Besides this singular good fortune, he was elected a Deputy of the people, and chosen President of the Council of Ministers, the highest dignity to which a citizen could aspire.

But for this circumstance of preserving a pin, Laffitte would not have been received into the house of the banker Perregaux, and another patron could scarcely have opened to him a career equally certain and brilliant. Neither would his talents and perseverance have received such great developement, or secured results so magnificent in their effects.

M. Perregaux had not, of course, foreseen that the hand which could raise from the ground a pin, was generous to prodigality in the cause of charity. Never were riches more singularly and worthily obtained, and never has there been a banker or a prince, who made a better use of them than Laffitte.