out his solicitation, to add to his comfort. As I wended my way homewards, I could not but reflect on what I had seen, and contrast the low estimation in which a village teacher is held, not to speak of the low remuneration which he generally receives, with the important services which he renders to society; and I could not resist a smile when I saw in the newspaper of that day a long notice. of the death of a manufacturer who had acquired wealth and fame by a new method of making the heads of nails! "So," I said to myself, "it seems that one may make a fortune by improving a nail's head, but if he only improve children by filling their heads with useful knowledge, and their hearts with virtuous principles, he must be content with the prospect of making a decent living unknown to fame. Surely this is one of the things which the future will mend."

51

ABIDING LOVE FOR OUR SCHOOL.

Be it a weakness, it deserves some praise,
We love the play-place of our early days;
The scene is touching, and the heart is stone,
That feels not at that sight, and feels at none.
The wall on which we tried our graving skill,
The very name we carved subsisting still;
The bench on which we sat while deep employ'd,
Though mangled, hacked, and hewed, not yet de-
stroyed;

The little ones, unbuttoned, glowing hot,
Playing our games, and on the very spot;
As happy as we once, to kneel and draw
The chalky ring, and knuckle down at taw;
To pitch the ball into the grounded hat,
Or drive it devious with a dext 'rous pat;
The pleasing spectacle at once excites
Such recollection of our own delights,
That, viewing it, we seem almost to obtain
Our innocent sweet simple years again.
This fond attachment to the well-known place,
Whence first we started into life's long race,
Maintains its hold with such unfailing sway,
We feel it even in age, and at our latest day.

COWPER.

"IT is a good and pleasant thing for brethren to dwell together in unity." So said King David nearly three thousand years ago; and on this point the opinion of the world is not altered. Wherever strife may prevail, it is always expected that those who belong to the same family should live in peace and mutual love. We hear every day of quarrels and

disputes, and we take little notice of them, for we know that they often cannot be avoided; but when we hear of brothers and sisters, living in the same house, and children of the same father and mother, and yet disagreeing with each other, we are shocked, and turn away with displeasure from so unnatural a scene.

On the other hand, no sight gives so much general pleasure as that of a family living happily together. How pleasant it is to see a boy taking charge of his younger brother or sister! leading them carefully and kindly by the hand to school, joining with them good humouredly in their amusements, assisting them in their lessons, watchfully protecting them from the approach of danger, and trying to be of service to his parents, and to shew his gratitude for their kindness to him, by relieving them of much of the trouble of watching, amusing, and instructing the others. Any boy or girl who acts in this manner

must, we know, feel the greatest pleasure in being conscious that they are doing their duty; they will be rewarded with the gratitude of their parents and the love of their brothers and sisters; and we are sure that they will enjoy the respect, and experience the kindness of all who witness their conduct. How much happier it would be to live in such a family than in a house where we should see nothing but angry looks, and hear nothing but unkind words!

If we wish our home to be a happy one, we must try to act properly towards our brothers and sisters. When we do quarrel with any of them, if we think over the matter with ourselves, and try to find out what has occasioned the quarrel, we shall almost always find that we have been proud or selfwilled; that we have been thinking too much of our own importance, and too little of giving pleasure to others. We must therefore, as far as we can, avoid these faults, or we