Here we have a picture. How familiar it seems. See that country woman. She has come from yonder cottage half hidden by trees, and was on her way to the village with a pail of milk on her head. But, alas! there lies the pail on the ground, and the milk in a rich white stream is flowing from it upon the ground. It is all lost, and the poor woman, with hands clasped on her breast, and a most woful look of grief stands lamenting her misfortune How this mishap occurred, and the moral which thereby hangs, the reader shall learn from

66

"FABLE II.

66 THE COUNTRY MAID AND HER MILK PAIL.

"When men suffer their imagination to amuse them, with the distant and uncertain improvements of their condition, they frequently sustain real losses, by their inattention to those affairs in which they are immediately concerned. A country Maid was walking very deliberately with a pail of milk upon her head, when she fell into the following train of reflections: The money for which I shall sell this milk, will enable me to increase my stock of eggs to three hundred. These eggs, allowing for what may prove addle, and what may be destroyed by vermin, will produce at least two hundred and fifty chickens. The chickens will be fit to carry to market about Christmas, when poultry always bears a good price; so that by May day I cannot fail having money enough to purchase a new Gown. Green-let me consider-yes, green becomes my complexion best, and green it shall be. In this dress I will go to the fair, where all the young folks will strive to have me for a partner; but I shall perhaps refuse every one of them, and with an air of disdain toss from them. Transported with this triumphant thought, she could not forbear acting with her head what thus passed in her imagination, when down come the pail of milk, and with it all her imaginary happiness."

The more we reflect, the deeper seems the lesson this Fable teaches. How well it suits our times. If the Fable were written now it would only be slightly changed in terms, not at all in substance. It would run something like this:

When men suffer speculations to inflate them and make them crazy with the hope of making a large fortune in a few months, they frequently lose all they have, and often what is not theirs, by counting their gains too far ahead, or as the proverb says, by selling the bear's skin before the bear is caught.

A certain gentleman who was doing a good and regular business on his own capital, fell into the following train of reflections: The few thousand dollars which I now have as capital in my business if otherwise invested can be made to bring me three hundred for one in a short time. For several thousand dollars, I can buy many acres of coal land, half a town of town lots "in the west," or hundreds of acres of land in the new states. This will all double, triple, yea even quadruple itself in a year. Especially the coal land. When the railroad that is to run through it is once completed, what I can buy for $5000 will be worth

$100,000! WHEW!

Since this railroad must be made in order to raise my coal-land, I can do no better than help it aloug. Yea, might almost afford to build it myself. But where shall I get the money to invest in it? That is an easy thing, since I am Director, President, or at least stand as a behind the door confident, in the Bank, Savings Institution, or some other pile

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of funds. I can take $50,000 or more out "by private understanding"in six months the road can be finished and the " resources developed" on my coal-tract, which will make me worth at least half

A MILLION! WHEW!

Then I can not only return the $50,000, but can declare a double dividend to the wash-women, widows and others of that class whose money I shall thus be enabled to render more profitable to them. Poor creatures! they deserve pity, and it is my duty to aid them, while I thus increase my own resources. Yea, beyond all this, I will have many tons of coal shipped for the poor into my native place, as first fruits of what is to come in the way of blessing. The churches shall soon be out of debt, and be well supplied with bells and parsonages. It is the duty of a man who is going to be rich to remember the general wants of his native place; both public spirit and religion require this.

The only fear I have is that on account of the very abundance which I am about to possess, all my gifts to the poor and the church will be so easily made that I will be able to exercise no self-denial in my charity which, it is said, takes away a great deal of the good it is designed to do one's own soul. But this I must regard as one of the disadvantages under which those labor who are rich-or going to be richand I must watch and pray that I enter not into that temptation. Indeed it is great! For since I have access to the greatest pile of the savings of the poor-which of course I intend all to replace, as soon as the rail-road is completed, and "my resources are developed"-I can give thousands to charitable objects with more ease than I could give $5 before. The Lord grant me grace to bear this prosperity. But I may hope that He who is going to make me so rich, will keep me humble under it! I often think of the passage, "How hardly shall they that have riches, enter into the kingdom of heaven!

When all my "resources are developed," I will be able to live to some purpose. In a few years, I shall measurably retire. It will be pleasant to reside in my native place, and share the confidence and love of a grateful community. The members of the various churches-for I will be catholic in my gifts-shall not pass me, or see my carriage move along the street, without a swelling of heart. The pastors, comfortably located in their parsonages, will not forget him who has spread a tabernacle as a covering over them, nor cease to remember their benefactor in their prayers-and these I feel that I shall need, since good works alone cannot bring us to heaven! Indeed the poor pastors are not provided for as they should be; but thank God for the help He is raising up! Thus shall my name be connected with all that is pure, and of good report. The very bells that roll their sweet tones over village and country, will seem to repeat my name in their eddying echoes around the huts of the poor!

When our good man came thus to the sounding of bells, he thought he heard also another sound, not so sweet! It was not the rolling of cars on the railroad, nor the busy toil of laborers in his coal mines, nor the puffing of furnaces "developing his resources"—it was a sound more like smash! smash! smash! It sounded like the knock of creditors, like the strike of laborers on the railroad and in the mines, like the pro

tests and breaking of banks-like the reproaches of widows and orphans whose all was gone! The benevolent man, going to be rich, wakened up from his speculating dream, and found himself in the same position as "the country Maid and her pail of milk!"

The moral that would now be drawn from the revised edition of this spelling book fable would be something like this: It is better to do a regular business honestly, and on our own capital, than to do a large business dishonestly on the capital of others; and we can assist the poor better by taking of our own resources to help them than by falling foul of their resources to help ourselves.

THE UPRIGHT EARNEST YOUNG MAN.

BY J. V. E.

Some

DID you ever observe the manifest difference in young men ? are living and acting under a solemn sense of responsibility and purpose, while others are living apparently with no end in view. Why is this difference? Why is it that some are peculiarly respected, and others in a measure unregarded? The cause is found in this: some are upright and earnest, while others are irregular and dishonest. Let us be more particular in analyzing the character of an upright earnest young man; and also look at his superiority above those of an opposite character.

We will first explain terms. Upright means, honesty, just, adhering to rectitude in all social intercourse, not deviating from correct moral principles. Earnest signifies, ardent in the pursuit of an object, eager to obtain, warmly engaged or incited, serious, opposed to jesting or to feigned appearance. With this definition before us, it is no difficult matter to portray his life. Remember this is no visionary subject. Young reader mark this, and look at his history soberly. It has a meaning, and an object which can be realized.

on.

He is honest and just. What nobleness of spirit is wrapt up in these two qualities of soul? His words are trusted, his actions are depended What he says, he intends to perform; what is entrusted to his care he conscientiously superintends; and what he contracts to do, he does it uprightly. And by his demeanor in all his intercourse with the world he shows how he values a good character.

Look at him at home. You see him there loved and honored. He knows and feels the virtue of the first commandment with promise. "Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long in the land, which the Lord thy God giveth thee," is no dead letter to him. Whatever may have a tendency to cheer and comfort the hearts of his aged parents, he is not slow to say and do. And anything which would in its nature carry with it dishonor, regret and sorrow, to the fireside of home, is refrained from. Sisters and brothers by him are treated with kindness and love. He does not assume a rowdyish independence in the presence of neighbors; but then especially, he sees to it that his conduct is of the most honorable character. And when absent his walk

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and conversation is such, as reflects honor on his parents and home. His general deportment is such at all times, and under all circumstances, that the involuntary question is drawn from many hearts, what young man is that whose son is that?

He adheres to the strictest rectitude also, in all his social intercourse, not deviating in the least from correct moral principles. He makes no bold pretention to what he is not; he pampers neither the body or appetite; he enters not into social follies because they are fashionable; and he neither flatters nor deceives to gain the confidence and hearts of others, that he may effect some carnal purpose. Nothing in his most familiar associations is of the least unhallowed and debasing nature; but among his fellow youth, both male and female, he demeans himself with honor. He seeks no private opportunity for scandalizing any one by word or deed; but is humble, and just to all, even respectful to the froward. No insinuations of evil, or temptations to wickedness, bend him from the path of rectitude and righteousness. He stoops not even to gaze upon, much less to indulge, in scenes of lowness and lust. His aspirations are not toward the vale of brutal depravity, but upward where angels dwell, and the spirits of just men made perfect. He listens neither to the tinklings of wantonness, or echoes of vanity; but hearkens obediently to the lurings of virtue. Honor and honesty mark out for him the road to renown and plenty; and the good, the wise, and honorable, are ever ready to welcome him into their company.

Also he feels that he is a man-a rational and religious being-an immortal creature. His eye is open to the lovely and majestic vision of Nature. The paths of knowledge he knows are around him, stretching onward and upward to eternity. And most of all, he looks forward on life, as given only to radiate the glory of an infinite, all-wise and holy God. He feels, likewise, that the treasures of earth, wisdom and eternity, are offered to his mind and spirit, as sources of usefulness, comfort and joy. His laboring thoughts are ever reaching toward the All-wise, in whom wisdom dwells. Nature has not lavished her choicest gifts on him in vain; but he feels that he stands in creation a little lower in order than the angels-he acts, therefore, like a man. And the fixed motto of his heart is-"excelsior"-higher!

Now contrast him with those of an opposite character, and behold the difference! Contrast him with yonder reckless prodigal; who is acting without any apparent sense of responsibility or honor; who is treading the delusive path of self-destruction and sin; and who, ere long, to all human hope will slide irrecoverably into the gulf of despair and damnation. Contrast him with yonder senseless, clownish rake, who hangs about the corners of the street; who stands in the way of the scorner; who seeks the vulgar, riotous throng; whose irreverent walk and words contaminate the very air. Contrast him with yonder poor captive of fashion, whose only adorning is gold rings in abundance, guards in profusion, hair to exuberancy, and airs disgusting. Contrast him with yonder hateful young sot, who loves above all things, lager, rum, and brandy; and whose only comfort seems to be in the company of the poor, half-damned debauchee. Contrast him we say with these, and many others like them, and then young reader appreciate his character, and imitate his example.

HENRY WARD BEECHER ON BOYS.

A boy is a piece of existence quite separate from all things else, and deserves separate chapters in the natural history of man. The real lives of boys are yet to be written. The lives of pious and good boys, which enrich the catalogue of great publishing houses, resemble a real boy's life about as much as a chicken picked and larded upon a spit, and ready for delicious eating, resembles a free fowl in the fields. With some few honorable exceptions, they are impossible boys, with incredible goodness. Their piety is monstrous. A man's experience suffered into a little boy, is simply monstrous. And we are soundly skeptical of this whole school of pate de foie gras piety. Apples that ripen long before their time are either diseased or worm bitten.

So long as boys are babies, how much they are cherished! But by and by the cradle is needed for another. From the time baby becomes a boy, until he is a young man, he is in an anomalous condition, for which there is no special place assigned in nature. They are always in the way. They are always doing something to call down rebuke. They are inquisitive as monkeys, and meddlesome where you don't wish them to be. Boys have a period of mischief, as much as they have measels or chicken-pox. They invade your drawers; mix up your tooth-powder with hair-oil; pul! your laces and collars from their repositories; upset your ink upon invaluable manuscript; tear up precious letters; scatter your wafers, stick every thing up with experimental sealing wax; and spoil all your pens in the effort at spoiling all your paper.

Poor boys! What are they good for? It is unfathomable mystery that we come to our manhood (as the Israelites reached Canaan) through the wilderness of boyhood. They are always wanting something they must not have, going where they ought not to be, coming where they are not wanted, saying the most awkward things at the most critical times. They will tell lies, and after infinite pains to teach them the obligations of truth, they give us the full benefit of frankness and literalness by blurting out before company a whole budget of family secrets. Would you take a quiet nap! Slam-bang go a whole bevy of boys through the house! Has the nervous baby at length, after all manner of singings, trottings, soothings, and maternal bosom opiates, just fallen asleep? Be sure an unmannerly boy will be on hand, to bawl out for leave to do something or other which he has been doing all day without dreaming of leave.

The restless activity of boys is their necessity. To restrain it is to thwart nature. We need to provide for it. Not to attempt to find amusement for them, but to give them the opportunity to amuse themselves. It is astonishing to see how little it takes to satisfy a boy

nature.

First in the list, I put strings. What grown up people find in a thousand forms of business and society, a boy secures in a string! He ties up the door for the exquisite pleasure of untying it again. He harnesses chairs, ties up his own fingers, halters his neck, coaxes a lesser urchin to become his horse, and drives stage-which, with boys, is the