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My answer consisted in a hearty shake of the errandman's horny hand.

"Monsieur must perceive," faltered he, as if apologizing for not having appealed to my assistance," that it will afford twice the pleasure, both to the old people and myself, that this asylum is secured to them by my own industry, and not by the help of others. "Tis a foolish thought, my good sir, for the like of us; but you see, poor as we are, and Christians too, we are proud. This is not a common almshouse, sir. The Household Hospital is a place where respectable folks are admitted, for pay. I would not have shoved poor father and mother into the Charity-ward, any more than into a lazar-house! nor I would not have liked to see them beholden tỏ any but their own son, so long as he had arms to work for them. But all fear's at an end. Twenty cabriolets may drive over me now, or twenty choleras attack me. I have a right to be sick or sorry when I please. I have a right to sleep in my bed o'nights, and look the Count's saucy chap of a groom in the face by day. The old folks are safe. Whatever may happen to me, here is their birth, with food, raiment, and pocket-money, so long as it pleases God to spare them. It is a mightier relief than people dream of, to be relieved from all further anxiety concerning one's father and mother." And James wiped his forehead, at the mere recollection of his past cares and present ease of mind.

"But all this time I am forgetting the cart," cried James. And, having hurriedly arranged with the porter to meet him in the chamber at three o'clock, he entreated me to return at the same hour, and be witness of the old people's inauguration.

It was three o'clock, within three minutes, when I returned. On attaining the corner, the empty cart of my friend James stood at the gateway of the hospital.

"The old people are arrived, then ?" said I, to the porter. "Arrived! and I fear in some trouble," he replied; "for my wife, who helped to escort them, was seen running from the house just now, to the infirmary, to fetch one of the nuns some ether."

The odor of that powerful restorative reached me, the moment I entered the gallery containing the little household chamber of the new comers. The door was ajar, the opposite window open. I heard the ominous sound of human sobs within.

My heart sank in my bosom. The joy of the old people had been too much for them. One of poor James's parents had, perhaps, fallen a victim to the agitation and hurry of removal. Peeping anxiously in, I prepared myself for the sad spectacle of expiring age.

"He is better now, "" were the first words that struck my ear, as I entered the room. When, lo! wonder of wonders! I descried poor James, with his bronzed cheeks white as ashes, sitting propped in his chair! while the nun, sister Patronille, and a venerable-looking peasant couple, administered to his aid. It was the strong man who had fainted.-Overcome by the exquisite delight of installing his parents in their long-wished abode, consciousness had for some minutes been suspended in the Herculean frame of James the errandman.

Fraternal love relates to the affection which ought to exist between brothers and sisters. "How good and how pleasant it is," says the Psalmist, "for brethren to dwell together in unity." It is "as the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion." What, indeed, can be a more captivating sight, than that of a whole family united as one, in the bonds of love? And what more odious, than family jars and quarrels? Have you brothers and sisters at home? Look not abroad, then, for friendship, for where can you find

one

"that sticketh closer than a brother." There is something so holy and pure in the mutual affection of a brother and sister, that, wherever it exists, we may rest assured that the heart is right. Oh! what a mistake do those commit, who neglect to cultivate so precious a gift, when God hath placed it in their power. Parents and teachers should strive to sooth the little asperities that will occasionally arise in so intimate a connexion, and lead

their charge to take a pride in mutually sacrificing their little whims to each other.

Friendship is the extension of this species of love to a wider range. We should be extremely cautious in the choice of friends, for nothing has a worse moral effect, or gives greater pain, than a breach of friendship; and it cannot be enduring, where the dispositions are opposite. True friendship cannot exist between the good and the bad, between the liberal-minded and the selfish. When we have chosen wisely, however, our friend should be treated with confidence, with uniform kindness, with respect, with fidelity, and with constancy,—a constancy that should survive even the grave. "Some persons, "" says a French writer, "believe that there are no longer any duties to be fulfilled beyond the tomb; and there are but few who know how to be friends to the dead. Though the most magnificent funeral pomp be the tears and the silent sorrow of those who survive, and the most honorable sepulture be in their hearts, we must not think that tears which are shed from the sensibility of the moment, and sometimes, too, from causes, which, in part, at least, relate to ourselves, acquit us of all our obligation. The name of our friends, their glory, their family, have still claims on our affection, which it would be guilt not to feel. They should still live in our heart, by the emotions which subsist there; in our memory, by our frequent remembrance of them; in our conduct, by our imitation of their virtues."

Perfidy is the breach of any of the social affections, particularly that of friendship. The perfidious are deservedly shunned and detested by all.

38. Humanity.-Inhumanity.-Humanity signifies the feeling which leads us to treat the whole human race with kindness. Inhumanity is the reverse.

39. Mercy.-Unmercifulness.-Mercy signifies the forgiveness of injuries; the kind treatment of an enemy. Shakspeare has some beautiful lines on this subject:

"The quality of mercy is not strained;
It droppeth, as the gentle dew of heaven
Upon the place beneath it is twice blessed :
It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes."

The gospel attaches great importance to this virtue. Christ directs us to ask forgiveness of our sins on the condition that we pardon others; and, not satisfied with the simple direction, he immediately repeats the injunction, in two other forms of words: "For, if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."* He also most strikingly enforces this virtue, in his last moments, when his enemies were wreaking their vengeance on him, by a most cruel death: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." The beauty and delights of mercy ought to be exemplified in very early youth, and habits of mutual forgiveness formed, while the temper is pliant.

40. Forbearance, placability.-Implacability, moroseness, spite.-These are the same virtues in a slighter degree; or they may be considered merely as manners. They are of much importance, however, as occasions for them occur so frequently. Moroseness is peevishness, displayed in a rough manner; spite is habitual malice, shown in small matters. Those who entertain them must needs be unhappy.

41. Charity. Uncharitableness, scandal, defamation. -Charity is that frame of mind, which habitually puts kind constructions on the actions of others, and looks on the favorable, rather than the unfavorable points of character. Uncharitableness is not the vice of early youth. Very little pains, therefore, at its first appearance, will check its growth. Its true, perhaps its only, cure is in that culture of the intellect, which will create a general interest in better subjects of conversation. Where a com

pany take delight in books, the character of their neighbors will be a less frequent topic. Scandal, perhaps, marks the folly of the head, as much as the uncharitableness of the heart.

42. Tolerance.-Intolerance.-Intolerance arises from the same source as the vices of the preceding article, name

* Matt. vi. 12, 14, 15.

ly, ignorance. It is also susceptible of the same cure, a better intellectual education. An ignorant man thinks that those who differ from him are actuated solely by blindness or obstinacy. He makes no allowance for the varied circumstances in which men are placed, which cause their views and opinions so essentially to differ; and it never for a moment enters his mind, that he may be wrong. When men shall be properly educated, there will be but little intolerance in the world.

43. Generosity, liberality. — Imprudence, greediness, avarice.-Generosity and liberality are directly opposed to that spirit of selfishness, which would appropriate every thing to itself. They are beautiful traits in infancy, and easily cultivated. The child wants but little encouragement to induce him to share his apples and cakes with his companions. Let this practice become universal, and we shall have a happier world to live in. There will be little danger of its running into imprudence, if habits of self-control and forethought (see numbers 9 and 10) have been properly cultivated. Children, however, should never be rewarded for liberality. Giving away, without self-denial, is not liberality. The approbation of their own bosoms, and the sight of the pleasure they occasion, should be the sole reward, and it is more than sufficient to repay their sacrifices.

Selfishness is a great bar to the enjoyment of happiness, whose only unalloyed, legitimate source is found in promoting the happiness of others. Children should be continually called on to consider what will please their brothers and sisters, as well as their parents. They should be taught to share with them every little present, and be led, by degrees, to think less of themselves, and more of others. If a child should say, that, by sharing his apple or cake, there will be none left for him, (a common expression,) he should be answered,-Never mind that; don't you wish to please your friends or brothers? (as the case may be.) I wish to go with you this afternoon, mother," said an amiable little girl," but brother wishes to go too; and, as we can't both go, I will stay at home.' Who would not love a child of such a spirit? As chil

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