3. Labor is life!-'Tis the still water faileth.

4. Keep the watch wound, for the dark rust assaileth.

5. Play the sweet keys, would'st thou keep them in tune. 6. Work with stout heart and resolute will.

7. All labor is noble and holy.

8. Let thy great deeds be thy prayer to thy God.

XXXII.-SELECTIONS IN PROSE.

ADVICE TO BOYS.

BOYS, did you ever think that this world, with

all its wealth and woe; with all its mines and mountains, oceans, seas, and rivers; with all its shipping, its steamboats, railroads, and magnetic telegraphs; with all its millions of men, and all the science and progress of ages, will soon be given over to boys of the present age-boys like you? Believe it, and look abroad upon your inheritance, and get ready to enter upon your possession. The presidents, kings, governors, statesmen, philosophers, ministers, teachers, men of the future-all are boys

now.

Elihu Burritt.

CONSTRAINT.

Constraint is the natural parent of resistance, and a proof that reason is not on the side of those who use it. Jupiter and a countryman were walking together, conversing with great freedom and familiarity on the subject of heaven and earth. The countryman listened with attention and acquiescence, while Jupiter strove only to convince him; but happening to hint a doubt, Jupiter turned hastily round and threatened him with his thunder.

"Ah! ah!" said the countryman, "now, Jupiter, I know that you are wrong; you are always wrong when you appeal to your thunder."

Erskine.

CHEERFULNESS.

A cheerful temper joined with innocence will make beauty attractive, knowledge delightful, and wit good-natured. It will lighten sickness, poverty, and affliction; convert ignorance into an amiable simplicity, and render deformity itself agreeable.

BE INDUSTRIOUS.

Joseph Addison.

The most trifling actions that affect a man's credit are to be regarded. The sound of your hammer at five in the morning, or nine at night, heard by a creditor, makes him easy six months longer; but if he sees you at a billiard table, or hears your voice at a tavern when you should be at work, he sends for his money the next day.

Franklin.

AGREEABLENESS OF MANNERS.

The desire of pleasing makes a man agreeable or unwelcome to those with whom he converses, according to the motive from which that inclination appears to flow. If your concern for pleasing others arises from an innate benevolence, it never fails of success; if from a vanity to excel, its disappointment is no less certain. What we call an agreeable man is he who is endowed with the natural bent to do acceptable things, from a delight he takes in them merely as such; and the affectation of that character is what constitutes a fop.

Steele.

THE SECRET OF COMFORT.

Many run after felicity, like an absent-minded man hunting for his hat, while it is on his head or in his hand. Though sometimes small evils, like invisible insects, inflict great pain, yet the chief secret of comfort lies in not suffering trials to vex one, and in prudently cultivating an undergrowth of small pleasures, since very great ones, alas, are let on long leases. Sharpe.

COMPANIONS.

The most agreeable of all companions is a simple, frank man, without any high pretensions to an oppressive greatness; one who loves life, and understands the use of it; obliging alike at all hours; above all, of a golden temper, and steadfast as an anchor. For such a one we gladly exchange the greatest genius, the most brilliant wit, and the profoundest thinker.

MUTUAL HELP.

How beautifully is it ordered, that as many thousands work for one, so must every individual bring his labor to make the whole. The highest is not to despise the lowest, nor the lowest to envy the highest; each must live in all and by all. Who will not work, neither shall he eat. So God has ordered that men, being in need of each other, should learn to love each other, and to bear each other's burdens.

"Godfrey, the Little Hermit."

A

XXXIII-SCENE FROM THE RIVALS."

Enter SIR LECIES TRIGGER and ACRES, with pistols.

CRES. By my valor! Then, Sir Lucius, forty yards is a good distance. Odds levels and aims-I say it is a good distance.

Sir Luc. Is it for muskets or small field pieces? Upon my conscience, Mr. Acres, you must leave those things to me. Stay now-I'll show you[Measures paces along the ground.] There now, that is a very pretty distance-a pretty gentleman's dis

tance.

Acres. Zounds! we might as well fight in a sentrybox! I tell, you, Sir Lucius, the farther he is off, the cooler I shall take my aim.

Sir Luc. Faith! then I suppose you would aim at him best of all if he was out of sight!

Acres. No, Sir Lucius; but I should think forty or eight and thirty yards

Sir Luc. Pho! pho! nonsense! Three or four feet between the mouths of your pistols is as good as a mile.

Acres. Odds bullets, no!-by my valor! there is no merit in killing him so near: do, my dear Sir Lucius, let me bring him down at a long shot-a long shot, Sir Lucius, if you love me!

Sir Luc. Well, the gentleman's friend and I must settle that. But tell me, now, Mr. Acres, in case of an accident, is there any little will or commission I could execute for you?

Acres. I am much obliged to you, Sir Lucius-but I don't understand

Sir Luc. Why, you may think there's no being shot at without a little risk, and if an unlucky bullet

should carry a quietus with it-I say it. will be no time then to be bothering you about family matters. Acres. A quietus?

Sir Luc. For instance, now, if that should be the case, would you choose to be pickled and sent home? or would it be the same to you to lie here in the abbey? I am told there is very snug lying in the abbey.

Acres. Pickled!-Snug lying in the abbey!-Odds tremors! Sir Lucius, do n't talk so!

Sir Luc. I suppose, Mr. Acres, you never were engaged in an affair of this kind before?

Acres. No, Sir Lucius, never before.

Sir Luc. Ah! that's a pity!-there's nothing like being used to a thing. Pray, now! how would you receive the gentleman's shot?

Acres. Odds files!-I've practiced that-there, Sir Lucius, there! [Puts himself in an attitude.] A side front, hey? Odd! I'll make myself small enough: I'll stand edgeways.

Sir Luc. Now, your quite out, for if you stand so when I take my aim-[leveling at him.]

Acres. Zounds! Sir Lucius, are you sure it is not cocked?

Sir Luc. Never fear.

Acres. But-but-you don't know-it may go off of its own head!

Sir Luc. Pho! be easy. Well, now, if I hit you in the body, my bullet has a double chance; for if it misses a vital part of your right side, 't will be very hard if it do n't succeed on the left!

Acres. A vital part!

Sir Luc. But, there; fix yourself so [placing him]; let him see the broadside of your full front-there