young friend? Certainly not. Then how came he to be so much greater than men generally get to be? It was because he determined to be great. When a school-boy like you, he was, at first, the butt of the class. But cared he for that? By diligence and close application, he gradually gained upon his jeering class-mates. At length he passed them, on his way to distinction and renown, while they never rose above mediocrity. The sweeping assertion so often made, that "men are born to be great," is not strictly true. It is true that some can become greater than others, with the same amount of effort. This only goes to prove that the less the ability, the greater must be the effort.

For what raised a Patrick Henry, a Franklin, a Sherman, a Clay, or a Jackson, from the lowest walks of life, to the highest pinnacle of fame? It was, simply, an honest, well-directed and persevering determination to excel.

In conclusion, I would say to you, my young readers, that you were not born to be great without any effort. If you would fill stations of usefulness and honor among your fellows, you must prepare yourselves for such stations now, while young and surrounded by so many opportunities for improvement. and you will not fail in the attainment of your object.

Do this,

If all the students that so throng our numerous institutions of learning, were only actuated by loftier purposes, and would apply themselves more earnestly to the great work of fitting themselves for the active duties of life, we should not be compelled so often, to inquire, "Where are our great men?" There would be, springing up all about us, Websters, Clays and Washingtons, in abundance.

L.

NEITHER SCHOOLS NOR NEWSPAPERS.-Sir William Berkeley, one of the early governors of Virginia, in 1671 wrote to King Charles II: "I thank God there are no free schools nor printingpresses here, and I trust there will not be this hundred years; for learning breeds up heresies, and sects, and all abominations. God save us from both."

A MISTAKE AND ITS REMEDY.

O dear!" said Mrs. A., as the " men folks" left the breakfast table; "O dear! I'm tired to death now, and my day's work is scarcely begun."

It is a glorious May morning, one of those mornings which tempt one to believe that Heaven has come down to earth. Fresh dew-drops sparkle like gems on every leaf and flower and tender blade of grass. Bird notes from the blossoming fruit trees answer bird notes from the forest. The rich, health-inspiring air is laden with the perfumery of the lilac and the apple blossom.

Little Charles feels all this. The joyousness of nature has entered into his heart, and pervades his every look and tone, as he comes bounding into the room.

"Oh! mother; it is so pleasant out. If you'd only take a little walk with me, it would rest you, I'm sure."

"I should like to know what time I've got to walk, with all this work to do."

Why don't Louise get up and help you, mother? I've heard Jane Evans' mother say Jane is such a treasure to her that she relieves her from more than half her care and labor, but Louise does'nt do a thing to help you.”

She'll have enough of

"I don't want to make a slave of her. work when she's settled, unless she fares better than I do. Besides. I don't think she's very well, she seems so pale and listless."

But, my dear Mrs. A., don't you know you are wronging that darling daughter, and are preparing for her a slavery much worse than that of her colored sisters? What thralldom so irksome as the chains of indolence and selfishness and inefficiency! "She is not indolent," do you say? Would she be lying in bed on such a morning as this, if she were not? Would she leave all the burden of the "housework" for her feeble mother, if she were not selfish? Would she trifle away the time when she is up, between the piano, ber embroidery and that yellow covered novel, if

she were not inefficient? I don't say it is her fault entirely, that she is what she is. No, my dear woman, it is you who are most to blame; and, if you let her go on in this way, what kind of a wife and mother will she make! Energy, industry, and skill in housewifery don't come by intuition. "Turn over a new leaf." Make her get up with the lark and spend the whole forenoon in assisting you in your household labors. Burn the trashy literature! Give her solid reading,-history, the English classics, with, now and then, perhaps, a standard work of fiction. Above all, teach her to love the blessed Volume whose words are

For

light and life. "Must she give up her piano?" By no means, but let its use be consecrated to higher and holier purposes. the Italian song, let something better be substituted. Let such a taste for music be cultivated as shall strengthen and elevate, not enervate. Let her seek to charm the home circle, rather than the fashionable crowd.

My dear Mrs. A., be persuaded to try this course with Louise, and see if the color does not come back to her cheek, cheerfulness to her tones, and elasticity to her step. Try it, and when you are in your grave she will bless your memory. M. E. L.

HEALTH PROMOTED BY FAMILY MUSIC.-Music, like painting and statuary, refines and elevates and sanctifies. Song is the language of gladness, and it is the utterance of devotion. But, coming lower down, it is physically beneficial; it rouses the circulation, wakes up bodily energies, and diffuses life and animation around. Does a lazy man ever sing? Does a milk-andwater character ever strike a stirring note? Never. Song is the outlet of mental and physical activity, and increases both by its exercises. No child has completed a religious education who has not been taught to sing the songs of Zion. No part of religious worship is sweeter than this. In David's day it was practice and a study.-Selected.

Mind makes the Man: the Thinker moves the World.

THE TEACHER'S MISSION.

The Teacher's Mission! let it be
Esteemed a glorious thing,

Nor trust to weak, unworthy hands,
The mind's awakening.

Oh! in sweet childhood's dewy Born,
While life's a dream begun,
How sweet the task to wake the soul
Its path of light to run!

To clothe it fair in virtue's robe;
To give it strength within;
To arm it for Life's conflict hour,
The victory to win!

To rouse to life the latent thought;
Guide Reason's heavenly ray;
To purify and lead aright
Imagination's sway!

So to direct th' aspiring heart
Of warm, impulsive youth,
That like rich soil it may receive
The seeds of heavenly truth.

Then, teacher, labor earnestly,
No common task is thine.

Thou dealest not with worthless things,
But ever-living minds.

Oh! guard thine own heart constantly,
"Be watchful and beware!""

No selfish thought, or motive weak
Should e'er thy soul ensnare!

Thou'rt teaching for eternity!"

COGITATIONS.

TRUTH.---How lovely is truth! Is there a reader of this Journal who will not say amen to the above exclamation? I believe not. There is no one, capable of the exercise of the holier affections, that does not love Truth, because it is lovely. Did you never notice how great the confidence men put in their fellow-men whom they believe to be truthful? The missionary, Swartz, furnishes a striking example of the effect a truthful character has, even on the mind of the savage. "A tyrant, named Hyder Ally, while he refused to enter into a treaty with others, said, 'Send me Swartz; send me the Christian missionary to treat with me, for him only can I trust.'" Truth is of heavenly origin, and is one of the first qualifications of those who shall attain to everlasting happiness.

LYING.-How unlovely is Lying! When looked at in its own character, how hideous it appears!-how loathsome to behold! What misery and ruin has it not caused! How many hearts have been made disconsolate, how many characters ruined, by its dire effects! And then, to be known as a liar, how mournful the thought! The ill effects of Lying would not be so hurtful, if it could always be seen in its own true character. Christ tells us that Lying is the offspring of the Devil-that he is the father of

it.

Like its progenitor, it fears to come out boldly, but works secretly and under disguised forms. Having seen how attractive is Truth, it hesitates not to put on the semblance of Truth. Nay. it even claims to be Truth, and attempts to palm itself off as such. And it succeeds far too often for the best good of man.

REFLECTIONS. If the foregoing short remarks on the respective qualities of Truth and Lying are correct, how important, it must appear to every reflecting mind, that each person strive to acquire a reputation for habitual truthfulness. Not that kind which will allow of a slight deviation from, and coloring of, the exact truth, for the sake of effect; but that kind which knows no deviation from what is exactly true that kind which will lead its possessor always to speak "the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth." COGITATOR.