If it is not worth putting your heart into, do not do it at all.

A great Saint, who did wonderful things for God, and who, like all other Saints, was never idle, used to say, 'Age quod agis.' Do what you do. That is, do it thoroughly-do not half do it. If it is worth doing, don't slur it over; it is for GOD. Pray when you pray, work when you work, play with a zest when you play, and you will be happier in all.

TRUTHFULNESS.

Never tell lies, thinking that they are only little ones. It is always a great matter to trifle with the truth.

If you have done anything which you think will bring you into trouble, do not excuse yourself by an untruth. If you have a true excuse to give, give it. It is your due. If you have no excuse, let it alone; bravely bear the blame and the punishment, if it comes, and you will have nothing upon your conscience. Nothing

can need a lie. It will require courage to tell the truth sometimes; but then I do not know how you are to get to Heaven without being brave. When another person has a right to the truth, and the truth is required of you, tell it, come what may, and leave the rest to God.

COURAGE.

All that is noble in our nature shrinks from the coward. Dare to be true.

to defend the truth,

Dare

and God, who is truth,

will not forget you. Dare to take the part of the innocent and oppressed, the weak and helpless, when they are wronged. Be ashamed to side with the strong and powerful when they are unkind and oppressive.

Never shrink from danger when it is not of your own seeking, and when it is your duty to incur it for God's sake or the sake of others.

Dare to take the blame upon yourself also when the blame belongs to you. Never

be so mean as to shift it off upon another if it is yours.

One thing harder still in the matter of courage. Do not fear to be laughed at. I do not ask you to like it, but it does not matter being laughed at if you are in the right. The laughter soon passes away, but the right remains. By giving in just because you are laughed at, you make yourself quite as bad, most likely worse, and certainly more foolish, than those who have jeered at you.

Countless souls have been lost because they dreaded the laughter of fools, which so soon passed away. What would they not give now for their chance over again, laughter and all? But they cannot have it.

CONFESS THE FAITH.

Dare to confess your Faith, if called upon, wherever you are; or rather, do not dare to deny it in word or deed. To deny the Faith is to deny GOD.

If you live in a Protestant land, you may find many to sneer at you and your Faith, but that does not matter. They who do this do it from ignorance; they know not what they do. The Faith is dearer to you than life, and so it would be to them if they had it. Perhaps, if the good God had given them the Faith, they would have been much better than you are. Do not consider yourself superior to them or better than they. It is a terrible misfortune to be brought up in heresy, without a knowledge of the true Faith.

SELFISHNESS.

Do not be greedy or selfish. Few things are more hateful than to see a person who only thinks of himself, his own comfort, his own enjoyment. Such a disposition, given way to, will lead you into many meannesses and sins. Give up gladly your own comfort and convenience for the sake of others. It will make you happier in

this life, and it is a part of the preparation for a happy life in the world to come.

You cannot imagine the Holy CHILD JESUS selfish or greedy, nor His dear Mother, when a child, regardless of the feelings of others.

ALMSGIVING.

Do not spend all your pocket-money, however little it may be, upon yourself, or even upon your companions. As a rule, save some for the offertory in church, or for some pious object, or for the poor; and you will be lending to GOD, who will repay you in a better way than you can think.

OUR BLESSED LADY.

As a safeguard against all kinds of sin I can tell you of no practice so helpful as a steady and loving devotion to, our Blessed Lady. She is given to you as a Mother: treat her as one, and both she herself and her dear Son, your Saviour, will be well pleased,