ly by never postponing till to-morrow what ld be done to-day." It was said of an unsuccess-ublic man, that he used to reverse this process, naxim being, "never to transact to-day what could ostponed till to-morrow." Sir Walter Scott, writing to a youth who had ined a situation and asked him for advice, gave in reply, this sound counsel: "Beware of stumg over a propensity which easily besets you from having your time fully employed, — I mean what women call dawdling. Do instantly whatever is be done, and take the hours of recreation after ness, never before it." One of the minor uses of steady employment is, it keeps one out of mischief. It is observed, at that men are never so much disposed to grumble mutiny as when least employed. Hence an old cain, when there was nothing else to do, would e the order to " scour the anchor.” An economical use of time is the true mode of ring leisuré. It enables us to get through busi5, and carry it forward, instead of being driven by On the other hand, the miscalculation of time inves us in perpetual hurry, confusion, and difficul; and life becomes a mere shuffle of expedients, ally followed by disaster. Nelson once said, "I e all my success in life to having been always a rter of an hour before my time." 0. A proper consideration of the value of time will ire habits of punctuality. Nothing begets confice in a man sooner than the practice of this virtue, nothing shakes confidence sooner than the want t. He who holds to his appointment, and does not p you waiting for him, shows that he has regard se 11. We naturally come to the conclusi person who is careless about time will about business. When Washington's cused himself for the lateness of his atten laid the blame upon his watch, Washingt replied, "Then you must get another w another secretary." Franklin once said to who was always late, but always ready w cuse, "I have generally found that the m good at an excuse is good for nothing else." 12. The unpunctual man is a general di others' peace and serenity. He is systemati regular only in his irregularity. He alwa at his appointment after the hour; gets to t station after the train has started; and posts when the mail has closed. It will generally that the men who are thus habitually behin habitually behind success, and that they beco blers and railers against fortune. 13. Integrity in word and deed ought t very corner-stone of all business transactions tradesman, the merchant, and manufacturer, be what courage is to the soldier, and chari Christian. It was well said by Hugh Miller, o est mason with whom he served his apprentice he "put his conscience into every stone that 14. The truth of the old maxim, that "H the best policy," is upheld by the daily exper life. The true mechanic will pride himself excellence of his work; the high-minded co upon the faithful performance of his contract particular; the upright manufacturer, upon t ineness of the article he produces; and the g chant, upon the fair value of what he sells. these will find that their substantial success THE PATHS OF SUCCESS. 65 15. It must be admitted that trade tries character perhaps more severely than any other pursuit in life. Honor to those who stand the trial like true men! Money got by cheating, swindling, and overreaching, may for a time dazzle the eyes of the unthinking; but what is it worth, compared with the satisfactions of a free conscience? To the gains of swindlers and rogues the words of the apostle strongly apply: "Your gold and silver are cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire." 16. There may be success in life, without success in business. The merchant who failed, but who afterward recovered his fortune, and then spent it in pay. ing his creditors their demands in full, principal and interest, thus leaving himself a poor man, had a glorious success; while he, who also failed, paid his creditors ten cents on a dollar, and afterward rode in his carriage, and occupied a magnificent mansion, was sorrowfully looked on by angels and by honest men as lam'entably unsuccessful. 17. True success in life is success in building up a pure, honest, energetic character; in so shaping our habits, our thoughts, and our aspirations, as to best qualify us for that higher life on which we shall enter after the death of the visible body. Wordsworth well describes the "happy warrior" as one who "makes his moral being his prime care.' 18. "T is he whose law is reason; who depends XXII.- MAZEPPA'S STORY. U'KRAINE (oo'krāin), n., territory of | Rour, n., a clamorous Russia in Europe. RAB'BLE, n., a low mob. TUR'RET, n., a small tower. BAR'RI-ER, n., an obstruction. UN-COURT'E-OUs (-kurt'e-us), a., un civil. LIEU (lú), n., stead; gateway, ready to b keep out an enemy. MOAT, n., a ditch roun Sound the ea in hearth as in heart. Pronounce e'er (contraction of "BRING forth the horse!"- the horse was br 'Twas but a day he had been caught; Away!-away!-my breath was gone; MAZEPPA'S STORY. With sudden wrath I wrenched my head, I paid it well in after days: Save what grows on a ridge of wall, I saw its turrets in a blaze, They little thought, that day of pain, That one day I should come again, They played me then a bitter prank, 67 |