Slow but sure wins the goal.
Borrowing lessens credit.
of the claims of friendship to bring another into a
situation which, his conscience tells him, is one into
which he would not like himself to be drawn; or to
induce the friend to do what he knows is either in
principle faulty, or in tendency and possible results
injurious. This is the very opposite of friendship.
It is selfishness betraying friendship, and making it
available for its own ends. He who, in business,
makes such a use of friendship, exposés himself to
just suspicion that all is not right; that he is trying
unwarrantable means to prop up a false credit, and to
gratify a haste to be rich. It is very natural for us,
no doubt, to wish to make our own bargains as
secure as possible. But does any man like to be
security for the bargains of others? If this is what
none like, should any tempt others to do it? Should
any one, for the sake of making all sure for himself,
seek to place others in circumstances by which their
security may be affected? Here, as in every case,
comes in the golden rule, "All things whatsoever ye
would that men should do to you, do ye even so to
them." If we cannot trust a man ourselves, so as to
transact business with him, would it not be better
to forego our bargain, even though it may seem a
tempting one, and to decline dealings with him, than
to accomplish our purpose by bringing others into a
situation we ourselves dislike?
Hardship is the proper soil for manhood.
Destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.
THE EVILS OF RECKLESSNESS.
OUTH should be cautioned against a habit
of recklessness. If it be perilous to say
"I do not care," it is doubly so to rush on
with the plea "I did not heed." This is the
root of a multitude of transgressions.
grow into a habit, and it will undermine the
whole character. "He who is idle and frivolous in
his apprenticeship," says an author, "will, in nine
cases out of ten, turn out a worthless workman; he
will stand low as a journeyman, and still lower when
he sets up in business for himself." If you do not
attend to what lies before you, you can never take
advantage of opportunities, and will never do what
you engage in to the best of your ability. Many
pass through life without even a consciousness of
where they are, and what they are doing. They
gaze on whatever lies directly before them, "in fond
amazement lost."
Human life is a watch-tower. It is the clear pur-
pose of God that every one-the young especially-
should take their stand on this tower. Look, listen,
learn, wherever you go, wherever you tarry. Some-
thing is always transpiring to reward your attention.
Let your eyes and ears be always open, and you will
often observe, in the slightest incidents, materials of
advantage, and means of personal improvement.
A wrathful man stirreth up strife.
The scorner is an abomination to men.
Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil.
O not be discouraged if, at the outset of life, things do not go on smoothly. It seldom happens that the hopes which we cherish for the future are realised. The path of life appears smooth and level; but when we come
to travel upon it, we find it, as it were, very
rough and uphill work. The journey is a laborious
one; and whether poor or wealthy, high or low,
strong or weak, we shall, to our disappointment, find
To endure it with as much cheerfulness as
possible, and to elbow our way through the great and
busy crowd, hoping for little while striving for much,
is perhaps the best plan. Do not be discouraged if
occasionally you slip down by the way, and your
neighbour who follows in your wake treads upon you
a little; or, in other words, do not allow one or
even two failures to discourage or dishearten you.
Accidents will occur, miscalculations will be made,
things will turn out totally different from what was
expected; and where we looked for a success, we
may find only a failure. It is worth remembering
that fortune or success is like an April sky, some-
times clear and favourable, and at other times dark
and foreboding; and as it would be folly to despair
of again seeing the sun because it is stormy to-day, so
Punctuality, Accuracy, Steadiness, Despatch.
He that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.
Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved.
it is unwise to sink into despondency when .fortune
frowns, or troubles arise, since, in the common course
of events, she may surely be expected to shine and
smile again. Do not be discouraged if you are
deceived in the people of the world; they are good
and bad certainly, but the bad predominate. From
such sources as these you may be most unexpectedly
deceived, and you will naturally feel pained under
such deceptions; but to these you will become ac-
customed. If you fare as other older and better
people than yourself fare, they will lose their novelty
and their effect before you grow grey; and you will
learn to trust such circumstances more cautiously, and
to examine them more closely, before they are per-
mitted to injure you. Do not be discouraged under
any circumstances. Go steadily forward—rather con-
sult and trust in your own conscience when you know
that it is right, than in the opinion of others, though
the latter is not always to be disregarded. Be in-
dustrious, be sober, be honest; deal in perfect
kindness and fairness with all who come in contact
with you; exercise a friendly and obliging spirit to
all whom you have intercourse with; and if you do not
prosper so rapidly as your neighbours seem to do,
depend upon it that you will be at least as happy.
Should be holiness of life.
Be kindly affectioned one to another.
Honour travels in a narrow path.
A heavy burden may be borne
ERSEVERANCE, dear my lord,
Keeps honour bright to have done, is to
Quite out of fashion, like a rusty mail,
In monumental mockery. Take the instant
For honour travels in a strait so narrow,
Where one but goes abreast: keep, then, the path;
For emulation hath a thousand sons,
That one by one pursue: if you give way,
Or hedge aside from the direct forthright,
Like to an enter'd tide, they all rush by,
And leave you hindmost:
Or, like a gallant horse, fall'n in first rank,
Lie there for pavement to the abject rear,
O'er-run and trampled on: then what they do in
present,
Though less than yours in past, must o'er-top yours;
For time is like a fashionable host,
That slightly shakes his parting guest by the hand,
And with his arms outstretched, as he would fly,
Grasps in the comer: welcome ever smiles,
And farewell goes out sighing. O let not virtue seek
Remuneration for the thing it was ;
By the help of many shoulders.
The price of reason is above rubies.
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