useful, and was, at least, running a fearful risk of parting at last with eternal blessedness for the lust of wealth. Was not this a hard bargain? and may not gold be bought too dear?

Young reader, even while these pages are being written, the cry of " Gold! gold! more gold!" is heard; and thousands have flocked and are still flocking to the gold diggings of California and Australia. We do not say that this is wrong—in itself wrong; for gold is one of God's good gifts to men, if men will use it rightly: but all is not gold that glitters, and even pure gold may be bought too dear. How many a poor, despairing wretch, perishing with hunger, thirst, and mortal sickness, and deserted by selfish companions in these gold-abounding regions, has bewailed his folly in leaving home and all its comforts, that he might join in the scramble for wealth, and "make haste to be rich!" And what heaps of gold would such a one give, had he them to give, could he be restored to his lost happiness, while he acknowledges that “Gold may be bought too dear." But without going to Australia or elsewhere, and in the common walks of life, we may meet with many who, like our old schoolfellow George, have been willing to barter everything for gold, and find out their mistake when it is too late.

But what are we to think of those who are willing to part with HEAVEN for gold?

Dear young readers-schoolboys now, as we were schoolboys once-remember the Saviour's words, in the parable which he spoke when he said, "The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: and he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God," Luke xii. 16-21.

"What, then," do you say, "are we not to try to get money?-not to be industrious, frugal, persevering?"

If we were to say so, we should say a very foolish and wrong thing. On the contrary, be industrious, be frugal, be persevering; and if industry, frugality, and perseverance, with integrity added to them, get you money— then get money.

But take care what it costs you besides; beware of covetousness; and "seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness." Do not neglect your soul for your body; nor

part with the hope of heaven for the love of wealth; nor lay up treasure for yourself, instead of being rich towards God; nor set your affections on earthly riches, despising those which are heavenly; for if you do, you will find that you have bought your gold too dear.

There is a treasure which you cannot buy too dear. He who, though he was rich, became poor, that the that the poor and guilty and lost might be made rich, offers pardon and peace and eternal life to all who, on his terms, will accept them.

Here is mercy and love! Yes; "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." That mercy you need: without it, you will be everlastingly undone. Seek it, and by the aid of God's Holy Spirit, seeking it so as to obtain it, you will feel compassion for those whose only treasure is on earth; and this will be the thought of your heart

"Go now, and boast of all your stores,
And tell how bright they shine:
Your heaps of glittering dust are yours,
And my Redeemer's mine."

II.

THE YOUNG CUMBRIAN.

Or all schoolboys whom we ever knew, poor little Tom Smith was as unlikely as any to become the hero of a story. His name, his look, his manners, all might seem to forbid the thought. Ah! but there are many brave, noble, kind, and generous hearts under the plainest forms and commonest names; and Tom Smith, our Tom Smith, was one of them.

He was about eight years old when he made his first appearance at school, and his countenance, at first sight, was far from interesting. He was thin, pale, and stooping, so as to look almost deformed; and all his movements were awkward. When he spoke, he excited the laughter of his schoolfellowsthat is to say, of many of them; some had better manners than to laugh outright, though they were amused. His birthplace was in one of the northern counties, and he brought with him to school the peculiar dialect of home. Those who laughed did not remember that, had the case been reversed, and had they been sent to Northumberland, or

Cumberland, or Durham, their southern speech would there have sounded oddly and strangely.

Then poor little Tom-for by that somewhat vulgar diminutive was he always called -was a perfect ignoramus. He had never been to school, and could scarcely spell out a sentence composed of words of two syllables: in the use of pen or pencil he was as inexperienced and inexpert as an infant. Worse than this, it was soon found that, at that time, he had no great love for learning. He seemed dull of comprehension, and hated tasks as strongly as he could hate anything. The confinement of school was, at first, dreadful to him. He was restless as a wild bird newly caught and caged, and fretted sorely over the necessary constraint he had to endure. Ah! few school books were ever more blotted and blurred with bitter tears than poor little Tom Smith's.

And in play hours it was much the same. The ample playground seemed to be too straitened for our young Cumbrian; for, still like the unhappy caged wild bird, which beats its breast madly against the imprisoning wires, so did the poor boy, day after day, walk round and round, close to the high palings and hedges which shut him in, wishing with all his heart-who can doubt it?-that he had wings like the dove, that he might fly away

and be at rest.