of session, until eleven or twelve, or perhaps one merely with reference to this present life, he would o'clock; after which he was ready to join his guests seem to have been the victim of one great and or associates in the out-door recreations in which ruinous mistake. Had he rested content with the he took so much delight. In wet weather, the en- fame and the station-and they were of the highest tire day was spent in his study. Besides this, he which his achievements in literature, together almost literally never knew an unoccupied moment; with the successful pursuit of an honourable prowhile at breakfast or at tea, a book, unless when fession, could confer upon him, his earthly career guests were present, was almost always before him; had been in all probability far happier, and its close and, even when conversing with any of the privi- less clouded than it proved. But the strange, alleged few who had access to his study, his hands most unaccountable perversity of the bias of his were unceasingly employed, either in folding or mind was this-that while far from being insens initialing letters or sorting books or papers. A ible to, he made comparatively little after all of, singular instance is recorded of the complete literary or professional renown, while he most mastery of the mind over the body which by such sedulously desired and endeavoured to be celebrated habits he had acquired. At one period of his life, with the comparatively paltry honour of being the he for some length of time suffered acute parox- possessor of an extensive estate-the founder of a ysms of pain from cramp in the stomach; and it wealthy and distinguished family-the head, in was while lying upon a sofa, and actually writhing short, of a clan like those of whom he wrote--of with agony, altogether unable himself to put pen being, in a word, Sir Walter Scott of Abbotsford. to paper, that he dictated to an amanuensis some Surely, in this, there is a melancholy instance of the of the most humorous and pathetic scenes and in- obliquity of even the most gigantic mind when not cidents in his works of fiction. Another remarka- primarily directed towards and governed by Him ble feature in the character of Sir Walter Scott, as without whom the world's best wisdom, even as developed in his life, is that of sound practical com- such, is utter folly-a proof of how, in such case, mon sense; the more worthy of notice, as the idea the heart's purpose, like the arrow from an illhas been entertained that such is altogether in- strung bow, strays altogether wide, not only of the compatible with genius of the higher order, of object at which it ought to have been aimed, but which eccentricity has been regarded as an essen- also of that at which it would seem to have been tial actribute. The utter absence, however, of any- actually directed. For utterly, in this respect, has thing eccentric, and the plain, matter-of-fact busi- his life's object failed. The fame which he did not ness habits of this the loftiest and most imagina- seek, at least did not primarily seek, he has tive genius of his time, proves how utterly false achieved: while the stranger's footfall echoes sadly and unfounded is this idea. A noble, self-sacri- through the halls of Abbotsford; the grave amidst ficing integrity forms another characteristic of this the ruined cloisters at Dryburgh is scarcely more illustrious and highly-gifted mán. mournful to look upon: and the family which he was to have founded, within a few brief years after his death, has become extinct. The two childless sons and orphaned daughters, each in the prime of life, soon followed the fond, proud father to the tomb. "Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher, all is vanity!" Mixed motives, one of the most prominent of which would seem to have been love for the school companions of his boyhood, led him to connect himself, from an early period in his literary career, with the printing and bookselling concerns of the brothers James and John Ballantyne-a most calamitous partnership for him; for when, in 1826, they The great vital defect, however, in the character failed, together with the houses of Hurst and of Sir Walter Scott, as exemplified in his biography, Robinson of London, and Constable of Edinburgh, would seem to have been the absence of personal, with whom he and they were connected, he found influential religion. He knew indeed and respected himself a debtor to the amount of some hundreds the truths of the gospel; he was strict in his own of thousands of pounds. But, as he looked upon attendance, and in requiring that of his family, the utter wreck of the fortune which he had real- upon the public ordinance of sabbath worship; and ized, his noble declaration was, I will pay all; his desire, during his last illness, for the reading to they shall lose nothing by me." And noble was his him of the word of God, and his apparent appreciaeffort to fulfil it With hopeless heart, and aching tion of its contents, leave us (though it is an awful head, and failing sight, through days and months thing to risk the interests of eternity on such a slenof bereavement and solitude, did he toil-toil for der issue) not without a hope that he may have been others with far greater assiduity than he had ever savingly impressed by them before he passed into previously toiled for himself; so much so, that the the world of spirits. The nature of his illness af almost incredible result of his exertions, to his forded, however, but little opportunity for evidence creditors, between January 1826 and January of his actual state of mind; and during life and 1828, a period of two short years, was very nearly health, we look, alas! in vain for any proof of that forty thousand pounds. The penalty for these gi- habitual realization of the hopes and prospects of gantic efforts was, however, soon exacted. In eternity which supplies its possessors with the mo1830 came the first of those rapidly recurring at- tives and affections of a new and a better state of tacks of paralysis, of which at an earlier period being. Had he been through life possessed of such, of life he had more than one premonition, and we cannot doubt but that its course would have which, in two years after, brought on the fatal ter- been far happier, its close less clouded, than it mination. Thus he died a martyr to his high- proved. Tribulation, bankruptcy, bereavement he minded determination that none should lose by him. might have experienced; but, amidst them all, he Combined with many excellencies, there were would have possessed the peace which the world however in his, as in every human character, some cannot take away-the joy with which the stranger striking and mournful defects. Regarding him may not intermeddle; while his dying bed would have been illumined with a light, and his memory encircled with a glory, such as genius, integrity, and amiability, however rare and excellent, are utterly inadequate to bestow. LESSONS FROM CHINA. THE following interesting stanzas are copied from a tract entitled, "Ode for Youth," circulated by the Chinese insurgents. ON REVERENCE FOR JESUS. Jesus, God's first-born Son, Was in former times sent by God; He willingly gave his life to redeem us from sin; Of a truth his merits are pre-eminent. His cross was hard to bear; The sorrowing clouds obscured the sun. The adorable Son, the honoured of heaven, Died for the children of men. After his resurrection he ascended to heaven; Resplendent in glory, he wields authority supreme. ON THE HONOUR DUE TO PARENTS, As grain is stored against a day of need, The recompense here is truly wonderful. Do you ask how this our body Is to attain to length of years? Keep the fifth commandment, we say, And honour and emolument will descend upon you. ON THE DUTIES OF FAMILIES. The members of one family being intimately related ON THE DUTIES OF A FATHER. When the main beam is straight, the joists will be regular ; When a father is strict, his duty will be fulfilled : ON THE DUTIES OF A MOTHER. Ye mothers! beware of partiality; ON THE DUTIES OF SONS. Sons! be patterns to your wives, Consider obedience to parents the chief duty; And you will not be estranged from your own flesh. ON THE DUTIES OF DAUGHTERS-IN-LAW. Ye that are espoused into other families, ON THE DUTIES OF ELDER BROTHERS. Elder brothers! instruct your juniors; ON THE DUTIES OF YOUNGER BROTHERS. Disparity in years is ordained by heaven; ON THE DUTIES OF ELDER SISTERS. Elder sisters! instruct your younger sisters, ON THE DUTIES OF YOUNGER SISTERS. Girls! obey your elder brothers and sisters, ON THE DUTIES OF HUSBANDS. Unbending firmness is natural to the man; Let not terror fill the mind. ON THE DUTIES OF WIVES. Women! be obedient to your three male relatives, When hens crow in the morning, ON THE DUTIES OF THE MALE SEX. Let every man have his own partner, ON THE DUTIES OF THE FEMALE SEX. The duty of woman is to maintain chastity; She should shun proximity to the other sex. Sober and decorous, she should keep at home; Thus she can secure happiness and felicity. ON MANAGING THE HEART. For the purpose of controlling the whole body, To which the senses and members are all obedient. ON MANAGING THE EYES. The various corruptions first delude the eye; And the light of the body will shine up to heaven. ON MANAGING THE EAR. Whatever sounds assail my ear, Deaf to the entrance of evil, ON MANAGING THE MOUTH. The tongue is a prolific source of evil, Let me not be defiled by lying and corrupt discourse; ON MANAGING THE HAND. To cut off the hand whereby we are dragged to evil ON MANAGING THE FEET. Let the feet walk in the path of rectitude, Varieties. WINDFALL. The origin of this term is said to be the following:-Some of the nobility of England, by the tenure of their estates, were forbidden felling any of the trees upon them, the timber being reserved for the use of the royal navy. Such trees as fell without cutting were the property of the occupant. A tornado, therefore, was quite a joyful event to those who had occupancy of extensive forests; and the windfall was sometimes of very great value. ROBBING PETER TO PAY PAUL-In the time of Edward VI much of the lands of St. Peter, at Westminster, were seized by his majesty's ministers and courtiers; but, in order to reconcile the people to that robbery, they allowed a portion of the lands to be appropriated towards the repairs of St. Paul's church: hence the phrase, "robbing Peter to pay Paul." BANKRUPT.-Few words have so remarkable a history. as the familiar word " bankrupt." The money-changers of Italy had, it is said, benches or stalls in the bourse or exchange in former times, and at these they conducted their ordinary business. When any of them fell back in the world and became insolvent, his bench was broken, and the name of broken bench, or banco rotto, was given to him. When the word was adopted into English it was nearer the Italian than it now is, being "bankerout," instead of bankrupt. HOBSON'S CHOICE.-This expression is proverbial both in Europe and America. Its origin is said to have been as follows:-Thomas Hobson was a celebrated carrier at Cambridge, who, to his employment in that capacity, added the profession of supplying the students at college with horses. In doing this, he made it an unalterable rule that every horse should have an equal portion of time in which to rest as well as labour; and he always refused to let a horse out of his turn. Hence the saying, "Hobson's choice; this or none." "A FEATHER IN HIS CAP."-Among the ancient warriors it was customary to honour such of their followers as distinguished themselves in battle, by presenting them with a feather to wear in their caps, which, when not in armour, was the coverings of their heads, and no one was permitted that privilege who had not at least "killed his inan." The memory of this old compliment is yet retained among us by the customary saying, when any person has effected a meritorious action, that it will be "a feather in his cap." STERLING MONEY.-During the reign of Richard 1, money which was coined in the eastern part of Germany. became of great demand, on account of its purity. The inhabitants of that portion of country where this pure coin was made were called Easterlings; hence the name Easterling Money was applied to the coin brought from that region. Soon afterward, some of the Easterlings who were skilled in coining were sent for to London, in order to bring the process of coining to a state of perfection there. This was accomplished, and the English coin took the name of Sterling Money, which it retains to the present time. HISTORY IN WORDS.-The history of words is the history of trade and commerce. Our very apparel is a dictionary. We are told of the "bayonet," that it was first made at Bayonne; "cambrics," that they came from Cam. bray; "damask," from Damascus; "arras," from a city of the same name; "cordwine," or "cordovan," from Cordova; "currants," from Corinth; the "guinea," that it was originally coined of gold brought from the African coast so called; "camlet," that it was woven, at least in part, of camels' hair. Such has been the manufacturing progress, that we now and then send calicoes and muslins to India and the East; and yet the words give standing witness that we once imported them from thence, for "calico" is from Calcut, and "muslin" from Mousul, a city in Asiatic Turkey. WEATHER SAYINGS.-The following are some of the couplet-sayings relating to the weather, which are common in this country : An evening red and next morning gray Be not afraid to reap your field." He will rise with a watery head." "When the peacock loudly bawls, We shall soon have rain and squalls." "A rainbow in the morning BOOK-BORROWING.-We remember, when a schoolboy, a practice in our school of writing on the fly-leaves of books some caution to those who might chance to borrow them. One of those commenced with, "Steal not this book," etc. That inscription never appeared to us as possessing much sense; but the following we would commend to the atten tion of all book-borrowers :— "If thou art borrowed by a friend, "Not that imparted knowledge doth But books, I find, if often lent, "Read slowly, pause frequently, think seriously, With the corners of the leaves not turned down." ENIGMATICAL INSCRIPTION AT PERSEPOLIS.-The following is said to be the translation of an inscription found at the ruins of Persepolis, in Persia. It consists of five maxims. Carried into practice, we think them an antidote against extremes, deception, and extravagance. teach;" and then, poor woman, she had moved in such good society, though she was now reduced to earn a living by teaching, Mrs. Blanque said; and a great deal more than is necessary to repeat. A month later, and the tone was modified. Yes, Mrs. Grafton was a very excellent woman, and, on the whole, a very good teacher. Her daughters were certainly very fond of her, and she had a way of getting them on, especially in some things; and, to be sure, everything is not to be expected, for we cannot expect perfection anywhere. She would have liked it better, Mrs. Blanque said, if her daughters' governess had been more au fait in the modern methods of giving instruction. She positively knew nothing of the system of teaching. Poor thing! how should she, when the system wasn't introduced when Mrs. Grafton was formerly a governess? However, she did very nicely, all her disadvantages considered; and where there was one better, there might be ten worse. Only it was rather a disadvantage to have a teacher for the girls who was, as she might say, really inexperienced. Still she had no idea of changing, for the salary no doubt was an object to poor Mrs. Grafton, and she was certainly very kind to the girls, and very punctual and diligent, and very lady-like. A month later still, and the tone of admiration and approbation was yet more faint. Mrs. Blanque was afraid that poor Mrs. Grafton's losses and trials had made her melancholy, and unfit to have much to do with young people-at any rate, with those who were in different circumstances from her own. She did not want a governess to teach religion to her children. Religion, to be sure, was all very well and quite proper; but it was out of place in a school-room. Still the girls were getting on, and, so much as Mrs. Blanque had to do, it was not to be expected she could pay much attention to such things, and it was a comfort to know that her daughters were not wasting their time in idleness: they were getting more and more fond of their governess too; so she should not think of parting with her; but she really must give her a hint about religion, not to make so much of it. The position of Mrs. Grafton was not enviable. She could not blot out the remembrance of the past, and the pinchings of poverty were hard to bear; so were the anticipations of future trials, for, strive as hard as she might to live within the income derived from her daily exertions, she could not succeed, and her small capital slowly diminished. Then, it was impossible not to see and feel the gradual alteration towards herself in her employ er's sentiments. Mrs. Blanque's manners had become evidently more cold and distant; and the poor daily governess keenly felt the miseries of dependence. Even her hardly-earned wages were or appeared to be grudgingly paid; and, sometimes, the words were on her lips which would at once have severed the connection, which was becoming more and more irksome, both to the employer and the employed. But they did not escape; for in what other way could she hope to exert herself with a brighter prospect of success? And there were her young pupils; in many respects they were ignorant, sometimes they were perverse; but she had obtained hold on their affections, and she might do them good. No-the words remained unspoken, and her conscientious diligence was renewed. But the words were soon spoken, nevertheless. "But, mamma, Mrs. Grafton says" "Yes, and that is how Mrs. Grafton abuses the confidence I have placed in her: she teaches my own children to despise me-to set up her opinions against mine!" "Indeed, mamma, she does not; she always tells us to attend to all you say. I only meant that Mrs. Grafton—-” "Silence, Eleanor! How dare you contradict me? But it is plain that Mrs. Grafton is drawing away my own children's affections from me:" and Mrs. Blanque burst into a flood of tears. "My dear, this is very unpleasant," said Mr. Blanque. "Here I come from the city at night, jaded and tired out, and want a little quiet and peace; and to have it broken in this way! I thought, a while ago, you had found a phoenix of a governess; but she seems to be like all the rest you have tried. New brooms sweep clean, I suppose: I find it so; but if the person doesn't suit you, why don't you get rid of her at once? There are plenty more to be got, arn't there?" Yes, plenty more, no doubt. That day Mrs. Blanque had been strongly besought to patronize a young lady who had the system at her fingers' ends, and who would be enchanted to undertake the entire charge of three young ladies so interesting as the children of Mrs. Blanque. Such an opportunity was not soon to be met with again; and, as speedily as decency would permit, the transfer was made, and Mrs. Grafton's last visit as a daily governess was paid to Blank-house, Blank-row. 66 Oh, mamma," said Lotté, "I am glad you are not going there again; for I know you have had a good deal to put up with; and Mrs. Davis says so too. And now you will have more time for those beautiful drawings; and I am sure that must be pleasanter than going out every day as a governess in all sorts of weather, too." "It might be, Lotté, if drawing were of any further use "And it is of use, mamma, is it not, when you get money for every one you do?" "I cannot get money for any more, the person to whom I have sold them has failed in business; but we must not be cast down, Lotté." Lotté sobbed herself to sleep that night. Weeks, long dreary weeks, passed away in fruitless attempts to obtain employment; and if again the lethargy of despair was not fastening upon the friendless one, she knew, at least, the heart-sickness of hope deferred. One evening, in early spring, a carriage drove rapidly to the door, and suddenly stopped. A loud knocking, heavy and hasty footsteps on the stairs, and Mr. Blanque entered the widow's sitting. room. "Mrs. Grafton-dear Mrs. Grafton-I havn't many words to spare, nor time: you have not forgotten our Eleanor-our darling Eleanor ?" "Certainly not. Has anything befallen her?" "She is ill-very, very ill-dying for anything we can tell. And she is constantly asking for you. Nothing else will pacify her. She may not |