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than if I had the thought of an unfinished task before my mind. I early formed the habit of doing every thing in its time, and it soon became perfectly easy to do so. It is to this habit that I now owe my prosperity." Let every boy who reads this, go and do likewise, and he will meet a similar reward.

INDUSTRY.

A GENTLEMAN in England had an estate which was worth some hundred pounds a year. For a while, he kept his farm in his own hands; but at length, he found himself so much in debt, that he was obliged to sell one half of his place, to pay up. The rest, he let to a farmer for twenty one-years. Towards the end of that time, the farmer, on coming to pay his rent, asked him whether he would sell his farm. The gentleman was surprised that the farmer should be able to make him an offer for his place. "Pray tell me," said he, "how it happens, that, while I could not live upon twice as much land, for which I paid no rent, you are regularly paying me a hundred pounds a year for your farm, and able in a few years to purchase it?" "The reason is plain," answered the farmer: "You sat still, and said 'Go. I got up, and said 'Come.' You lay in bed, and enjoyed your ease. I rose in the morning, and minded my business."

This anecdote shows the folly of those young men, who set up for gentlemen, and despise labour and useful employment. Though they may begin with a good capital, they will soon run down, if they depend upon others to do their business. If they have nothing, they will certainly gain nothing. Laziness, poverty, and rags, will go together.

TRUE GREATNESS.

PRESIDENT JEFFERSON.

135

FOOLS think themselves great, in proportion to the show they can make; but it would take a great heap of coins to make as much value as a very copper little piece of gold; and an empty tin kettle will make more sound than a golden vessel filled with the choicest delicacies.

When Mr. Jefferson was President of the United States, he was passing a stream on horseback, in Virginia. A beggar, approaching it at the same time, asked him to help him over. The President let him get behind him on the horse and ride over. When they had got over, the beggar discovered that he had left his bundle; and Mr. Jefferson went back again and brought it over. This was true greatness. A man can never be too great to do a kindness to the humblest individual in the world.

CHIEF JUSTICE MARSHALL.

CHIEF JUSTICE MARSHALL was in the habit of going to market himself, and carrying home his purchases. Frequently he would be seen returning at sunrise, with poultry in one hand and vegetables in the other. On one of these occasions, a fashionable young man from the North, who had removed to Richmond, was swearing violently because he could find no one to carry home his turkey. Marshall stepped up, asked him where he lived, and said, "That is my way, and I will take it for you."

When they came to his house, the young man inquired, "What shall I pay you?" "O, nothing," said the Chief Justice, "you are welcome, it was on my

136

CHANCELLOR KENT.

way, and no trouble." "Who is that polite old gentleman, who brought home my turkey for me?" inquired the young man of a by-stander. "That," replied he, "is John Marshall, Chief Justice of the United States." "Why did he bring home my turkey?" "To give you a severe reprimand, and teach you to attend to your own business," was the reply. True greatness never feels above doing any thing that is useful; but especially the truly great man will never feel above helping himself. His own independence of character depends on his being able to help himself. Dr. Franklin, when he first established himself in business, in Philadelphia, wheeled home the paper which he purchased for his printing office, upon a wheel-barrow, with his own hands.

CHANCELLOR KENT.

Ar a time when the court was sitting in Buffalo, N. Y., and all the public houses were full, there came to the principal hotel a starched-up little Frenchman, and called for lodgings. He was shown into a small but well-furnished room, which was the only one in the house that was vacant. He thought himself insulted, and with much warmth said, "Me gem'man, me no sleep here!" A little while afterwards Chancellor Kent, the highest judicial officer in the State, called for lodgings. The landlord told him he was full, excepting one little room, which he did not like to offer to such a man as he. But the Chancellor wished to see it; and on being shown into it, said, "O, this will do very well; it is a fine room." Which do you think was the greater of these two men?

A small mind makes much ado about little things.

DR. FRANKLIN.

137

TRUE GREATNESS DOES NOT CONSIST IN BEING

IN THE FASHION.

WHEN DR. FRANKLIN was received at the French Court as American Minister, he felt some scruples of conscience about complying with their fashions of dress. He hoped," he said to the minister, "that as he was a very plain man, and represented a plain republican people, the king would indulge his desire to appear in the court in his usual dress. Independent of this, the season of the year," said he, "renders the change from yarn stockings to fine silk somewhat dangerous." The French Minister made him a bow, but said that fashion was too sacred a thing for him to meddle with, but he would do him the honour to mention it to his majesty. The king smiled, and returned word that Dr. Franklin was at liberty to appear at court in any dress that he pleased. In spite of that delicate respect for foreigners for which the French are so remarkable, the courtiers could not help staring at first at Dr. Franklin's Quaker dress. But it soon appeared as though he had been introduced upon this splendid theatre only to demonstrate, that great genius, like beauty, "needs not the aid of ornament."

CHAPTER XIV.

EDUCATION OF THE HEART.

By the heart, I mean the moral faculties, in distinction from the intellectual. Any action is moral, which can be praised or blamed. The moral faculties are those which determine moral action. These faculties are, the Conscience, Will, and Affections. In this division, I do not attempt metaphysical exactness, but only what I can make my readers understand. When I speak of educating these faculties, I do not mean to separate the process from that of religious education in general; for nothing can be well done, in the formation of character, without religious principle and motives at the foundation. But my object is, to speak of the specific means by which these faculties may be cultivated.

It may be necessary for me to explain what I mean by the Conscience, Will, and Affections. Yet it does not fall in with my design, neither would it suit the age and capacities of those for whom I write, to enter into a philosophical description, or analysis, of the faculties of the mind, or affections of the heart. I shall only give such simple explanations as are sufficient for my purpose, and as I suppose will be understood by my

readers.

I. THE CONSCIENCE.

This is the faculty which

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