the use of his highest attainments. How sad it is to see so many with such a career before them, contented to remain all their lives with no higher ideas than to write a good hand, or to make a close bargain! There is no scholarly profession better calculated to enlarge the mind and elevate the character than the pursuits of commerce; yet they are often debased to the most pitiful uses, and those who engage in them often remain, through their whole lives, ignorant and uneducated.

To prevent such a result the young man who enters upon this career should take himself in hand. He should place his standard of excellence very high, and use all the means in his reach to attain it. Chiefly

through self-culture, in the daily acquisition of knowledge, and by a manly and honourable course of life, he should make himself worthy of his calling, and of the highest honours it can bring. How different will be the whole tenor of his life, if he enters upon it with such views as these! How easy will it be to resist the enticements of pleasure and the allurements of vice! With what instinctive disgust will he shrink from low associates and the vulgarity of dissipation. With such an end in view, how easy will it be to find time for reading, and opportunity for self-improvement.

With such a purpose in his heart, from day to day he is secured from the temptations to which youth is chiefly exposed, and has only to press forward to secure the highest reward which a true ambition can ask. We might go through nearly the same course of remark with regard to the mechanic. The mere work

man does not seem to occupy an elevated place in society; although, if he does his work well and conducts himself with honesty and sobriety, he occupies a place of usefulness, and is worthy of respect. By the force of character, if he has no other advantages, he may work his way to confidence and to high estimation among men. But there is no necessity of his remaining a mere workman. If he has the natural ability, and will use the opportunities of improvement offered to him, he may rise to as great height as he can reasonably desire. Look at the triumphs of art, and the perfection to which the science of mechanics has been brought in our day. Look at the names which society delights to honour, in this country and in many others, and see how many are of men who began at the workbench or at the forge, and who, by the application of their minds to the work in which they engaged, carved for themselves a way to distinction and usefulness. The name of "mechanic" has long ceased to be one of social contempt. Let the young mechanic learn to be a thinking and observing man, and he will find as easy and as rapid progress in the world as through any other calling. There is certainly nothing in work itself to degrade the mind; but, on the contrary, we are more apt to find the development of practical and sound judgment in the workshop than in the study. Only let the same pains be taken to improve the mind, and the working man would have the advantage. We admit, as we have already done, that it requires strong resolution in one who has been closely employed all day, to turn his attention to the work of self-culture at

night. But it is certainly not impossible nor impracticable, for many do it; and our object in writing is to inspire such resolution in those who hear us. If it were a thing that could be done without effort, it would probably be not so well worth the doing.

But with the possibility of a brilliant future before ⚫ us, what manner of men ought those to be to whom the vital interests of society are entrusted? In what manner shall they do their part now, so as to secure the prosperity for which we hope, and prepare themselves to meet its responsibilities? What kind of young men are needed in an infant city which promises to grow to such a robust manhood? It is not those who spend their time in the tavern and at the billiardtable; not those whose best ambition is to make a good figure in the ball-room and the dance; not those who pride themselves in their dress and equipage; not those whose only ambition in life is to become rich; but we need those who, keeping themselves free from idle dissipation, begin their career with frugality and honourable industry, and, in every step of their progress, take pains to educate themselves, to develop their minds, to mature their character, to strengthen their judgment; so that, as their duties in life become more important, they will be able to perform them with faithfulness. We need young men who have an honourable ambition in life; determined to be useful according to their ability, and to increase their ability by diligent self-culture and the practice of virtue. Give us a class of young men such as this, and what a glorious future ours would be! For it is upon the

young men that it chiefly depends. The older and wealthier portion of the community may do their part; but the tone of society, the intellectual and moral character of great cities, ten or twenty years hence, depends chiefly upon those who are young now.

Finally, let us remember that the chief influence which every one of us exerts is the influence of character. This is an individual work, and it is the most important work that any one of us can do. We do it faithfully, in proportion as we keep ourselves from the pursuit of folly, from the commission of sin; in proportion as we grow in excellence and usefulness; in proportion to our attainment of the Christian graces and to our practice of the Christian virtues. Young men, what motive is wanting to secure your diligence and faithfulness, when the very same course of life will conduct you to self-respect, to honour among men, and to the approbation of God? Therefore, "get wisdom, get understanding. Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go; keep her, for she is thy life."

CHAPTER V.

MORAL DANGERS.

N previous chapters, we have dwelt on the power of the young man in the various spheres of home, business, and self-education. But power is always accompanied with danger. The steam-ship outstrips all the sail-craft of the seas; and yet the more steam she generates, and the swifter her course, the more liable she is to break her machinery, to be enveloped in flames, or to dash against other vessels, and go to the bottom. And the very energy and celerity of youth, if ill-directed or unrestrained, may only involve its possessor in the speedier ruin.

He is the truest benefactor of that age, therefore, who opens for it the chart, and points out to it, beforehand, not only the good lights and the safe harbours, but also the rocks, reefs, and shoals.

The first rock we will name, is inexperience. It has been said that we learn nothing truly valuable except from experience. If so, what pearls must lie on the threshold of life? A single wrong step, as we cross it, may cause us to stumble and fall; it may be never to