such as may happen to be very systematic, methodical, and precise in all their ways, will set before themselves a chart of life, and divide their time mathematically, and govern themselves by formal rules, in their labors, their feelings, their expenses and pleasures. There is certainly no harm, still less is there any folly, or anything to be ridiculed as stiff or formal, in this precise planning out of one's life. On the contrary, some of the largest-minded, most devoted, and most eminent persons have confessed themselves to have been governed by such a rigid method, and good and honored persons in all the walks of life have been indebted to just such a plan for much of their virtue, success, and hap piness. Nor can there be a question but that the most stiff and rigid plan of life that could be proposed is infinitely preferable to that reckless, haphazard, and slipshod way in which many persons live as regards their duty, their expenses, their enjoyments, and their characters. Is it not evident that the less we yield ourselves to a mere impulsive, spontaneous, heady tendency in life, and the more of conscious choice, of deliberate and sagacious purpose we infuse into our existence, the more reasonable and safe will be our conduct under all circumstances? And this is especially true in a state of society like our own, where the influence and example of others operate upon us in ways which almost deprive us of our independence, if we do not assert it to ourselves by forming our own plans, and sitting in calm judgment upon the best method of life.

Supposing, however, that no formal, rigid method can be generally recommended, because it would be to some unnatural, and to others stiff, cramping, or oppressive, there must, nevertheless, be a common wisdom applicable in some simple lessons to life. As there are approved rules for discretion, economy, safety, and excellence in every subordinate end or object of existence, there must be a use for a good understanding and a deliberate plan for it as a whole. It is a deplorable thing for any one merely to waste his life,

-how much more of loss and grief that waste involves, who of us can know ?

The essential wisdom which enters into a good plan or method of life must be simple and easily put in practice. It may be taken for granted, that every one who seeks conscientiously and deliberately to form a plan of life will sooner or later recognize these three aims: he will wish to be respectable, to be useful, and to succeed eminently, or at least moderately, through his own exertions. His plan will embrace exertion, prosperity, and integrity. No plan of life which does not recognize those three conditions will bear being looked at by a thoughtful mind, or prove satisfactory to any right-principled person. A plan that does embrace them all must be interesting to a large number of all classes around us. Young persons certainly, who are not willing to creep on through existence as mere ciphers, or encumbrances or positive pests of society, must approve such a plan, if they can only be induced to engage their own minds earnestly in it. Indeed, where in all the scenes which society offers is there a finer spectacle, or a more elevated object, than that of a young person using the first glow and pride of mature years to form a good plan of life, a really. conscientious and intelligent plan, which embraces true dignity, hearty effort, and the hope of honorable success?

And such a plan may be had in view, not only in youth, but in more advanced stages of life. There are many persons who have got far on upon the probable extent of their existence in a sort of spasmodic, irregular, impulsive way, led from year to year by no fixed methods, through blunders and follies and all sorts of half-purposes. They are, of course, not satisfied with themselves, nor likely ever to be if they go on in the same way. They have alternately fits of folly and fits of wisdom, sometimes very rigid, exact, economical, prudent, at other times reckless, wasteful, and inconsiderate. The simple reason of it all is, that they have never formed any plan of life, nor set before themselves in

order, one by one, the great aims which they should pursue according to their relative value, and the subordinate aims which they should incidentally catch at as opportunity offers, or let go if they require much trouble. These persons may say, It is too late for us to think about a plan of life, as fixed habits and the chain of circumstances have made it impossible for us essentially to alter our course. But, thank God! it is never too late for us to infuse a good, a wiser purpose into our existence, to raise our aims, to purify, elevate, and ennoble these natures which God has given us.

The simple wisdom of a good plan of life will be found to consist chiefly in a method something like this, to take the common aims of life, which are instinctively, or by force of prevailing custom, the most regarded, to look at them. carefully, to clear them of all mere fancies, to distinguish the false and the true in them, and then to follow out the strict, honest, judicious course which will be sure to open itself before us. We shall find at once that there is room and occasion for every one to exercise an independent judg ment upon many matters which seem to be settled by public estimate and opinion. It is always well to be influenced in degrees by general opinion, but never to such a degree as to be blindly led in anything. It will be an open question to you through life, how far you are to be influenced by the advice or opinion or example of others. Now we know very well that there are those who will lead us into follies, but will never afford us the least help in getting out of them. It is curious to observe the workings of this fact in speculations, in fashion, in dissipation, in risks of every sort. Therefore it will always be found wise to question all current maxims, all prevailing views of things, -to question them, not for the sake of oddity or eccentricity, but for the sake of safety, and to discover our own way.

There is that one word, Respectability. The definitions which might be given of that word would almost fill a whole dictionary. Sometimes it means a person's clothes,

and sometimes it does not mean even so much as his clothes, but only the shape of them. O, what lures there are in that word, and in other similar words, like "gentility" and "high standing" and "good society," — what lures there are in them to catch and deceive those who do not interpret the words in their own plan of life by the light of a clear, penetrating, independent, and honest judgment! There is that word, Ambition; its right or wrong use will make all the difference in the world in a plan of life. A just and proper ambition, call it pride or anything else, if so be you mean what is right by it, is one of the noblest incentives which civilization brings with it. The pride of independence, of a position honestly gained and well sustained, is commendable everywhere. The lowest form which this Ambition takes is that of mere outward show; the highest, is that of real excellence. The very first condition of respectability is, that a person be able to respect himself. Tried by that test, what a strange overturning would there be of our social standards, as they apply to individuals, on the score of respectability! We must learn to try ourselves by it.

One of the first things to be settled, then, in a plan of life, is to draw the line between mere outward accomplishments, adornments, and attractions, and real, sterling acquisitions of every kind. All that gives grace and refinement and elegance to character and life is to be greatly desired; but such things are to be made the fruits of its labors and virtues, not the substitutes for them. It makes a great difference in one's plan of life whether he aims for a life of pleasure, or seeks only to enjoy the healthful and innocent pleasure which comes as the result of exertion and usefulness. In our artificial society there are some who are born to, or who easily obtain, the means of lavish expense and luxury, and who, without any wrong to themselves or others, can gather about them all the elegances of life. The sight of these is a temptation to many, which makes them envy the enjoy

ment, while it renders labor and effort and self-denial distasteful. And so there grows up a class of persons - a class always increasing-who make wealth their standard, and regard it chiefly as a means of outward display. Here is room for the honest action of an independent mind. Do not follow in this the example of any one, till you have distinguished the true from the false in all the show which is worn upon the face of things.

Exertion, effort, employment of some kind, steadily, constantly, and cheerfully pursued, that is the staple element of a good plan of life. Call it work, call it even a task if you please, but face it manfully, meet it day by day, as you value your true respectability and success. We often hear the uneasy and the dissatisfied speak of the tasks of life as drudgery. Well, there is no denying that there is a sameness and a weariness about any uniform employment. And if any will show us how to rid ourselves of that without having to bear something worse, we should be glad to hear of it. But after all, what is called the drudgery of any daily employment often lies rather in the reluctant, restless spirit with which it is engaged in, than in anything hard in the work itself. Now it stands to reason that, in our artificial state of society, there must be a close subdivision of employments, that they must be regularly and systematically performed, that all must be diligent and faithful in their own spheres, in order that society may prosper, and the vast sum of general good may be divided into its ten thousand little rills, which will convey to every family and every individual the blessed rewards of industry and healthful comfort.

There is weariness and exhaustion in any steady employment, and sometimes the most diligent and earnest will become depressed under the daily pressure of care. But if we can in this way fairly meet our portion in life's needful discipline, and suffer nothing worse, let us be thankful. The daily blessing comes with the daily occupation, and