A HEARTLESS PERSONAGE.

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myself of gratuitous services from a poor man; so, thanking him for his kindness, and assuring him that I should find the addresses without difficulty, I dismissed him. I had partaken of a very moderate breakfast, and, as it was three o'clock in the afternoon when I called at the office of Mr. Nichols, I felt keenly the want of refreshment; but I wished to see the solicitor, if possible, before supplying this want. One of the clerks took the letter and went into an inner office with it. In a minute or two I was requested to enter. Mr. Nichols pointed to a chair. I bowed, and took the seat. My heart beat fast. Should this application fail, what was to be done? I had two or three letters besides, but they were only to small tradesmen, from whom, I thought, I had nothing to hope. Mr. Nichols scrutinised my features through a pair of gold-rimmed spectacles, and then asked my age, what I had been accustomed to do, what references besides Mr. Fraser's I could give him, and what I wished to do in Edinburgh. I satisfied him as far as I could on these points.

Well," said he, “ young man, there are more clerks in this city than there is any use for. Many young men, regularly brought up to the profession, are in want of employment, and, consequently, in want of bread. Not a few of them fall into loose habits. Intemperance and its accompanying vices follow. It is a dangerous place for a youth fresh from the country; and, as you know nothing about our profession, you really stand no chance whatever. I would therefore advise you to return at once to your native place, and to your friends." "Thank you, Sir," I said, rising and taking my hat. As I did so, my hand trembled, and I staggered a little.

"Ah!" said he, "my advice is needed. You have been drinking to-day."

"Sir!" I exclaimed, emphatically, "you do me injustice."

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A FRIEND IN NEED.

Oh, of course I do; but we shall not argue that point at present. It is my dinner-hour."

I bowed, and retired. When I reached the street I laid hold on a lamp-post for support-mortification, anger, and disappointment, together with fatigue and hunger, having overcome me. I had been in this position, perhaps, five minutes, when some one touched my shoulder. An amiable-looking, well-dressed young man said, "I beg your pardon, Sir, but were you not in Mr. Nichols's office just now?"

"I was, Sir."

"I thought so. I am one of his clerks, and heard what passed between you and him. Have you dined ?” "I have not, Sir."

"Well, if you are not better engaged, I shall be happy if you will take a chop with me."

It

I thanked him, and began to frame some excuse. was clear that he comprehended the state of matters, for he added, smiling

"Nay, don't refuse. I have been out of employment myself, and know that finances are not generally overabundant at such times. I want you to eat a chop at my expense to-day, and I shall eat one at yours, some fine day, soon. Here, take my arm.'

Such unlooked-for kindness, under such circumstances, was like the discovery of a stream of water in the desert; and the contrast between the spirit of Mr. Nichols and that of his clerk, Frederick Sinclair, taught me a lesson of considerable importance.

I had made two closely related subjects my study for some years-humanity and divinity. Everything which could cast light upon either, and upon their mutual relations, was valued. Sometimes painful, and sometimes agreeable circumstances yielded this light; but whatever the distinctive character of the medium might be, the information afforded was prized for its own sake. The secret wish that I might, and the secret hope that I

"I had been in this position, perhaps, five minutes, when some one touched my shoulder."

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should, some day be a preacher of the gospel, lay at the centre of my heart, and animated and sustained me through years of struggle; and when events took place which seemed to affirm the impossibility of this, the depression of the spirit was only of short continuance. With God all things are possible. I opened my Bible that evening at the forty-second of Isaiah, and read, "I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not ; I will lead them in paths that they have not known; I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them." I believe that the desire to which I have alluded was implanted by Him, for it sprang up simultaneously with the light and peace referred to in a former chapter; and if it came from God, I felt that He both could and would realize it. Still, occurrences which seemed to rebuke the desire, and to suggest the impropriety of cherishing it, led to self-examination and patience; and I am now prepared to advise all students of humanity to examine themselves faithfully, narrowly, repeatedly, if they wish to be successful students. I think all hearts have very much in common; and if so, he who has traced the source of his own thoughts, emotions, feelings, passions, and desires, will generally succeed in forming a just estimate of his fellows. And I am certain that no man can understand the Christian system while he is ignorant of the peculiarities of the human heart. The science of moral anatomy is an indispensable auxiliary to the science of theology. They should be studied together; and whilst they mutually illustrate each other, the light of the latter should be made to fall upon the former. He who brings the light of the gospel to his own heart will learn much concerning both. But the attempt to study man in the absence of this light will be labour in vain, so far as the grand purposes of intelligent existence are concerned.

I felt, at the time referred to, that I was at school.