Imatges de pàgina
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son to whom it belongs, you can ascertain with considerable accuracy the sizè, color, shape', weight', and valué, of any article whatever. A person possessed of one is thus saved from the necessity of asking a thousand questions', and trying a variety of troublesome experiments', which would otherwise be necessary'; and such a slow and laborious process would, after all, not succeed half so well' as a single application of this admirable instrument."

George. If they are such very useful things, I wonder that every body, that can at all afford it', does not have one. Father. They are not so uncommon as you may supposè; I myself happen to know several individuals who are pos

sessed of one or two of them.

Charles. How large is it', father'? could I hold it in my hand'?

Father. You might: but I should be very sorry to trust mine' with you!

George. You will be obliged to take very great care of it then'?

Father. Indeed I must': I intend every night to inclose it within the small screen I mentioned'; and it must, besides', occasionally be washed in a certain colorless fluid kept for the purpose; but this is such a delicate operation, that persons, I find', are generally reluctant to perform it. But, notwithstanding the tenderness of this instrument, you will be surprised to hear that it may be darted to a great distance', without the least injury, and without any danger of losing it. Charles. Indeed'? and how high can you dart it'?

Father. I should be afraid of telling you to what a distance it will reach, lest you should think that I am jesting with you.

George. Higher than this house'? I suppose.

Father. Much higher.

Charles. Then how do you get it again'?

Father. It is easily cast down by a gentle movement', that does it no injury.

it.

George. But who can do this'?

Father. The person whose business it is to take care of

Charles. Well, I cannot understand you at all`; but do tell us, father', what it is chiefly used for.

Father. Its uses are so various that I know not which to specify. It has been found very serviceable in decipher

ing old manuscripts'; and, indeed, it has its use in modern prints. It will assist us greatly in acquiring all kinds of knowledge; and without it, some of the most sublime parts of creation would have been matters of mere conjecture. It must be confessed, however, that very much depends on a proper application of it'; for it is possessed by many persons who appear to have no adequate sense of its value', and who employ it only for the most low and common purposes', without even thinking, apparently, of the noble uses for which it is designed', or of the exquisite gratifications which it is capable of affording. It is, indeed, in order to excite in your minds some higher sense of its value than you might otherwise have entertained', that I am giving you this previous description.

George. Well, then, tell us something more about it.

Father. It is of a very penetrating quality'; and can often discover secrets which could be detected by no other means. It must be owned, however', that it is equally prone to reveal them.

Charles. What! can it speak, then'?

Father. It is sometimes said to do sò, especially when it happens to meet with one of its own species.

George. Of what color is it'?

Father. They vary considerably in this respect.

George. Of what color is yours'?

Father. I believe, of a darkish color', but, to confess the truth', I never saw it in my life.

Both. Nēvēr sāw it in your life'?

Father. No, nor do I wish to see it'; but I have seen a representation of it, which is so exact that my curiosity is quite satisfied.

George. But why don't you look at the thing itself'?

Father. I should be in great danger of losing it, if I did. Charles. Then you could buy another'.

Father. Nay, I believe that I could not prevail on any body to part with such a thing.

George. Then how did you get this one'?

Father. I am so fortunate as to be possessed of mōre than one': but how I got them I really cannot recollect.

Charles. Not recollect'! why, you said that you brought them from London to night'.

Father. So I did'; I should be sorry if I had left them behind me.

Charles. Tell', father', do tell us the name of this curious instrument'.

Father. It is called'-an EYE.

LESSON XLVIII.

THE TEMPER.

SOME persons never seem to think of such a thing as a system of training for their feelings. They read and study to gain information, and to improve their minds'; they cultivate the powers of thought', and memory, and attention'; but they let their tempers, and their feelings', run loose. When their anger is excited, they indulge it'; when little troubles and perplexities arise, they give way freely to vexation and fretfulness'; when disappointed, or opposed in their wishes', they are morose and cross about it. Before some persons, they would perhaps try to avoid letting it be seên how they exactly feel', but they take no pains to check the feelings themselves; they only endeavor to keep them out of sight. Even many truly pious young persons'-those who are trying to please God and do all their duty-neglect the part of it which relates to the regulation of their habitual disposition of mind. They pray to be made holy and humble', but they do not consider that it is also necessary to keep a constant watch over themselves'; to be on their guard against wrong feelings; to be constantly endeavoring to overcome the faults of temper, and disposition', to which they know themselves to be subject.

In

If we would do any thing to improve our characters in any respect whatever, we must lay ourselves out systematically for it. It is not enough to resolve in a general way', always tō dō right. We shall be surprised into doing wrong, a thousand times', when we are off our guard. order to be on the watch against these surprises, we must set distinctly before us' the wrong things which we are most in danger of doing. A boy resolved, one new year's day, that he would not be unkind to his little sister throughout the whole year. But he did not consider what temptations to treat her unkindly' would be most likely to occur. He thought it would be a very pleasant experiment to try',

but he laid no plan for guarding against the danger of forgetting', or breaking his resolution. It turned out as might have been expected. He was a very passionate boy'; and it happened, not more than an hour after he had declared his resolution', that, becoming angry with his little sister for refusing to give up something which she held in her hand', he gave her a blow upon the head', from the effects of which she did not recover for many days.

And now, as to government of temper. It would be to no purpose for any individuals who may read this page, to resolve, even in good earnest', never to show any wrong feelings for the time to comè; but ask yourselves what wrong feelings you are most prone to indulgè, and then, in reliance upon God's assistancé, endeavor steadily to resist them. We must be making constant endeavors to eradicate what is wrong in our tempers and dispositions', if we would become what we ought to be.

I will suppose that one individual has a quick, hasty temper. If a companion speaks ill of you, or insults you, or does you an injury, your anger is excited at once. The feeling, if you will look at it', is always one which leads you to wish some injury to the offender in return. Something like revenge is always concerned. If a passionate boy receives a blow from a companion, his very first impulse is to return" the blow. If he is insulted, he tries to think of something insulting in reply. If he hears of something that has been said to his disadvantage, how readily, in the spirit of revengé, he seizes upon any thing which can be brought against his calumniator! Can you think of a case', in which you felt very angry with some person', when you would have felt not a little satisfaction in seeing the individual suffer for the thing which provoked your anger'?

The question, whether it is not right to be angry sômetimes, has been talked about a great deal. The text, "Be ye angry and sin not," is quoted in the discussion'; and, again', we are pointed to the example of our Savior, who is said, in certain cases', to have been angry with some perverse and obstinate individuals. But, certainly', any thing like a feeling of revênge or ill'-will' must be wrong. Strong indignation against sin' is the only kind of anger which the Bible can be supposed to justify. The Savior never, in his whole life, experienced the feeling of ill-will, or a desire to see any one suffer', merely to gratify a feeling of personal

resentment.

He rebuked wicked persons severely for the purpose of putting a stop to sin'; but injuries to himselfTM never made him angry. He never returned so much as a rēproāchful word for the most insulting or abusive treatment. Strong disapprōbātion', in view of culpable actions', every virtuous mind will feel. But it is a very different feeling from this, that will lead a boy to return blow' for blow', or insult' for insult', or, in any way to injure, or treat unkindly', one who may have done him an injury or unkindness. This is resentResentment is always wrong. Retaliation is always wrong. Evil is never to be returned for evil', in word', or action', in thought, or feeling'.

ment.

Never allow yourself a shadow of an excuse, then, for indulgence in anger. Never say, "Well', it is enough to make any body angry." You have been angry a great many times in your lifé, and you will be angry a great many more times`; but it has been, in every casé, and it will` bé, in every case', a şin-one for which, in deep repentance', you should seek forgiveness.

Some persons are very much afraid of not being thought to evince a becoming spirit, in the case of injuries done them. They will take the greatest pains', in the case of an insult, for instance', not to let it pass unresented. But a spirit of forbearance is a far more becoming spirit than that of resentment. A person may possess a noble, courageous, and honorable spirit', and yet, at the same time, be mild`, and forbearing', and forgiving. Edward Clayton was such a character as this. He was one day accused, by a mean spirited boy in school, of having stolen a ball which he had missed from his desk. The idea of Ned Clayton's stealing was preposterous', and the accusation most insulting. No other boy would have borne it. "Why don't you knock the blockhead flat'?" they called out to Clayton. Perhaps it isn't worth while to take that trouble'," replied Clayton, mildly. "He will come to himself' when he finds his ball." Clayton's indignation was excited at any thing mean or dishonorable, as quick as any boy's'; but it seldom led him to retaliation. It happened, not long after the ball affair', the same boy who had accused Clayton', was himself the subject of undeserved ill-treatment from a number of the older boys', whose displeasure he had undesignedly incurred. "Now is your timè, Clayton'," repeated one and another of the boys', as Clayton approached the ring who were sur

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