character. When it is desired in communicating instruction, it is pursued with industry and care, by which knowledge is increased, and beneficial influences exerted throughout communities. But the evils arising from the love of fame are numerous. The inordinate desire of it, leads to unjust actions, and very frequently persons resort to the most debasing means, thereby hazarding reputation and endangering lives. It was through love of fame, that Alexander conquered Darius king of Persia; and through it also, the English have been anxious to excel in their Army and Navy.

III.-BOOKS.

By means of books, chiefly, knowledge is acquired. Those persons who make a proper use of books, gain a great deal of happiness for themselves, and they are gratified to place their attainments in such a light as to engage the attention and benefit those with whom they are connected. There are disadvantages attending books; those which are written merely for amusement, and are altogether fictitious, so employ the minds of some, as to destroy all desire for beneficial reading, and consequently, the mind remains in ignorance, destitute of that real pleasure and strength, which springs from a cultivation of those intellectual and moral powers, with which man is endowed by his Creator.

Book is the general name of almost every kind of written composition. Books are chiefly the means by which the knowledge of one part of mankind is conveyed to another. They, like many other noble discoveries, originated in the necessity of human nature. In all ages of the world, man was inclined to cultivate knowledge, and books were written to communicate it. A great amount of time was consumed in writing books in ancient times, and yet, they were not as legible as those which are now in use. They were written on stone and on leaves of plants; afterwards, wax and leather were introduced, and parchment was prepared, and lastly paper.

But the extension of knowledge was comparatively small, until the fifteenth century, when the art of printing was discovered, since which time knowledge has been widely spread. There was a large library at Alexandria, which was burnt by the Saracens. By books the knowledge, which is extended to all parts of the land, becomes the property of every individual, and thus it is that every one has opportunities of improving the mind. They enable the mind to form almost as distinct an idea of the customs of the people of past ages, as though they were now existing. The effects books have upon mankind, are remarkable in raising them above animals void of reason. An exorbitant price is not required for them now, nor are they so long a time in the process of publication. A multiplicity of books does not in itself constitute the means of improvement; but such as contain important and useful facts, and these read with attention. The advantages of books may be seen, by making a comparison between the effects of the possession of them and the want of them. Without them, we would have no histories, which are indispensable in a complete education. Books are a great source of wealth to successful authors; but, while there are many books that are greatly beneficial, there are others that do immense injury. Books may be compared to springs; they are sources of useful learning, which refreshes the mind.

IV. INDUSTRY.

Industry is application with diligence. Whatever is the employment engaged in, it must be pursued with industry in order to obtain any advantage by it.

Industry originates in a desire to be provided for and happy; and no one, who indulges in idleness, can possess this happiness. A person of industrious habits is esteemed, while the opinions of an indolent one, are disregarded and himself shunned. At Rome, a person of industry was generally more respected than the Consul. Industry produces happiness in a community as well as on individuals. One engaged in any affair, and who is not attentively employed, is the cause of great disturbance and disappointment to others, and finally, all confidence is lost with respect to all that is attempted to be performed. There could be none of the great inventions which distinguish late ages of the world, except through industry.

We see examples of industry in early ages. Through it, the pyramids of the Egyptians were constructed. By industry alone we ascend the hill of Science, and by it we accomplish almost every undertaking. The only path to wealth and happiness is that of industry. There has never been a distinguished person who did not cultivate the spirit of industry. Genius itself may be outstripped by intense application, in the attainment of any object. Franklin distinguished himself in natural philosophy and literature. By it, Demosthenes surpassed in eloquence, and Archimedes in mathematics. A person who wishes to excel in any employment or study, cannot indulge the least hope of that attainment, as long as he remains indolent. The advantages of industry may be seen by comparing it with the effects of idleness. One who is industrious, is an ornament to the society in which he moves, while one of idleness is its bane. Industry is a quality which is much to be esteemed by all persons of good sense.

V.-HISTORY.

History is a record of truth. If a book be written in which all the important facts of a country are noted, it is called history. It acquaints us with characters and transactions, and gives us a knowledge of the most distant nations, as well as those of the present day. Numerous are the subjects of which histories may be written. Some of the distinguished historians of Ancient times, were Sallust, Pliny, Livy and Rollin. Among the Moderns are Gibbon, Robertson and Hume. It is history in general that causes the improvement of mankind, by giving them a view of the powers of each other, showing how they have improved from the most barbarous state to that which we now see in the most refined nations of the world. What a different picture do the inhabitants of the forest present, in their favorite exercises of hunting and fishing, and in their wars, from that now exhibited in the advancement made in all the arts and elegancies of life! History presents to us an idea of the Roman people, as well as an example of many other nations, showing what course they pursued to become great, how they prospered, and also how their ruin was accomplished, and in what it originated, so that we may avoid it as far as it is wrong, and imitate it wherein we see it is right.

In the example of nations, it gives us a rule by which we may judge what government is best, and it teaches that virtue is the great principle on which the happiness of a nation depends. History is not only useful, but it is a source of amusement. The singularities of the ancients afford amusement, as well as the anecdotes and witticisms of distinguished men. Had there been no history, probably, the arts and sciences would have remained in the same uncultivated state they were centuries ago. Every

country should have its own history, if not to preserve its glorious deeds, at least to have on record those of its great men.

VI.-COMMERCE.

Commerce is the exchange of the productions of one country for those of another. Manufactures increasing, and produce becoming great, means were taken to dispose of some, hence the origin of commerce. One country is supplied with productions which were requisite in another, and commerce was introduced for mutual benefit.

As soon as men were formed into large bodies, and the productions of other countries were known to them, they desired to purchase them with the productions of their own. We read in history of the Phoenicians and the Jews exchanging with the Tyrians, by which they accumulated great wealth, therefore commerce is of an ancient date. In ancient times it was confined chiefly to the Tyrians and Phoenicians, but more recently it has been undertaken by the Carthagenians, Italians, and Spaniards, and at the present time, the English, French and Americans, together with almost every nation on the globe, are engaged in it.

But the commerce of the ancients was not to be compared with that of the moderns, who, from their extensive cultivation of the arts and sciences, have made it a great source of wealth and improvement. The people of the United States have distinguished themselves in commercial pursuits.

Commerce produces a spirit of industry, and promotes intercourse among nations, which tends to remove the prejudice existing and advance civilization. The spirit of commerce prompted the discovery and civilization of America. Columbus, sailing west to find a nearer passage to the Indies, for the purpose of increasing commerce, discovered the western Continent. If it did not exist, countries would be crowded with produce, and the people would live in indolence, ingenuity would lie at rest, lands uncultivated and going to destruction. Without commerce, no nation would aspire higher than another, all would be at one common level, and consequently there would be little improvement of any kind. In short, had it not been for commerce, there would be no civilization, except that of the Egyptians, perhaps, and some of their colonies.

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CURIOUS ORIENTAL CUSTOMS.

There are many traits of character and customs in which the Arabs and Turks are our antipodes. They shave the head, but not the chin, and we the reverse. With us the uncovering of the head in the presence of another is a mark of respect; with them a mark of disrespect. When they go into a place of worship they keep on the hat, and take off the shoes and slippers; we do the opposite. They mount on the right side of a horse, and we on the left. They write from right to left, and we from left to right. We show our good-breeding by taking the outside when we pass persons on the street; they by passing nearest to the wall. They do the honors of the table by serving themselves first; we by serving ourselves last. If a friend inquires after your wife, you regard it as a compliment; to inquire of theirs is an insult. Their mourning dress is white; ours is black. They finish their wooden houses from the top downwards, and we from the foundation up.-Bausman's Sinai and Zion

VOL. XVII.-10.

"Dust are all the hands that wrought;
Books are sepulchres of thought:
The dead laurels of the dead
Rustle for a moment only,

Like the withered leaves in lonely
Church-yards at some passing tread."

Suddenly the flame sinks down;
Sink the rumors of renown:

And alone the night wind drear
Clamors louder, wilder, vaguer;
"Tis the brand of Melager

Dying on the hearth-stone here!"

And I answer: "Though it be,
Why should that discomfort me?
No endeavor is in vain;

Its reward is in the doing,

And the rapture of pursuing

Is the prize the vanquished gain.

PLANTED IN THE LORD'S HOUSE.

BY REV. S. H. GIESY.

The spring-tide is again upon us, with its beauty and its lessons. Above all the seasons of the year, is this one, of quickened germs and renewed vitality, replete with moral and spiritual instruction. Nature is a prefigurement of grace. In the lower world of nature, in all its seasons and in all its kingdoms, the Christian mind perceives apt and beautiful illustrations of the truths and operations belonging to the higher, supernatural world. In his inmost soul the poet felt this, when he penned these lines:

"What if earth

Be but the shadow of heaven and things therein,
Each to other like, more than on earth is taught."

This striking analogy between the natural and supernatural worlds is not a happy accident, but springs from inward necessity. They belong to each other, like the seal and its impression, like the mould and the casting, like the type and the thing typified. Products of the same Divine mind, they are linked to each other by secret but sensible affinity. This harmony between the two worlds has been continually recognized by the deepest minds. If one characteristic of the teachings of our Lord be more marked than any other, it is His constant use of nature in the illustration of higher, spiritual truths. The most casual reader of the gospels has not failed to note the frequency and force of this oft-recurring phrase: "The kingdom of God is like unto" this or that. The ancient scriptures are also full of this deep, inward agreement holding between the natural and spiritual worlds. Hence, the recurrence of those figures, by means of