eternal life and to this end, he appears to employ the best means; such as God himself prescribes. And this wisdom which is from above, teaches him to conduct himself wisely in all the relations of life. He is wise as a tradesman ;-being honest and industrious; and exerting his ingenuity in his calling, as a talent which God has given him; so that he is one of the most ingenious mechanics in the neighbourhood. He is wise as a neighbour-living in peace and charity with all around him. He is wise as the master of a family ;-being contented with such things as he has ; never attempting to vie with his superiors, nor aiming to be thought what he is not. He showed himself to be a wise man, by choosing for a partner a wise woman; that is, a pious and prudent woman: and he conducts himself wisely as a husband and a father-guiding his house with discretion, and training his children to tread in his own steps. He eminently displays also one of the invariable characteristics of true wisdom by his modest and unassuming deportment. But above all, and as the cause of all, this man is wise, in making it his chief concern to be a Christian; not merely by profession, but in earnest. His religion, you see, is of the true sort. It not only gives him a hope of being happy hereafter, but it makes him happy now. shines in his face, and reigns in his dwelling. In that solitary room, where many would think it a punishment to pass an hour, he enjoys, daily, the high honour and happiness of holding communion with his Maker; while the noisy world below are disquieting themselves in vain, with every passing vanity. And in his daily walk and conversation he has this testimony, that he pleases God. Now, children, have I not performed my promise ?— tell me, if you have not seen, according to the strictest sense of the word, A WISE MAN?

It

XXVI.

THE CLEVER FOOL.

Nor very long after the father and his children had paid their visit to the wise man, the effects of a gentleman lately deceased in that neighbourhood, were advertised for sale by auction. As it was well known that his house contained many curiosities, persons for miles round flocked to attend the sale: and, among the rest, this gentleman and his children; for he was so good a father that he suffered no opportunity to escape that might afford instruction or rational amusement to his family.

"Children," said he to them, as they were driving to the place" you remember that some time ago I took you to see a wise man you were surprised by that visit; perhaps you will be still more so when I tell you, that we are going this morning to the late residence of a man, who, according to all that appeared of his character, might with equal propriety have been called a clever fool."

Philip. A clever fool!

Julia. It seems a contradiction.

Frederic. Papa will explain it, I dare say.

Kate. A clever fool!-how droll?

Father. As this poor gentleman was a stranger to you, and as our opinions can now do him neither good nor harm, I do not scruple, with the view of its being useful to ourselves, to relate to you what appeared unfavourable in his character. But let us, at the same time, indulge a charitable hope, that we may, after all, be mistaken in our judgment. Indeed, I could wish, as much as possible, to keep him, as an individual, out of sight. I only mean to explain to you, that a person living, and

acting, as it is commonly reported he did, can claim no higher appellation than that of a clever fool.

Children. Well papa, now tell us how it was.

Father. Nay, stay till we arrive at his house, and have looked about us, and then you shall judge for yourselves.

Upon their arrival at the destined spot, they were charmed with the beauty of the situation, and the pleasant aspect of the residence. The house and grounds were rather compact and elegant, than extensive or magnificent but there was a symmetry and beauty of design which at once pleased the eye, and conveyed an idea of the good taste of the possessor. And as the general view was striking, the detail, when examined, excited still greater admiration. Our party, at first, amused themselves with walking through the park and gardens, which exhibited, at every turn, some ingenious contrivance for pleasure or utility. The gardens displayed a variety of the most beautiful flowers, in the greatest perfection. The green houses were, of themselves, thought worth going many, miles to see, they contained so rare a collection of exotics, and other curious plants, disposed in the most exact order: while fruits, in and out of season, yielded their tempting fragrance in rich profusion. Stately swans adorned the river that wound through the park: while shady alcoves, rosy bowers, classic temples, baths and fountains, at every turn surprised the admiring visiter. The recesses of a shady grove, conducted to a cool and beautiful grotto, which was enriched with some of the most rare and curious specimens in mineralogy. Lastly, they visited a small botanical garden, which afforded them much instruction as well as amusement; for the late possessor was a man of science, and took particular pains with this well arranged collection.

The children were delighted; and not less surprised

when they were assured that of these various embellishments and contrivances he was himself the designer and inventor; and that it was his own taste and ingenuity that was displayed in every part.

Upon entering the mansion, the effect was not less striking. The apartments were disposed and furnished with great taste and elegance; and continually exhibited some novel invention for promoting ease or pleasure, or for avoiding inconvenience. But, what was most interesting, were the valuable collections in the various departments of art and science with which this house was embellished. A capital collection of old pictures, by the best masters, occupied the long gallery. The library was extensive, and contained a well arranged assemblage of the works of the most celebrated authors of every age, and in every language.

They were next shown a cabinet, containing a valuable assortment of ancient coins and medals: after which they visited the laboratory: for it appeared that the deceased possessed a thorough knowledge of chemistry ; and had himself made some ingenious discoveries in that interesting science. Another room was devoted to mechanism; and exhibited models of many of the most useful and ingenious machines of modern invention, some of them displaying improvements of his own. Last of all, ascending to the highest story, they reached the observatory, which was furnished with its appropriate apparatus, and contained the largest telescope these children had ever seen. The gentleman, it was said, frequently passed whole nights in this place: astronomy was his favourite study. For all these things were not collected by him (as is frequently the case in the houses of the rich,) as mere appendages to wealth. The curiosities of science, art, and literature, are commonly enough to be seen in the possession of persons of trifling and vulgar minds, wholly incapable of deriving any other

gratification from them than as articles of show, and who value them merely as they do the other expensive ornaments of their dwellings. But, in this instance, they were possessed by a man of taste and science; who derived genuine pleasure from the pursuits in which he was engaged; and who was therefore, so far, happy, useful, and respectable. When the party descended to the lower part of the house, they found it filled with company, and the great hall exhibited a scene of noise, bustle, and confusion. The auctioneer was, at that moment, expatiating on the value of an article before him, which some were cautiously examining; others were marking their catalogues; each was intent on his own interests, and nothing was less thought of than he to whom all had so lately belonged.

"Let us leave this noisy place, papa," said Julia"it makes me melancholy."--They soon made their way through the crowd; and leaving the mansion, their father led them through a fine plantation to the outskirts of the park, where they soon discovered a little ivy-clad steeple, embowered in dark chesnut trees, surrounded by a few lowly graves, and adorned with one or two stately monuments." Here," said the father, pointing to one of these--" lie the remains of this accomplished person."

"Now then, papa," said Philip-“ pray tell us, though I partly guess, why you call such a clever man a fool. "Because," replied his father--" of his whole existence, which he knew would be endless, he apparently provided for no more than the exceeding small proportion of sixtyeight years. It is true, that to make these sixty-eight years pass pleasantly he spared no pains and we will allow, that he so far succeeded, as to enjoy, during that time, more rational pleasure than most men who live only for this world. But granting this, is it not still the lowest degree of folly for a man to devote all the ener