And then the anxious inquiry arises, Has our unpretending serial fulfilled the purpose for which it was sent forth? The lives of great and good men have been set before its youthful readers have : any been led to higher and nobler views of truth and duty? Some of the wonders of natural science have been described has a more lively and intelligent interest in the works of the all-wise Creator been thereby awakened? Scripture life and manners have been illustrated: is the sacred Book better understood and more fully appreciated? The claims of religion have been enforced in many ways: has any young reader been brought to humble and hearty selfconsecration to the service of the Redeemer ?

The Editor often proposes such questions to himself, but his readers alone can answer them. He nevertheless hopes and believes that this scattering of truth on earth's broad field shall one day be followed by a bright harvest,-abundant as that which a kind Providence has so lately bestowed upon us,although the sower may not be permitted to reap.

To the many friends who have rendered able, cheerful, and judicious co-operation during the past twelve months, the Editor returns his heartiest thanks; and for the future commends the renewed efforts which another year is to witness, to the cordial acceptance of his young readers, and to the guidance and blessing of the Most High.

December, 1863.

ombing ent of boMEN WORTH IMITATING [fro

BENJAMIN
IN FRANKLIN to gaizaold

HERE is no book so universally referred to every day by our whole population, in their several stations www.and duties, as the almanack. It would be ridiculous

to describe its contents-the simplest schoolboy

knows them. We all know, too, that its price is

lower than that of any annual publication. Hundreds of thousands are given away, as a vehicle in which some enterprising clothier, chemist, &c., &c., makes known his marvels of cheapness, or wonderful cures, as the case may be. One of its principal features is its record cf great men, whose names are affixed to certain days, as being either those on which they entered this world, or were called hence, never more to appear here below. Some have left behind them, in their works, monuments which will last to the end of our history, and which stand out boldly before us, either warning us to avoid becoming such as they were, or BIBLE CLASS MAGAZINE.] [MARCH, 1863.

D

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MEN WORTH IMITATING.

beckoning us to follow their example. As on the tombstones in our cemeteries, so here, the names of the scoffer, the sabbathbreaker, the drunkard, stand side by side with that of the simplehearted, faithful Christian, who departed full of hope in a glorious resurrection. And what is the only record? Their names, and the days on which they died. Oh proud, vain, ambitious man! is this no lesson for thee?

This month we select the name of Benjamin Franklin, and in briefly sketching his career, we trust that his example will stimulate any who are dejected or cast down in their laudable endeavours to raise themselves by increasing their stock of knowledge, or are endeavouring to carry out some well-devised scheme which, simple in itself, may yet prove of inestimable value to their fellow-men.

Let us now see what Benjamin Franklin did, that in any way will interest and instruct us. Briefly, in his own words, "From poverty and obscurity, in which I was born, and in which I passed my early years, I have raised myself to a state of affluence, and some degree of celebrity in the world."

Franklin was born in Boston, North America, on the 17th January, 1706, and died on the 17th April, 1790, in the eightyfifth year of his age.

Between these two dates are comprised many an "up" and "down," many a failure and success, many a "lucky turn (as folks call it) and bitter disappointment; but our space will not permit us to do more than glance at the chief events in the career of this "hero of common sense."

The fifteenth child of a family numbering seventeen in all, and belonging to the working class, Benjamin Franklin certainly could not boast of outward helps to fame. But the character of his parents was a fortune in itself. They feared God, possessed sound good sense, and knew the value of knowledge. Hence their little son was placed in the Boston Grammar School, and kept there as long as the slender resources of his worthy father would permit. The boy made good use of his time; but at the age of ten years it became necessary to remove him, and the future ambassador and statesman began to earn his living as errand-boy to his father, who had undertaken the business of a tallow-chandler. The boy disliked his new occupation intensely, and longed to go to sea; but his parents kindly but firmly said "No," and Benjamin had long before learnt the lesson of filial obedience. The habit thus formed, with others acquired in the same great.home-school, not only saved him from

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many a snare, but also laid the foundation of his subsequent eminence. The industry which marked his whole career was traceable to his father's counsels, generally "capped" by a favourite text-" Seest thou a man diligent in his business, he shall stand before kings ;"—a promise literally fulfilled in the case of Benjamin Franklin. He also derived much benefit from a little book by Dr. Cotton Mather, entitled "An Essay to do Good."

Two or three years more, and we find the lad apprenticed to his elder brother, James, who had set up as a printer in the town. As his kind father had anticipated, Benjamin was delighted with his new employment. Here his industry, truthfulness, temperance, and indomitable perseverance, became more and more conspicuous. He wasted no time in idleness or vicious amusements, but diligently employed every spare moment in cultivating his mental powers. Among other things, he practised English composition, seeking to improve his style by studying a volume of the Spectator, which he had bought at a book-stall.

At length, when James Franklin commenced a newspaper, the youth resolved to try his hand as an anonymous contributor. He wrote an article in a disguised hand, and, under cover of the night, left it at his brother's office. The production attracted much notice, and was followed by others, which, when the author's name was at length disclosed, rendered him a favourite with the literary visitors. James Franklin, unhappily, grew jealous of these attentions, and began to treat his brother with unkindness, and even cruelty. The hostility was interrupted for a time by the imprisonment of the elder brother, for some criticisms on the Government, during which period the paper was published and edited by Benjamin. But on James's liberation, he ungratefully renewed his ill-treatment, and the result was that the young author and editor fairly ran away.

This step was one of great peril, and nearly proved his ruin. He made his way to New York, but could get no work there. He was recommended to proceed to Philadelphia, and reached that city almost penniless. Here he obtained employment in a printing office, where his industry and frugality enabled him considerably to improve his position, and procured him the respect and confidence of his master's customers. An unexpected, and apparently advantageous, offer on the part of the Governor, Sir W. Keith, to set up Franklin in business, if he would go to England and procure types, led, first, to a visit home, where he was received with open arms by all the family, except his brother James, and afterwards to a voyage

to this country, in which he arrived at the close of the year 1724. But what was the young man's mortification to discover that the Governor's promises were utterly delusive! He had, as it were, to begin life again. He entered a printing office in the city, and while there, a metaphysical pamphlet, which he wrote and published, procured him an introduction to several distinguished men. In about two years he returned to Philadelphia, where he soon after commenced business on his own account. His habits soon gained for him a respectable living, and he entered upon a long career of prosperity. He obtained, by the most unremitting assiduity, not only an honourable position among his fellow-tradesmen, but received various public appointments, and was at length elected a burgess, to represent the citizens in Assembly. He continued, at the same time, to cultivate his tastes for literary and scientific pursuits; and his discovery, in particular, of the identity of lightning with the electric fluid, by means of a silken kite, of which all our readers have often heard, gained him a world-wide reputation. The Royal Society of England elected him a Fellow of that distinguished body, and the degree of Doctor of Laws was conferred upon him by the Universities of St. Andrew's, Edinburgh, and Oxford. At home, he founded a public library, and laid the foundation of the future American Academy of Sciences, and also of the University of Philadelphia. Subsequently, he became Minister-Plenipotentiary to the court of France, and on his final return to his native country, in 1785, he was appointed Governor of the State of Philadelphia.

It may be well said, that the secret of his success was not in the mere possession of talents of a high order, but in the cultivation of his mental powers; the untiring energy with which he grappled with every obstacle; the determination to obtain knowledge; the faithfulness with which he served all his employers; and the firm, honourable mind, which allowed no base thought or action.

THE TWO RIVERS.-A WORD ON COMPANIONSHIP.

IN Switzerland there are two rivers which mingle their waters and form one river. The water of the one is turbid, the other very clear. When they first meet, the waters refuse to mingle. The clean and the muddy waters flow along, forming one river; but you can clearly distinguish the one from the other. By -degrees the clear, bright waters of the

one become united with those of the other; the clearness is lost for ever.

Virtuous and vicious persons can associate for a time, keeping their characters distinct. But if the association be continued, the virtuous, pure character will become soiled by the vicious. No one can associate freely with the wicked without becoming in some measure like them.