A basket covered with a cloth,
But not a word she said.
Then to her husband gave a knife,
With many a silent tear;

In haste he tore the cover off,

And saw his child lie there!

"There lies thy babe," the mother said, Oppressed with famine sore!

66

The carpenter struck to the heart,
Fell on his knees straightway;
He wrung his hands, confessed his sins,
And did both weep and pray.
From that same hour the cooper more

He never would behold:

Nor would he to the alehouse go,
Had it been paved with gold.

His wife forgave him all the past,

And soothed his sorrowing mind,

And much he grieved that e'er he wronged
The worthiest of her kind.

By labouring hard, and working late,

By industry and pains,

His cottage was at length redeemed,

And saved were all his gains.

His Sundays now at church were spent,
His home was his delight:

The following verse himself he made,
And read it every night :-

The drunkard murders child and wife,
Nor matters it a pin ;

Whether he stabs them with his knife,

Or starves them with his gin.

25. COMPETENCY.

We do not like stinginess, but man must cut his coat according to his cloth. It is almost every man's privilege, and it becomes his duty to live within his means, not to, but within them. Wealth does not make the man, we admit, and should never be taken into account in our judgment of men, but competence should always be secured, when it can be by the practice of economy and self-denial to only a tolerable extent. It should be secured not so much for others to look upon, or to raise us in the estimation of others, as to secure the consciousness of independence, and the constant satisfaction, which is derived from its acquirement and possession.

An honest mediocrity is the happiest state a man can wish for.*

People who live calm and easy lives, and who are sure of daily employment, are apt to outlast the feverish brain-worker, who exists by the use of his wits. Scarcely anything has such an influence in promoting longevity as an assurance felt to be well grounded, of a comfortable provision for life for all the ordinary wants of our station. He must have no anxieties for to-morrow's bread. He must be free from care.

Enough for our comfort is all we require. How small is the portion we truly enjoy.

From Bewick's Select Fables.

A competent living, and honestly had,

Makes such as are godly, both thankful and glad:
Life, never contented, with honest estate,

Lamented is oft, and repented too late.

A competence is vital to content.

-TUSSER.

Much wealth is corpulence, if not disease;
Sick, or incumber'd is our happiness,

A competence is all we can enjoy.

O be content, where heaven can give no more!

-EDWARD YOUNG.

He, who will not be satisfied with a competency, will not be satisfied with a redundancy.

Abundance is a trouble, but competency brings de

light.

Abundance like want ruins many.

-MAXIM

-MAXIM.

26. CONDUCT.

It is by means of good conduct derived from best precepts and the company of the good, that one succeeds to his object, and a disposition that breaks loose of these (bounds) is sure to fall to the contrary (extreme of) ruin.

-"YOGA VÂSISTHA.”*

A beautiful behaviour is better than a beautiful form.
-EMERSON.

Behaviour is a mirror, in which every one shows

his image.

-GOETHE.

A man reaps as he sows.

-GUJARATI PROVERB.

Who sows thorns will not reap grapes from them.
-ARABIC PROVERB.

We may give advice; but we cannot give conduct.
-ROCHEFOUcauld,

He who is ever intent on good conduct and due reverence to others, who always venerates old age, four happy consequences increasingly attend that man-beauty and strength, and life and peace.

* Translated by Vihâri Lâlâ Mitra.

“DHAMMAPADA.

From the Buddhist Canon, translated by S. Beal.

Nothing is impossible to persons of good conduct.

-VYASA.

Good character is everywhere an ornament.

-OLD SANSKRIT PROVERB.

Intellectual attainments and habits are no security for good conduct, unless they are supported by religi ous principles.

-SOUTHEY.

He who is not free from bad conduct, who has not subdued his passions, who has no concentration of mind, and whose mind is not tranquil, can not reach the Supreme Spirit or God, even by knowledge.

"KATHA UPANISHAT."

1. Persevere against discouragements.

2. Keep your temper.

3. Employ leisure in study, and always have 'some work in hand.

4. Be punctual and methodical in business, and never procrastinate.

5. Never be in a hurry.

6. Preserve self-possession, and do not be talked out of a conviction.

7.

8.

9.

Rise early and be an economist of time.

Maintain dignity without the appearance of pride; manner is something with everybody, and every thing with some.

Be guarded in discourse, attentive, and slow to speak. 10. Never acquiesce in immoral or pernicious opinions. 11. Be not forward to assign reasons to those who have no right to ask.