dark clouds of fear gathering about his heart, because of things that he has dared to do, but has not dared to confess, or has dared to deny. No; he may have acted wrongly and foolishly, but, at least, he is free from the heavy weight and darkness of secrecy. 5. He who walks by the light of truth, has the advantage of the mid-day sun; he who would spurn it, goes forth amid clouds and darkness. There is no way in which a person strengthens his own judgment, and acquires the respect of all who know him, so surely as by a scrupulous' regard to truth. 6. The course of such an individual is onward and straight onward. He is no weathercock, pointing one way to-day and another to-morrow. Truth to him is like a mountain landmark to the pilot; he fixes his eye upon a point that does not move, and he enters the harbor in safety. 7. On the contrary, one who despises truth and loves falsehood, is like a pilot who takes a piece of drift-wood for his landmark, which changes with every changing wave. On this he fixes his attention; and, being insensibly led from his course, strikes upon some hidden reef, and sinks to rise no more. Thus truth brings success; falsehood results in ruin and contempt. 8. Justice is a great virtue, implying in its general sense the obligation to render to every one what is his due. In the common acceptation, it is the duty of being honest and fair in all our dealings. But it has a farther signification. It not only binds us to deal equitably‘ in matters of property, but requires us to respect the feelings and characters of others. 9. If you take an unfair advantage of a man in a bargain, you cheat him; if you take away his goods or merchandise, without his consent, you are guilty of theft. If you forcibly take away another's purse, you are a robber. For all these acts of injustice, human laws provide punishment; there are comparatively few, therefore, who will be guilty of such crimes. 10. But I am afraid that many persons, who would be shocked at the idea of cheating, thieving, or robbing, in matters of property, have yet no scruples in cheating another of what may be due to his character, of stealing away his peace of mind, or robbing him of his fair fame. But it should not be forgotten, that justice requires fair dealing in the one case as well as in the other; that if human laws watch over the rights of property, the all-seeing eye of Justice watches over the subtler rights and possessions of the heart. 11. It is true, we have walls and fences to protect our lands, and bolts and bars to secure our merchandise; we have also statutes' against acts of injustice in respect to property; we have courts to try, and prisons to punish, offenders against these laws; and all this array of power admonishes every member of society to be just in the common business of life. 12. But there are dearer possessions, than those of lands and merchandise. "He who steals my purse steals trash, but he who robs me of my good name leaves me poor indeed." And how shall these delicate interests be defended? I know of no other way than by inculcating a sense of justice in society. 13. And, to make this effectual, let parents begin with their children. Let them not only caution them against theft, and cheating, and robbery, but against all those little tricks, arts, and artifices, by which children attempt to wound each other's feelings; by which one child en、 deavors to shift to another the blame that belongs to himself; and, above all, against the wanton, mischievous, or malicious' tendency, which children often have, to exaggerate the faults or misrepresent the conduct of others. 8 14. One thing farther, let children be taught by example and precept never to wound a person's feelings because he is poor; because he is deformed; because he is unfortunate; because he holds a humble station in life; because he is weak in body or mind; because he is awkward, or because the God of Nature has bestowed" upon him a darker skin than upon others. 15. The rich person, who makes an ostentatious 1o display of his wealth, and thereby robs a poor one of his peace of mind, is, in the eye of morality, a robber. The fortunate person who bestows scorn and contempt upon the unfortunate, and thus takes away his selfrespect, is, in the eye of morality, a thief. Let such lessons as these be engraved on the heart of every young person. 1 RE-ŞEM'BLES. Appears like. 5 STXT'ŪTES. Written laws. 6 IN-CUL CAT-ING. Impressing or urging on the mind. 7 MA-LICIOUS. Full of ill-will or enmity without cause, ill-disposed. 8 EX-AG'ĢER-ATE. Enlarge beyond the truth, overstate. 9 BE-STŌWED'. Conferred. 10 ŎS-TEN-TA'TIOUS. Boastful. vain, affectedly showy. |