The messmates of Captain Hedley Vicars sneered at him as a Methodist and a fanatic. A British soldier once told me that Vicars was a spiritual power in his regiment. We had just such Christian soldiers in our army during the war. In every school the difference is clearly marked between the boy who has moral pluck and the boy who is mere pulp. The one knows how to say, NO! The other is so afraid of being thought "verdant" that he soon kills everything pure and fresh and manly in his character, and dries up into a premature hardness of heart. I well remember the pressure brought to bear in college upon every young man to join in a wine dinner or to take a hand in some contraband amusement. Some timber got well seasoned. Some of the other got well-rotted, through sensuality and vice. The Nehemiahs at college have been The boy was father of the man. Nehemiahs ever since. The only motive that could hold back the brave “ nonconformist" at Jerusalem was a godly conscience. "So did not I, because of the fear of God." This ever fresh -principle held him firm when temptation struck him as the undercurrents strike against the keel. Christ must be to you a pattern, and He must be to you a power. It is not enough to believe in Jesus. You must add to your faith "courage." Then, with Christ as your model, and Christ as your Inward Might, you will always be able to face down temptation with the iron answer, " So will not I." THEODORE L. CUYLER, Feb. 17, 1894. A PREVENTIVE "NO." ENTER not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. Proverbs of Solomon. 19. BETTER THAN GOLD. BETTER than grandeur, better than gold, Better than gold is the sweet repose Of the sons of toil when their labors close; That in realms of thought and books can find A treasure surpassing Australian ore, And live with the great and good of yore. Better than gold is a peaceful home, Better than gold in affliction's hour Is the balm of love with its soothing power; Is the hand that pillows the sinking head. ALEXANDER SMART. 20. WISDOM AND WEALTH. I ONCE saw a poor fellow, keen and clever, "Strange!" cried I. He walked on this side, then on that, He tried to introduce a social chat. Now here, now there, in vain he tried; "Whence And some by their silence said, "Better stay at home!" A rich man burst the door, As Croesus rich, I'm sure. He could not pride himself upon his wit; And, as for wisdom, he had none of it. he had wealth. He had what some think better, These crowd around to ask him of his health; And these arrange a sofa or a chair, And these conduct him there. "Allow me, Sir, the honor!" then a bow Down to the earth. Is 't possible to show Meet gratitude for such kind condescension? The poor man hung his head, And to himself he said, "This is indeed beyond my comprehension!" Then looking round, One friendly face he found, And said, "Pray tell me, why is wealth preferred To wisdom?" "That's a silly question, friend," Replied the other. "Have you never heard A man may lend his store Of gold or silver ore, But wisdom none can borrow, none can lend? KHNEMNITZER (Ivan Ivanovich) 21. THE WORLD WOULD BE BETTER FOR IT. IF men cared less for wealth and fame, Seemed better than in song or story; The world would be the better for it. If men dealt less in stocks and lands, And more in bonds and deeds fraternal; If men stored up Love's oil and wine, And on bruised human hearts would pour it; If more would act the play of life, The world would be the better for it. If men were wise in little things, If men, when Wrong beats down the Right, М. Н. Совв. 22. THE WORTH OF FAME. Oн, who shall lightly say that Fame While in that sound there is a charm Oh, who shall lightly say that Fame When but for those, our mighty dead, Sunk in oblivion's murky bed, A desert bare, a shipless sea? Oh, who shall lightly say that Fame When memory of the mighty dead, JOANNA BAILLIE. 19 |