ness is worth more than a great deal of indignation.

I remember being present in a court of justice, when the magistrate very sharply rebuked a poor man, one of the witnesses in the cause that was being tried; the magistrate was angry, and his remarks were severe and unjust, but the poor man had learnt to bear reproof, and he uttered not a word in reply. Some time after the witnesses had left the court, it became apparent to the magistrate that he had been in error; he immediately recalled the poor man, and thus addressed him: "Witness, I find that you were in the right, and I in the wrong; I was hasty when I spoke to you, and did you an injustice, I am sorry for it, and beg your pardon." There are many who would think that the magistrate condescended too much, and acted unwisely, but I think otherwise; a public injury requires a public reparation. Not willingly would I lower the character of any one in authority; but give me a magistrate who will publicly beg pardon of a poor man whom he has publicly injured.

You see how, in my rambling way, I endeavour to impress your minds with the advantage of being able to bear reproof; but if, instead of my putting to you the question at the head of

this address, you can be prevailed on to put it to yourselves, the advantage will be much greater. One word from yourselves will be worth twenty from me. Nothing like communing with your own hearts!

Who ponders books and studies man,
Grows slowly wise by rule;

But he who communes with his heart,
Can never be a fool.

Some years ago, I knew a man who was very passionate, unaccustomed to restraint, and altogether unable to bear reproof. One day, when I was present, he quarrelled with his son, who had all the faults of his father, and told him that he would have no hectoring, domineering blades in his house: this was a reproof that the son could not and would not bear; so, smiting the table with his fist, and declaring that he would not stop at home to be tyrannised over by his father, he angrily left the house, violently closing the door after him.

No sooner had he departed, than his mother began to rebuke her husband, asking him if he was not ashamed to reprove his son so sharply for a fault in which he was outdone by his father? "You know, John," said she, "that I have had ten times more trouble with you and your hasty

you

have ever had with your son." temper, than Jumping up from his chair, the husband declared that no wife in the world should lecture him; that he would say what he liked, and do what he liked, and fall into a passion when he pleased, without being controlled by her or by anybody. Hateful as this scene was to witness, it was no more than an every day affair, for father, mother, and son, were all unable to bear reproof: from morning to night, discord and disorder prevailed, and one outbreak of anger was quickly succeeded by another.

Now, seeing the ill effects of not being able to control the temper, or to bear reproof in after life, what an important charge is that of the education of children, and how necessary it is that those who undertake it should be thoroughly furnished, to exhibit in spirit, principle, and practice, that christian meekness, forbearance, and endurance of reproof, which, with God's grace, they hope to instil into the hearts of those they instruct. Sunday school teachers should be models of meekness, patterns of piety, and abounding alway in "every good word and work."

F

V.

DO YOU STUDY THE HABITS OF YOUNG

PEOPLE?

I THINK it necessary to explain, that in my homely hints, I have not laid down a regular plan, to work out, by systematic steps, some great design. No, my object is a more humble one. I leave to wiser heads than mine, the great business of imparting enlarged and systematic education, while I, from time to time simply take up such a motto as may occur to me, and work it up in the way that appears the most likely to interest and instruct you. hints which I throw out at one time, do not of necessity follow those which precede them. Though the address, "Can you bear reproof?" happens to have been written before the present one, it may be read after it without disadvantage.

The

When soldiers besiege a fortress, they proceed systematically, investing the place, and cutting trenches or ditches, whereby, while they defend themselves from the enemy, they gradually approach the fortress: what is called

DO YOU STUDY THE HABITs of young pEOPLE? 51

the first parallel is formed, then the second, and afterwards the third; the covered way is seized, the moat crossed, and possession taken of the works, one after another, till the citadel itself is conquered.

Now all these actions must be performed in regular order; the first must, of necessity, take place before the second, and the second before the third; the place must be invested before the trenches are dug, and the walls must be won before the citadel can be taken. It is the same with education; the rudiments must be mastered before higher attainments can be made. Any attempt to teach a child to read before he could spell, or to spell before he had been taught his letters, would be throwing time away; but, as I said before, my simple object does not require me to adopt any systematic arrangement.

struct.

The humble hint that I now propose to impart, is the propriety of your paying some attention to the temper and disposition of those you inIt is not enough to see that your scholars are at school in proper time, that their dress is neat, and that their hands and faces are clean: it is not sufficient that you hear them repeat what they have committed to memory, and instruct them to read and spell; for though punctuality, neatness, and an ability to read and