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she would see Joe. Then she lifted her | Mary Scott, and whether she "took on" eyes to Heaven; and they looked as when Joe died. they used to look forty years ago, when we first married, and I was young and hearty, like my poor boy when he left us that morning. She looked up and gave a kind of smile, as if she saw him through the darkness, and then she died.

"I often wonder if she did see him. I've been at many people's death-beds ashore and afloat, and the wild stare in their eyes at the last moment, always made me think that they saw into the other world just as they were leaving this.

She did not People don't An old mate

"I never cared much about her, sir," said he, "nor asked much. come often to see us. when you are in trouble. of mine told me she was to be married to-day to Tom Williams; and when I heard the bells this morning they went through my heart as they did when my poor boy was buried by the church up yonder, and his poor mother and I followed him to the grave."

This simple story, and the sadness of that desolate cottage, sent me away with a heavy heart, and set me thinking of the wedding I had seen in the morning, and of the group in the church-yard stopping before the mound with a wood

"As for me, sir, I never forgot Joe's death for a moment. It finished me. After my wife died, I used to wander about alone all day, as if I was looking en cross. for him; and at night I would come As the low rumbling of the night-train down on the beach there, and sit among | up to London lulled me to sleep among the boats, and look at the black wild the soft cushions of a first-class carriage sea, and cry like a child. It's this day I fancied I could hear the whistling and two years that his body was washed wailing of the storm, though the sky ashore at that point of land out there was still and starlight; and through my where you see the big stone." dreams I saw the mournful figure of the old man sitting alone on the shore among the boats, looking out on the dark sea and crying like a child.

The old sailor drew his hand across his eyes when he had finished his yarn; and I asked him what had become of

THE

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HE following passage is taken from where it is intersected with pillars of an article by Mr. Greene, in the coral, rising like roseate stalagmites. Panama Star: The coral banks I have from 10 to 100 feet, and having a diexplored are about forty miles long. ameter of 1 to 10 feet. The top of these Throughout their whole extent they pillars is covered by thousands of needlepresent a most magnificent sight to the shaped branches of the utmost tenuity, eye of the diver, superior in many re- giving the beholder an idea of a founspects to the most admired landscapes. tain of rose-colored water instantaneThe water varies in depth from 10 to ously congealed, Sometimes they 100 feet, and is so limpid that when sub- stretch onward in five or six rows of merged, the human eye can see distinct- long arches. The first time I saw this ly a space of 300 feet before him. The phenomenon, I could not help thinking bottom is very varied. Here it is joined of a vast cathedral, elevated by the perfectly like a marble floor, and else- persevering faith of a generation of

of monks. And, notwithstanding what the lightness of the columns, and the

I knew of the wonderful works of the solidity of the arches. To complete the minute inhabitants of the ocean, I could illusion, here and there would appear an scarcely help fancying that the ground arch, in ruins, as it were, by the hand before me had been at one time inhabi- of time; and elsewhere a group of pilted by men, and afterward invaded by lars, rising boldly to the surface of the the sea, in some convulsion of the earth, water, conveyed to my mind the idea so great was the impression produced that there had been the tower of the upon me by the regularity of the lines, church.

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THE

ADVICE то THE YOUNG.

The elegant manners, and all the forms and ceremonies of refined society, should not be neglected, provided they do not degenerate into those extravagant compliments which have neither sense nor sincerity.

general vocation of Christians St. Augustine says of himself, that is to live in the world; to sanctify "having been recalled home from his themselves, and to do good therein ac- studies at sixteen years of age, vices becording to their abilities. Therefore gan to spring up from his heart like young persons should not forget to briers in a neglected ground, and that form their manners, and to qualify they multiplied because there was no themselves in every other respect for discreet hand to pluck them out." Those mixing in society. The manners of those young persons who would be sorry to who profess piety contribute materially say the same from experience, and thus to render it attractive or repulsive in the to lose the happy fruits of their early eyes of the generality of persons who efforts in the service of God, ought to only judge by appearances. Gentleness, follow the advice of St. Francis of Sales, forbearance, condescension, deference for who counsels "a Christian to enter the others and forgetfulness of self, are the world with great fear, to live in it with dictates of charity which is genuine po- great watchfulness, and to guard against liteness, and therefore should be observ- the poisonous infection of its air by the able in every Christian's exterior com- strong antidotes of serious reflection and portment. devout prayer." They should seriously reflect, before they leave school, on the graces they received during their residence there, and dwell particularly on the fruits that will be expected from those graces. It is to give them leisure for those reflections, and to dispose their minds, by prayer, for profiting of them that, in several religious seminaries, a short retreat is appointed for those who have finished their studies, and are about to return home. That retreat is a last and very great grace annexed to their religious education, of which they should endeavor to profit, by giving their undivided attention to the means prescribed for going through it fervently, and endeavoring particularly to draw from the reflections of those few days three very necessary dispositions for persons who are on the eve of entering the world. First, a holy fear of its dangers; because those dangers will never be sufficiently guarded against, if they be not sincerely dreaded; secondly, the utmost diffidence in their own strength, knowing that the least of those dangers to which they are about to be exposed would be sufficient

This polish is by no means incompatible with the spirit of religion, as is proved by the example of many great saints, who, though most accomplished in the eyes of the world, were not on that account less pleasing in the sight of God.

The period of leaving school is peculiarly critical, even for those young persons who had conducted themselves with most piety, and profited in every respect by the advantages they enjoyed in the course of their education. The liberty which then succeeds to restraint, and their intercourse with such a variety of characters, whose principles differ materially from those they have been accustomed to consider as the only safe guides for their conduct, sometimes effect a greater change in a few months than would be expected after a lapse of years.

to overturn their good purposes, if they be left with themselves; lastly, a lively and firm confidence in God, who is just as well able to preserve them in the world as he was to save Lot from the fire of Sodom, and the Hebrew children from the corruption of Babylon.

fatal end to which a flowery path so often leads.

But however inexperienced they may be in many respects, they will require nothing more than the voice of conscience to decide that the following are dangerous occasions of sin, which every young person should particularly resolve to avoid.

With regard to the line of conduct which young persons should pursue after their return home, it should be the re- First, idleness, which the Scripture sult of serious reflection on that positive says has taught much evil. It is natural declaration of our Lord, that no one can enough for young persons immediately serve two masters; that is, no one can after leaving school to indulge in a little conciliate the idle, useless pursuits of too relaxation from the strict order and regmany persons in the world with the ser- ularity of system to which they had vice of God; therefore, they must expect been accustomed; but it is a common to hear, on all sides, the maxims of the artifice of the enemy to persuade them world, which are as corrupt and wicked that this relaxation may extend to their as their author, the Prince of Darkness, spiritual duties--that the sacraments without being influenced by any of them may be deferred, and whole days spent so far as to depart from the maxims of in absolute idleness. Those who listen the gospel on which they know they are to that suggestion will soon experience to be judged. In a word, they must its bad effects-a relish for idleness and make an open profession of faith and a disgust for occupation will insensibly act consistently with that profession-steal upon their hearts, and if they do that is, they must give that good ex- not put a stop to the growing evil by ample which the world itself expects from those who are well instructed. For this end, it would be advisable for young persons to call to mind that short rule for attaining eternal salvation, which their Catechism points out from the Scripture, viz., "to avoid evil and do good."

early and punctual attention to their religious duties and a speedy regulation of their time they will soon feel the truth of St. Bernard's words, that "idleness is a sink of all temptations, the mother of folly, the death of the soul, and the receptacle of all evil."

The second occasion of sin to be It is necessary to avoid evil-that is, avoided is bad company and indiscrimsin, and all occasions of sin. It would inate friendships. Bad company is so be melancholy, indeed, if young persons evidently injurious, that no young perleft a seminary of piety without that sons who fear God should expose their sincere horror of sin which would urge salvation by voluntary association with them to avoid, with the utmost care, any one whose morals are known to be every thought, word and action evi- questionable. St. Teresa says of herself, dently sinful; but the occasions of sin, that a vain, female cousin and another unfortunately so numerous in the world, young person engaged in all the vanities are much to be dreaded by youth, on of the world, with whom she associated account of their great inexperience and in her youth, effected such a change in consequent inability to detect the snares her principles and conduct as to leave no which are laid for them, or to discern the trace of the virtuous impressions she had

received in the convent where she was sumption on the strength of their faith, educated. It bad company had such in- which presumption has often been folfluence on that great Saint, who was lowed by dangerous temptations. distinguished from her early years by Among bad books may be specially solid piety, sound sense and great ab- ranked the infidel productions of the horrence of the shadow of evil, how much more injurious will it prove to those young persons whose natural character and dispositions render them less able to resist its influence?

many.

A learned and excellent author, speaking of novels and romances, says that

last century, which no young man should venture to open. Those works, such as the writings of a Voltaire, a Rousseau, a d'Alembert, etc., whose fascinating style has served to communicate their With respect to friendships, young poison to thousands, are the real dispersons are greatly exposed to con- grace of libraries, though they unhap-. tract them indiscreetly, being too often pily hold a distinguished place in too. carried away by the external qualifications of those whom they choose for their friends. The Scripture says: "Be in peace with many, but let one of a "such compositions are injurious both thousand be your counsellor "—that is, to morals and true literature; that they your friend and confidant. In fact, so pervert and deprave the heart, poison many qualities are necessary on both the morals and excite the passions, sides to render a close intimacy, confi- which it is the real business of a Chrisdence, or strict friendship safe or useful tian to restrain; that they chill by debetween young persons in the world, grees the fervor of pious inclinations, that the best resolutions a young man and banish from the mind all that was could make, on this head, are, to be ex- in it of solidity and virtue: in fine, that tremely circumspect in selecting any one young persons in the habit of such lecas a friend—to adhere to the great pre- tures soon retain no ardor but for those cept of charity, which requires that every things which the world esteems and one should be loved for God's sake- God abominates." These considerations and to be exact in treating all with should make all young persons very cauaffability and condescension, but very tious in the choice of books, and lead few with familiarity and unreserve. them never to read any without having The other occasions of sin to be avoid- first ascertained whether they be calcued are, bad books, novels, theatrical lated for their perusal. However, it amusements, etc. These have, unhap- should be remembered, that a book is pily, injured many young persons, being not to be considered bad merely because well calculated to destroy the good inclinations received from nature, and all the effects of a virtuous education.

Heretical books, or any others tending to weaken faith, or lessen respect for religion, are dangerous lectures, and expressly prohibited. Well-instructed persons sometimes are not as guarded as they should be in this respect, from excessive curiosity, or from secret pre

it contains a few exceptional passages. Those will occur in works which are otherwise excellent and calculated to convey useful information. Such pas sages should always be passed over; but to reject every work in which they are to be found, would not only restrain reading within very narrow limits, but likewise tend to weaken the judgment and create unfounded fears.

W.

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