would say, let every aspiring youth in our land study this example, and be encouraged to face difficulties like heroes, and overcome them like conquerors.

Alexander ascended the throne at twenty, and conquered the world before he was thirty-three. Julius Cæsar conquered three hundred nations, captured eight hundred cities, defeated three million men, and became a leading statesman and orator before middle life. But Burritt's push was equal to theirs, and his achievements were greater and better for the world, since he taught coming generations of youth what force of character can do; and, as the leading champion of peace, made war appear horrible and unchristian to the civilized world.

LXI.
PRINCIPLE.

MRS. WESLEY wrote to her son Samuel, who was at school in Westminster, in 1709: "I would advise you, as much as possible, to throw your business into a certain method, by which means you will learn to improve every precious moment, and find an unspeakable facility in the performance of your respective duties. In all things act upon principle."

By principle, she did not mean character alone, nor conscience, nor honesty, nor benevolence, but all of these together.

Tact and push, without principle, are dangerous possessions. A practical turn at iniquity, accompanied by energy enough to make it telling, develops the scamp. But principle controls tact, and puts a check rein on push. It is the skilful driver of a mettlesome pair, having the grand team well in hand.

Mrs, Wesley knew that her boy Sam would never

amount to much without principle, and she said so. The same is true of every other boy. To attempt to cross the Atlantic Ocean without a compass is no greater folly than to make the voyage of life without principle. There is no friendly port for either.

The late Ichabod Washburn, of Worcester, Massachusetts, was left fatherless when he was two months old, in a moneyless but Christian home. At nine years of age poverty crowded him out of that humble home, and he went forth to battle with hardships; but he took with him the only capital his excellent mother could provide — principle. She taught him, as Mrs. Wesley did her Samuel, to "Always act on principle," and he never forgot it. First, he lived with a soulless harness and carriage maker, who compelled him to sleep in the cold, desolate loft above the shop, to which he ascended by a ladder. He sent him to mill in mid-winter, horseback, without stockings or shoes, and paid no more attention to his intellect and soul than he did to his feet. served this wretch five years, patiently, uncomplainingly, and faithfully, because of his mother's lesson. Then he went to Worcester, Massachusetts, seeking work. He soon found it with a blacksmith, to whom he apprenticed himself for board and clothes. He began to attend public worship on his first Sabbath in Worcester. He hired a seat for which he paid fifty cents annually. To meet this expense, and provide himself pocket money, he made and sold pot-hooks out of working hours.

Yet he

At thirty-three, we find him a manufacturer of wire in his adopted city, universally respected and trusted. He made first-class wire; his principle would not allow him to make any other. The Washburn wire soon became popular. It was the best wire in the market for pianos,

telegraphs, and skirts. His business increased rapidly, until he employed seven hundred men. His profits became enormous. His benevolence was as large as his profits; his hand was open to aid every good cause. He gave away thousands of dollars annually, just as a rich man should; and, when he died, he left a large fortune, leaving, in his will, four hundred and twenty-four thousand dollars to objects of charity. Principle did it.

The apprentice who will cheat his employer out of time, or slight his work when it is possible, is devoid of principle. This is equally true of him when he profanes the name of God, or uses his Sabbath for pecuniary gain or pleasure. The farmer who puts the best apples on top of the barrel, the merchant who scrimps weight or measure, the tax-payer who conceals a portion of his property, and the laborer who will shorten his ten hours' work at both ends, are not actuated by principle.

A young man became clerk in a large warehouse of a New England city. After having served several months acceptably, he hinted to his employer that he ought to be paid as much as a certain other clerk received.

"If you will do what he does, you shall be paid as much," replied his employer.

“And what is that?" the young man inqired.

"He takes customers to the theatre, and gives them a drink occasionally, that he may sell them a bill of goods." Straightening himself up to his full height, and with the fire of indignation flashing in his eyes, our young hero answered:

"I thank God that there is a poor-house in my native town, and I will go there and die before I shall do such dirty work"; and he left the store. That was principle.

Nicholas Biddle, president of the first United States

bank, found so much work on hand, at one time, that he asked a portion of his employees to work a few hours on the Sabbath. All but one consented; this one said, "I cannot conscientiously labor on the Sabbath."

"Then you must give up your place to some one who will," answered Biddle.

"Very well, I resign," said the young man, and withdrew. That was principle.

The following day a gentleman waited upon Biddle, saying, "I want a perfectly reliable private secretary, to whom I am obliged to commit great trusts. Can you tell me of one?"

"Yes," Biddle promptly answered, "I dismissed a young man yesterday because he would not work on the Sabbath. He has principle enough for you."

Victoria, the beloved Queen of England, from her coronation at eighteen years of age, shared the confidence of her subjects by her Christian spirit and honest, noble purpose. She was twelve years of age when her governess called her attention to the honors that awaited her. The modest girl could scarcely realize the fact at first, but when she fairly took in the situation she burst into tears and exclaimed, "I will be good. I understand now why you wished me so much to learn. I will be good." She appears to have thought that, whatever other qualifications she may have possessed, goodness was indispensable for the throne. Long after the crown of England was placed on her head, she said, referring to the time when her governess told her that she would be queen, "I cried much on learning it." It was this sense of personal responsibility, awakening the desire to become worthy of the British throne, that challenged universal confidence, and made her reign a model. Moral, rather

than mental, qualities have made her the successful ruler of a mighty nation, on whose dominions the sun never

sets.

LXII.

NOT ABOVE ONE'S BUSINESS.

ALL necessary occupations are honorable. No disgrace can reasonably attach to them, except where the men or women who follow them are disgraceful. The truest dignity will crown the faithful in the humblest employment. They are entitled to a creditable passport into the best circles.

And yet this commonly accepted view of necessary pursuits is strangely overlooked in practice. Many people consider certain useful callings menial and degrading. Where they admit the necessity of such labors, they still regard them as ignoble.

Young people often catch this spirit. The store and learned professions attract them more than the shop and farm. The desire among boys to exchange country for city life arises, in a great measure, from this distorted view of manual labor. It is not popular to work on a farm or in a shop. It is more genteel to handle the yardstick than hoe or shovel. They will rank higher as ministers, doctors, or lawyers, than they will as mechanics or farmers.

Such are their false opinions, and they sacrifice everything to this delusion. Nine tenths of all the youth who begin life on this line make a deplorable failure. Doctor Johnson well said, "He that feels his business is below him, will surely fall below it."

We risk nothing in saying that successful men, in all occupations, are the men who never feel above their