years." "Then I will try again," said George, in a decided tone; and flinging aside his half-made kite, he turned and re-entered the house, and was soon bending in earnest attention over his lesson.

"Well, what success, George?" asked Mr. Prentice, as the family gathered around the well-furnished tea table. "I've got the lesson, father!" replied the boy. "I can say every word of it." "You found it pretty hard work?" "Not so very hard after I had once made up my mind that I would learn it. Indeed I never stopped to think, as I usually do, about its being difficult, or tiresome; but went right on until I had mastered every sentence."

"May you never forget this lesson, my son!" said Mr. Prentice, feelingly. "You possess now the secret of success. It lies in your never stopping to think about a task being difficult or tiresome; but in going on steadily in the performance of it, with a fixed determination to succeed. Within a short time you have mastered a task that you ever despaired of learning at all. And now, George, remember, never again utter the words I can't."

The success that had rewarded his own determined efforts-united with the impulse that the simple reference of his father to his own early difficulties gave to his mind, was sufficient to make George a rapid learner from that day. He became interested in his studies, and therefore he succeeded in them. When he left college, at the age of eighteen, he bore with him the highest honours of the institution, and the respect of his teachers. He now entered the house of a merchant, to prepare for a business life. At first, his new occupation was by no means pleasant. The change from books and studies to busy life and the dull

details of trade, as he called them, was for a time exceedingly irksome.

"I shall never make a merchant, I fear," he said to his father one evening, when he felt unusually wearied with his occupation, and dispirited. "And why not, George?" asked Mr. Prentice, kindly. "I have no taste for it," replied the young man, rather out of humour. "That is a poor reason. I gave you a choice of professions; but you preferred, you said, a mercantile life." "Yes. And stil!, when I reflect on the subject, my preference is for a mercantile life, over the others." "Then, George, you must compel yourself to be interested in your new pursuit." "I have tried, father," replied George. "Then, try again!" said Mr. Prentice, with peculiar emphasis; at the same time casting a significant glance at his son.

These simple words thrilled through the mind of George Prentice. The past rose up before him, with its doubts, its difficulties, and its triumphs. Springing suddenly to his feet, he said with emphasis,-"I will try again." "And you will succeed." "Yes. I feel that I shall." And he did succeed in obtaining a thorough practical knowledge of business; for he applied himself with patient and fixed determination, and soon became interested in his new pur

suits.

At the age of twenty-five, he entered into business for himself, with a small capital furnished him by his father. Little beyond this could he expect, as several younger brothers required a share of their father's property. It became necessary, therefore, to invest it with care and prudence. The house in which he had been employed was engaged in the West India trade, and as his familiarity

with this line of business was more intimate than with any other, he determined to turn his little capital in that direction. Accordingly, after renting a small warehouse on one of the principal wharves, he proceeded to freight a vessel with all the prudence that an intimate knowledge of the markets afforded him. But, alas! misfortune sometimes comes to us when least expected and least deserved: two days before his vessel arrived, the market had been overstocked by shipments from other countries; and a large loss, instead of the anticipated profits, was the result.

For some days after this disheartening news reached him, he gave way to desponding thoughts. But soon he bent his mind to a new adventure. In this he was more successful; but as the investment had been small, the profit was inconsiderable. His next shipment was large; involving at least two-thirds of his capital. The policy of insurance, safe in his fire-closet, the young merchant deemed himself secure against total loss. For wise purposes, God often sees fit to frustrate our hopes, and make the best-laid schemes of success or security fail. Two months from the day on which the vessel sailed, news arrived that she had been wrecked, and the whole cargo lost. Nor was this all: some informality, or neglect of the captain, vitiated the insurance, and the underwriters refused to pay. A suit was commenced against them, which occupied from six to eight months, before a decision could be obtained.

Nearly a twelvemonth from the day the unfortunate adventure was made, George Prentice sat musing in his counting-room, his mind busy with unpleasant and desponding thoughts. He had done little or no business since

the news of his loss had reached him, for he had but a remnant of his capital to work upon, and no heart to risk that. He was "holding off," as they say, until some decision was made in the suit pending with the underwriters. While he thus sat, in deep thought, a letter from his agent in London, where the insurance had been effected, was handed him. He tore it open eagerly. The first brief sentence, "We have lost our suit," almost unmanned him.

"Ruined !-ruined!" he mentally ejaculated, throwing the letter upon his desk as he finished reading it. "What shall I do?"

"Try again a voice seemed to whisper in his ear. He started and looked around. "Try again," it repeated; and this time he perceived that the voice was within him. For a moment he paused, many thoughts passing rapidly through his mind. "I will try again!" he exclaimed, rising to his feet.

And he did try. This time he examined the condition of the markets with the most careful scrutiny; ascertained the amount of shipments within the preceding four months, from all the principal continental cities; and then, by the aid of his correspondents, learned the expeditions that were getting up, and the articles, and quantities of each composing the cargoes. Knowing the monthly consumption of the various foreign products at the port to which he proposed making a shipment, he was satisfied that a cargo of flour, if run in immediately, would pay a handsome profit. He at once hired a vessel, the captain of which he knew could be depended on for strict obedience to instructions, and freighted her with flour. The vessel sailed, and

the young merchant awaited with almost trembling expectation the news of her arrival out. He had adventured his and the result must be success, or the utter prostration of his hopes.

all;

In anxious expectation he waited week after week, until every day seemed to him prolonged to double its number of hours. At last a letter came from his consignee. He almost trembled as he broke the seal.

"Your flour has arrived at the very best time," it commenced.

For a few moments he could read no further. He was compelled to pause, lest the emotion he felt should be betrayed to those around him. Then he read the whole letter calmly through. It stated, that the supply of flour was nearly exhausted when his cargo arrived, which had been promptly sold at fourteen shillings a barrel above the last quotations.

"I shall clear nearly five hundred pounds by my last shipment," he said to his father, who entered the countingroom at the moment. "Indeed! Well, I am very glad to hear you say so, George. I hope, after this, you will be more successful." "I hope that I shall. But I had nearly given up in despair," the son remarked. "But you thought you would try again !" observed the old gentleman, smiling. Exactly so, father." "That was right, George. Never despair. Let 'try again' be your motto at all times, and success will in the end attend your efforts."

His father was right. George Prentice is now a wealthy merchant. He is somewhat advanced in years, and is accounted by some a little eccentric. One evidence of this eccentricity is the fact, that over the range of desks in his