should he persist in following the lead of his wayward, capricious whims and fancies. Still, she leaned instinctively upon him as the one nearest her-one who should be her stay-and he supported her manfully: performed all those household duties which boys abominate, with promptitude and alacrity, and when her spirits were depressed, cheered her with kind words, and more than all else, as she afterward told us, with oft-repeated promises of reformation. We expected this change in him to be temporary only—a swing of the pendulum to the opposite extreme, quite common with thoughtless, volatile dispositions. When he had acted the "good boy" for six weeks or more, with only two or three relapses, and those under strong temptation, we began to think there was a better side to his nature than we had given him credit for, and to regret that the return of his father to his old haunts and associations, the removal of the restraints which filial love and self-respect were imposing upon him, would soon restore the old condition of things.

Jones rarely alluded to him in our evening talks, but the grave smile, the half-anxious, half-proud look with which he greeted him whenever he came into the room, showed there was an undercurrent in his thoughts and feelings whose flow he could not wholly conceal. We remarked this often-Carson and I-and came to the conclusion that the dark shadow which had fallen upon him was providential-" God's opportunity." His sense of parental duty was evidently quickened-and we began to hope he would emerge into the sunlight a wiser and a better man.

We were not mistaken in this. One evening, when the hour's reading was finished, he requested us to remain longer than usual, saying he felt very wakeful, and had, besides, some special matters to talk about. After we had bolstered him up comforta bly in his bed, as we always did when we conversed, he told us with much feeling, that since he became conscious, after the accident, his wife and child had not been out of his thoughts one moment. Although until quite lately he had not expected to live, all hopes and fears for eternity had been banished from his mind by the anxiety he felt for them. "Now," said he, "the doctor tells me I shall recover. I know I am growing stronger every day. In a few months I shall take my old position in the shop. For myself and wife I have no more anxiety-but there is a

problem which I must solve, and that is, 'What can I do with. Clarence?""

Myself. I have supposed that to be already solved. He is apprenticed to learn your own trade. He is released only temporarily from his duties to attend upon you.

Jones.-Clarence's indentures are canceled. Mr. Ransom came here yesterday, and we had a long talk together. You know I have been very improvident. This little home is all I possess; one week's wages all the money I had when stricken down. A few days since I asked the doctor for his bill, and wished him to dispense with any further visits, on the score of economy. With a quiet smile, he told me he was already paid, and had positive orders to attend me until I was completely well. My wife, who was present, said this must be Ransom's doing, for he had insisted on paying her my regular wages every pay-day since the accident, and had frequently told her not to be anxious about the future. I know I have been a faithful workman, but I have been paid for it. Those with whom I squandered my earnings forgot me in my extremity he who owed me nothing became my benefactor. He denies being influenced by charitable motives, however, says the accident was partly owing to his own remissness, for he knew the engineer to be a worthless fellow-and declares that every thing shall be done that money can do to make us whole, if it takes all he is worth.

Carson.-Hurrah for Ransom! I knew he was a good fellow, but never dreamed of his doing that. Let's get up a testimonial for him, we sound ones.

M.-That's the popular way of rewarding a good action, but T question its propriety. A good deed brings its own reward. It is true that our actions are public property, but it is sometimes as improper to praise or reward them openly as to sneeringly criticise the motives which prompted them. We will give him a testimonial, but let it be an earnest of our respect for him as a man, without reference to any thing he has done for us or our unfortunate friends. What do you propose to do with Clarence, Mr. Jones?

J.-I hardly know, myself,-at least the whole subject of his future is not clear to me. With all his fun and mischief he is shrewd and observing, and the last few weeks have shown that he

is not wanting in kindness of heart. He has found out by some means, that there is a difference between what you call a hand workman and a master workman. He does not know exactly in what that difference consists, but thinks education has something to do in creating it, and desires to go to school a year or so longer. What had I better do?

Carson winked at me, and stated briefly the views I presented in my first three "Talks "-frankly confessing his belief that they were correct. When he had finished, Jones said: "Well, that seems reasonable, though I never looked at it in that light before. It will take much longer than either he or I supposed to fit one to become a master mechanic. He knows what you are, and says he will be governed by your advice. He is in for it now, and must go through. Our High School, the people say, is a good one, and the College up town will be in full blast by the time he is ready to enter it. I have always considered a collegiate education of no practical value, and he has often heard me say so. I think we shall have some trouble in satisfying him that my old fogy notions are incorrect.

M.-The acquisition of knowledge and the discipline of the mind are pleasurable tasks when undertaken in earnest. With boys generally the creation of a love for learning is the most difficult part of a teacher's work. We all act from some motive. Clarence has now a dim, confused notion of the value of an education. He has no idea whatever of either its character or extent. During the year you have thought sufficient for its acquisition, he may, if surrounding circumstances are favorable, form a taste as well as a love for study. He can do but little more. Old, vicious habits must be eradicated, and better ones formed. If he gets fairly under way in a year, he will do well.

J.-You seem to think I need reformation as well as he, from the peculiar emphasis you give "surrounding circumstances." Now don't count much on me. My habits are fixed. At my age they can not be materially changed. The expense of his education will, of course, force me to be more economical, but unless I have some recreation, and joke and laugh as usual, I shall die of dyspepsia or something worse.

M.-Do not think for one moment that your light-heartedness is a fault. You have no occasion for reform in that particular.

You

You have asked my advice, and I will be frank with you. have heretofore turned Clarence loose into the world, to do pretty much as he pleased, instead of hedging him round with incentives to excellence, and furnishing him with means for improvement. Sons usually follow the example of their fathers. When the crab told his son to "walk straight forward," he received for reply that it would be done as soon as he set the example. You must do something more than merely earn and save money to pay tuition and board bills, if you sincerely desire to develop all the elements of manhood there are in Clarence. He is doing nobly now-but your anxiety for him betrays a well-founded fear that he will fall back into his old habits when the routine of daily life shall again run in its accustomed grooves. That depends upon yourself. If you are as thoughtless and thriftless as heretofore-if you show no desire for the education of your own head and heart-how can you expect him to reform his ways. You must practice self-denial yourself, make home cheerful and pleasant by all the means and appliances you can command-and more than all, you must watch over him and his associations as vigilantly as you would guard a priceless treasure-must lead him in right paths by the power of love and the example of an earnest life, when possiblewhen these fail his will must be made to bend before your own: persuasion must give place to coercion. If you will do this, Clarence may become the pride of your household, the stay of your old age. His name may be written among the great and good ones of earth—if you do not, you yourself must answer for the consequences at the Great Day.

J.—A “Washingtonian" of twelve years standing knows how hard it is to keep a promise when appetite or pleasure tempts one to break it. I have conquered King Alcohol, and think I can conquer King Billiards and King Euchre. At any rate, I will make the attempt. Visit me often and hold up my hands when I am weary or despondent. Good night. Don't forget me when you get up that testimonial for Ransom.

DISCRETION is the most universal art, and has more professors

than students.

THE TEACHER AND HIS DUTIES.

BY P. K.

In order that the highest expectaion of our noble free school system may be fully realized, the teacher must act his part manfully and effectively. He it is that must be held responsible for the intelligence and refinement of society, when the youth now attending school shall have grown into manhood. Would that we could all fully appreciate this fact, arouse ourselves to a due sense of our responsibility, and thoroughly prepare ourselves for the great work devolved upon us.

It is a very narrow view indeed, to suppose that the sphere of a teacher is simply to teach children the elements of an English education. It is rather the preparing of men to take possession of the world; for in a few years the world will be governed by the children of to-day. They will enter upon the duties of life with the impressions so indelibly fixed on their youthful minds by the teacher. This idea, we think, demands the attention of every one connected with the education of youth; and it should call into the profession the highest ability and energy that the country affords. But this will never be the case until the teacher is better remunerated for his services than at present. It requires as much talent to be a good and efficient teacher as to be a lawyer or a physician; and we see no reason why the one should not be as well paid as the other. Until this is done, incompetent persons will use the teacher's calling as a stepping stone to something more lucrative. A change for the better is beginning to dawn upon us; and with it there comes a corresponding progress in methods of teaching. The old method of cramming is rapidly being superseded by the more effective method of mental culture.

Education consists not so much in receiving truths as in the exercise of the faculties in the search after them. The mind, like the muscles of the body, is developed only by exercise. "Fill the mind with truth," is the motto of some, but "Train the mind to discover truth," should be the motto of all. Malebranche says, "If I held truth captive in my hand, I should open my hand and let it fly, in order that I might again pursue and capture it." It