"I look to you for assistance," continued she, affection ately', to Louisa. "You have every advantage; your mind is active', and in other respects disciplined', and I am sure your kind heart will prompt you in aiding me."

Louisa's eye looked a good resolution'; she kissed her mother, and commenced her task with right feelings.

Success crowned her efforts, while it added to the pleasure of acquisition'; and she began to experience the higher joy of self-conquest', and her mother's approbation. She gave herself up for two years to diligent study', and conquered, at length', the higher branches of arithmetic.

Louisa', the eldest of three children', had been born to the luxuries of wealth', and scarcely an ungratified want had brought a shade on her brow. Mr. Simons was a merchant of respectable connections; but, in the height of prosperity', one of those failures took place which sometimes occur in commerce', and his affairs became suddenly affected by the shock which is often felt so far in the mercantile chain. A nervous temperament, and delicate system, were soon sadly wrought upon by the misfortune'; and his mind', perplexed and harrassed', seemed to lose its clearness in calculation', and its happy view of life. Louisa, at this period', was seventeen years of age; her understanding clear and vigorous'; her passions disciplined'; and her faculties resting, like a young fawn', for a sudden bound.

It was a cold autumnal evening'; the children were beguiling themselves with wild gambols about the parlor`; Mr. Simons sat leaning his head on his hand', gazing on an accumulated pile of ledgers and papers'; Mrs. Simons was busily sewing', and Louisa', with her finger between the leaves of a closed book', sat anxiously regarding her father.

"These children distract me," said Mr. Simons peevishly. Hush', Robert'; Come herè, Margaret'," said Mrs. Simons gently; and taking one on her lap', and another by her side', whispered a little story and put them to bed.

When Mrs. Simons left the room, Louisa laid aside her book', and stood by her father.

"Do'nt disturb mè, my child'," said he roughly. Then recollecting himself', he waived his hand gently for her to retire', and continued';-" Do not feel hurt, dear', with my abruptness. I am perplexed with these complicated accounts."

"Father'," said Louisa, hesitatingly and blushingly', "I think that I could assist you, if you would permit me.' "Yoû, my love'," exclaimed he laughing'will puzzle a deeper head than yours"."

"these papers

"I do not wish to bôast," said Louisa modestly`; "but when Mr. Random gave me my last lesson he said”—

"What did he say' ?" asked Mr. Simons', encouragingly. "He said," answered she, blushing more deeply', " that I was a better accountant than most merchants. And I do believe, father'," continued she earnestly', "that if you would allow mé, I could assist you."

Mr. Simons smiled sadly', but to encourage her desire of usefulness', opened his accounts. Insensibly, he found that his daughter followed him into the labyrinth of numbers.

Louisa, with a fixed look and clear eye', her cheek kindling with interest', and her pencil in her hand', listened to him. Mrs. Simons entered on tiptoe', and seated herself softly at her sewing. The accounts became more and more complicated. Mr. Simons, with his practiced habits', and Louisa with her quick intellect' and ready will', followed them up with fidelity. The unexpected sympathy of his daughter gave him new life. Time flew unheeded', and the

clock struck twelve.

Wife'," said he suddenly', "matters are not as desperate as I feared'; if this girl gives me a few more hours like these', I shall be in a new world."

66

'My beloved child'," said Mrs. Simons', pressing Louisa's fresh cheek to hers.

Louisa retired`, recommending herself to God', and slept profoundly. The next morning, after seeking his blessing', she repaired to her father'; and again, day after day', with untiring patience', she went through the details of his books', copied the accounts in a fair hand', nor left him till his brow was smoothed', and the phantom of bankruptcy had disappeared.

A day passed by, and Louisa looked contemplative and absorbed. At length she said', "Father', you complain that you cannot afford another clerk at present. You have tried me and find me worth something. I will keep your books until your affairs are regulated', and you may give me a little salary to furnish shells for my cabinet."

Mr. Simons accepted her offer with caresses and smiles. Louisa's cabinet increased in value; and the beautiful fe

male handwriting in her father's books was a subject of inte. rest, and curiosity, to his mercantile friends.

And from what', as year after year wealth poured in its luxuries', and Louisa Simons stood dispensing pleasures to the gay', and comforts to the poor', did she trace her happiness'? To early self-conquest`.

LESSON LXXVII.

TREATMENT OF SISTERS.

EVERY young man ought to feel that his honor is involved in the character and dignity of his sisters. There is no insult which he should sooner rebuke, than one offered to thēm. But if you would have others esteem and honor them, you must esteem and honor them yourself. Treat them with far less reserve, but with no less delicacy, than you would the most genteel stranger. Nothing in a family strikes the eye of a visitor with more delight, than to see brothers treat their sisters with kindness, civility, attention, and love. On the contrary, nothing is more offensive', or speaks worse for the honor of a family', than that coarse, rude, unkind manner', which brothers sometimes exhibit.

Beware how you speak of your sisters. Even gold is tarnished by much handling. If you speak in their praise'— of their beauty', learning', manners', wit', or attentions'-you will subject them to taunt and ridiculè; if you say any thing against them, you will bring reproach upon yourself and them too. If you have occasion to speak of them, do it with modesty and with few words. Let others do all the praising, and yourself enjoy it. I hope that you will always have reason to take pleasure in your sisters.

As

If you are separated from them, maintain with them a correspondence. This will do yourself good as well as them. Do not neglect this duty, nor grow remiss in it. Give your friendly advice, and seek theirs' in return. they mingle intimately with their sex, they can enlighten your mind respecting many particulars relating to female character, important for you to know'; and on the other hand, you have the same opportunity to do them a similar

service. However long or widely separated from them', keep up your fraternal affection and intercourse. It is ominous of evil, when a young man forgets his sisters.

WHILE the fleet lay at anchor, one of the most heartthrilling scenes occurred on board the Commodore's vessel, that my eyes ever witnessed. In addition to the usual appendages of a ship of war', there was a large and mischievous monkey on board, named Jocko', retained for the amusement' and diversion of the ship's company. It was my watch on deck'; and having retired to the side of the vessel, I was musing on the beauty of the fleet, when a loud and merry laugh burst upon my ear.

On turning to ascertain the cause of such an unusual sound on a frigate's deck', I perceived the Commodore's little son, whom the crew nicknamed little Bob Stay,' standing half way up the main-hatch-ladder, clapping his hands', and looking aloft at some object that seemed to inspire him with a deal of glee. A single glance explained the occasion of the merriment. As Bob was coming up from the gun-deck, Jocko, the monkey, perceived him on the ladder'; and dropping suddenly from the rigging, leaped upon his shoulder, seized his cap, and running up the main-topsail-sheet, seated himself on the main-yard.

Here the monkey sat picking the tassel of his prize to pieces', occasionally scratching his sides, and chattering', as if in exultation for the success of his mischief. Bob being a sprightly, active fellow, did not like to lose his cap without an effort to regain it. Perhaps he was the more strongly inclined to make chase after Jocko, from observing me smile at his plight', and hearing the loud laugh of Cato, a black man', who seemed inexpressibly delighted at the occurrence.

'Ha', you rascal, Jocko',' said the black man', 'had you no more respec' for de young officer, dan to steal his cab'? We bring you to de gangway, you black nigger', and gib you a dozen on de bare back for a tief.' The monkey looked down from his perch, as if he understood the threat of the

negro', and chattered a sort of defiance in answer. Ha', ha', Massa Bob', he say you mus' ketch him 'fore you flog him`; and 'tis no easy matter for a midshipman in boots to ketch a monkey barefoot.'

The cheeks of little Bob looked red, as he cast a glance of offended pride at Cato'; and springing across the deck, in a moment he was half way up the rigging. The monkey quietly watched his motions'; and, when nearly up, suddenly put the cap on his own head, and ascended to the top crosstrees; and, quietly seating himself', resumed his work of picking the tassel.

In this manner the mischievous animal succeeded in enticing Bob as high as the royal-mast-head'; when, suddenly springing on the rigging, he again descended to the fore-top, and, running out on the fore-yard', hung the cap on the end of the studding-sail-boom', where taking his seat', he raised a loud and exulting chattering. By this time Bob was completely exhausted'; and not liking to return to the deck to be laughed at, he sat down on the cross-trees.

The spectators, presuming that the boy would not follow the monkey, but would descend to the deck, paid no further attention to them. I also had turned away, and had been engaged some minutes', when I was suddenly startled by a cry from Cato, exclaiming that, Massa Bob was on the maintruck!' A cold shudder ran through my veins as the word reached my ears. I cast my eyes up-it was too true.

The adventurous boy, after having rested a little', had climbed the sky-sail pole, and, at the moment of my looking up, was actually standing on that circular piece of wood', on the very summit of the loftiest mast, at a height so great that my brain turned dizzy as I looked up at him. There was nothing above him, or around him, but empty_space'; and beneath him, nothing but a small unstable wheel.

Dreadful temerity! If he had attempted to stoop, what could he take hold of to steady his motion'? His feet covered up the small and fearful platform on which he stood', and, beneath that', a long smooth pole that seemed to bend beneath his weight, was all that upheld him from destruction. In endeavoring to get down, he would inevitably lose his balance', and be precipitated to the deck, a crushed and shapeless mass.

In this terrible exigency, what was to be done'? To hail him and inform him of his danger, it was thought, would