be prevented. Nay, it is possible that our failing may be aggravated by disappointment, and our disappointments may be multiplied by our increased failing, until the help of all our former friends is withdrawn, and we are cast down most wofully. Be not overcome by an unruly temper, lest you "fall by little and little."

Take heed to trifles by which you may be benefited.Almighty God bestows many blessings upon us, as He promised to give the land of Canaan to the Israelites, "by little and little." There are some men in the world who possess an immense amount of money. They have more wealth than would be needful to support a score families in respectability and comfort. Perhaps such a position is scarcely desirable, as the responsibility is very great, and the danger of proving unfaithful is more than ordinary. We may learn one lesson, however, from the manner in which many of these colossal fortunes have been amassed. The present owner, or perhaps his father, toiled hard for the first gold coin he ever possessed, and then toiled harder still to employ it profitably, and add others to it.-By cheerfully doing that which was not our task, we may ensure the good-will of our employers. That favourable impression may seem at the time to be of little consequence, yet may prove of great advantage to us in the future.—A good book carefully read, instead of allowing the time to be unemployed, or used in that which is mischievous, may furnish us with knowledge which will one day prove exceedingly valuable, or strengthen some good principle which will prove still more valuable. A verse

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of holy Scripture committed to memory before we leave our chamber in the morning, and dwelt upon as a moment's leisure occurs amid the business of the day, may prevent our falling in the hour of temptation. We may thus be pursuing our way, upward and higher, when we might otherwise have been plunged into an abyss of sin and misery. There is a solemn power in little things. For good or evil, their influence is frequently immense. A seed placed in the ground may, according to its kind, produce that which will endanger the life of a tribe, or fruit which will nourish a family. A spark may impoverish a neighbourhood, or impart comfort to many a household-group. Be mindful of those things which are really valuable, though apparently trifling, that you may be enriched and blessed "little by little." The mount is lofty on which your chief good is to be found. There is no leaping at once to its summit. That desirable elevation must be gained "little by little."

7. BANISH ENFEEBLING DESPONDENCY.

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The Right Honourable Benjamin Disraeli on a public occasion gave utterance to this sentence: Every man has his opportunity." The audience had just been told a pleasant anecdote of Parliamentary reminiscences. It appeared that there were some honourable Members whose eloquence did not delight Disraeli, or his friend Lord Stanley. On one occasion, some representative standing in his place was doing his best to make a speech which should impress the House, or at any rate

please his constituents. He did not gain the attention of the leaders. As the moment had not arrived when he could be coughed down, Lord Stanley and Disraeli were conversing together. The subject of their conversation was a new Member. Lord Stanley had been assured that he was a man of ability and energy, well worthy of being secured to their side of the House. But an Under-Secretaryship, with £1,500 a year, would be no effectual bribe, as he had three servants in his employ, to each of whom he gave that sum annually. "Every man has his opportunity." We all seemed to think that this meant that we might become confidential clerks with more than a thousand a year; and then principals of some firm where such clerks are kept; and then Secretaries of State, if we deemed it worth our notice; and then higher still. So we, that is, the six thousand persons present, cheered, shouted, stamped, clapped our hands, laughed, whispered to each other, and then commenced again. Our delight, as was natural, was exuberant. The eloquent statesman must have been gratified with our enthusiastic and oft-repeated applause. Most of us did, in that moment of excited hopefulness, approach in imagination very near to the Treasury bench. Why not? "Every man has his opportunity." When we had left the brilliantly-lighted hall, and begun to tread our way homeward, amid darkness and haze, the epigrammatic sentence began to lose somewhat of its charm. Has every man the opportunity of acquiring large property? Certainly not. There are thousands who do not remember ever wasting a sixpence in the

whole course of their lives, and yet they will leave barely sufficient to provide for their decent interment. Has every man an opportunity of enjoying a vigorous state of health? Certainly not. There are tens of thousands whose frequent pain and constant feebleness are irremediable. Has every man an opportunity of attaining extensive learning? Certainly not. A lad, though he has never been to school, if he possesses a mind of more than ordinary capacity, and some amount of leisure, may make wonderful progress. There are myriads, however, whose minds are of ordinary stamp, and whose entire time, save a very scanty portion for sleep and food, is occupied in doing battle for bread and clothes. Has every man the opportunity of securing a world-wide fame? Within the Pantheon of Honour, the number of niches is limited; and, if ten happened to be vacant immediately above our heads, most of us, through incapacity or adverse circumstances, would find the task of climbing into any one of them utterly impracticable. "Every man has his opportunity." What does it mean? When we are preparing to go forth into the wide world again, leaving our attic in the dim twilight of a rainy morning, and proceeding to our ordinary task, among very commonplace sort of people, and doubtful whether any especial gifts of genius have been conferred on us, what are we to learn from this pithy dictum ? Every man may make the best of himself? Certainly. Every man may secure much that is desirable? Certainly. Every man will find prizes along the road, which he can reach if he has previously

trained himself to effort? Certainly. Every man may lay hold on eternal life? Certainly. That is the best of all. Now, although we doubtless meant something else when we endangered our own throats, and our neighbours' ears, by our vociferous cheering, there is much in this to prevent depression. We must shake off that despondency which would enfeeble our minds.

Remember that hills seldom appear so steep when we are ascending them, as when we are approaching. toward them.-Most of us can recollect that, when children, we thought that the coach on which we were seated could never ascend the hill rising before us. We were sure that no coachman of sane mind would attempt to proceed any further in that direction; that no horses could draw a loaded vehicle to the summit of the precipitous mountain; and that, if driver and quadrupeds should combine to make the insane attempt, the result would be our destruction. Yet we found that, as we proceeded, a way opened. Sometimes the face of the hill was avoided. At other times, when the path was direct, we could scarcely persuade ourselves that this trifling ascent was all. Though glad to escape the danger, we almost felt disappointed at the absence of excitement and adventure. We arrived at the summit in due time.

Remember that success generally attends persevering effort.-A Missionary station was once destroyed by those whom it was intended to benefit. Servants of God had taken up their abode among the uncivilized