From our earliest youth we have lessons enough to instruct us to bear disappointments, and he who will not profit by them must take the consequences. The boy has his sixpenny drum, and the girl has her waxen doll, and nothing but pleasure is expected: why, before nightfall, the drum has a hole burst through the top of it, and the face of the doll is smashed to pieces.

The young folks are to go out visiting in the country, to Farmer Broomfield's, where there will be green grass fields, young lambs at play, thick cream, delightful custards, and delicious cheesecakes. The boy is dressed in his best blue jacket and white trousers, and the girl in her new pink frock; the sun shines, the wheels of the chaise are already heard at the door, and all is hope and happiness. A cloud comes over the bright sky-it sprinkles with rain. Sprinkles!

why it pours; nay, now it is almost a storm! No Farmer Broomfield's-no running in the green fields among the frolicsome lambs-no cream, no custards, no cheesecakes. The blue jacket and white trousers are put off; the pink frock is exchanged, and all is dullness, darkness, and disappointment.

Now, these are the seasonings for what is to follow; for as it is in childhood, so it is in youth, manhood, and old age-disappointments we shall have, and therefore, as I said before, let us be prepared for them.

The boy sends up his kite into the air, and launches his boat on the stream; but the kite is torn by the blast, and its tail is tangled in a tree, while the boat is upset in the running waters.

One man crosses the sea to South America, that he may stuff his pockets with gold-dust;

another remains at home, that he may find out perpetual motion and discover the philosopher's stone. He who went abroad returns home poor, resolved to roam no more; while he who remained at home, disappointed in his experiments, is determined to go abroad. These are among the common-place, every-day disappointments of life.

A prosperous old man has money, friends, and a hearty constitution. His friends persuade him to embark his money in a profitable speculation, and his constitution promises to enable him to enjoy for many years the wealth he will acquire. The speculation bursts like a bubble, his friends die one after another, and his constitution is broken down by grief and disappointment.

What a picture is here of childhood, youth, manhood, and old age! yet who can say that

it is not drawn from the life? Disappointment follows hope, as a shadow follows a substance; and, be assured, it will follow you in every stage of your pilgrimage :

For sorrow's tear and rapture's ray
Alas! are closely mated;

And disappointment drives away

The dream that hope created.

I could say a thousand things about disappointment, for disappointment has said a thousand things to me; but my object is not to frighten, no, it is to prepare you: therefore, again I say, from the little trials of childhood and youth learn to endure the greater disappointments of manhood and old age.

I AM the very man to tell you all about London. If you have been there, so much the better; you will then know that what I say is true. If you have not been there, why, my account will tell you all about that of which you can know but little.