from ever becoming considerable; the one is a lazy the other a frivolous mind. The lazy mind will not take the trouble to search to the bottom of any thing, but discouraged by the slightest difficulties, stops short and contents itself with easy and superficial6 knowledge, rather than submit to a small de gree of trouble. 5. Whatever you pretend to learn you ought to have ambition enough to desire to excel in; for mediocritys is a proof of weakness; and per fection may always be purchased by application. Knowledge, says an elegant writer, is a comfortable and necessary shelter for us in advanced age; but if we do not plant it while young, it will affords us no shade when we grow old. an 6. Yet too close an application9. to the improvement of your mind is not to be expected, so as to cxclude pleasure, or banish recrea tion.t Recreation, 7. Be careful to remember thats an amuseyour foundation of knowledge must be established before you are eighteen; for when you are once intro-duced into the world, your application will be incessantly interrupted, and your studies suspended. All difficulties may be overcome by perseverance ;2 and even the defects of nature may be conquered. 8. A remarkable instance of the power of perseverance is demonstrated 3 in the conduct of Demosthenes, an Athenian orator, who, anxious to obtain perfection in the art of speaking, not only conquered an absolute impediment4 of speech, but from being one of the most ungraceful, became one of the most graceful crators of Athens. 9. In the distribution of your time, let the first hour of the day be devoted to the service of your Maker. Accustom5 yourselves to the practice of religious homage,6 as à natural expression of gratitude to him for all his bounty and benevolence. 10. Consider it as the service of the God of your fathers; of him to whom your parents devoted you; of him whom in former ages, your ancestors? honored, and by whom they are now rewarded and blessed in Heaven. 11. Seneca tells us that the first petitions we offer to God, ought to be for a good conscience; the second, for health of mind; the third for health of body. After these petitions, it will be necessary you should accustom yourselves to make a regular distribution of time, for the different avocations which are 2 Perseverance & steadi ness in pursuits. 3 Bemonstrated part, proved with the highest degree of certainty. 4 Impediment, hindrance, opposition. 5 Accustom, v to inure, to habituate. lord, obeisance. 7 Ancestor, à one from whom we descend. 8 Petition, s request praye 9. Distribution,s the act of distributing. + Avocations the act of cal ing away. to occupy it; this will be found one of the best methods that can be adopted, both for the practice of youth, and those of a more advanced period. The Indian and a British Officer. 1. During the last American war a company of Delaware Indians at tacked a small detachment of Brit 2 Pursuit, s. ish troops, and defeated them. As Defeated, the Indians had greatly the advan- overthrown. tage of swiftness of foot, and were eager in pursuit,2 very few of the fugitives3 escaped; and those who fell into the enemy's hands were treated with a cruelty of which there are not many examples even in the country. 2. Two of the Indians came up with a young officer, and attacked him with great fury as they were armed with a kind of battle ax, which they call tomahawk, he had no hopes of escape, 4 and thought only of selling his life as dearly as he could; but just that time another Indian caine up, who see med to be advanced in years, and was armed with a bow and arrows. 3. the act of fol- a shelters himself from power 4 Escape, flight, the getting out of dan ger. immediately. 5. The old man instantly5 drew5 Instantly, ad his bow; but after having taken his aim at the officer he suddenly dropped the point of his arrow, and interposed between him and his pursuers, who were about to cut him in pieces-they retired with respect. 4. The old man took the officer by the hand, soothed him into confidences by caresses, and having conducted him to his hut, treated him with a kindness which did honour to his professions. 5. He made him less a slave7 than a companion, taught him the language of the country, and instructed him in the rude arts that are practised by the inhabitants.They lived together in the most cordial amity ;8 and the young officer found nothing to regret, but that sometimes the old man fixed his eyes upon him, and having regarded him for some minutes, with a steady and silent attention, burst into tears.9 6. In the mean time spring returned; and the Indians having recourse to their arms, again took the field. The old man, who was still vigorous, and well able to bear the fatigues of war, set out with them, and accompanied by his pris oner. 7. They marched above two hunH dred leagues2 across the forest and came at length to a plain where the British forces were encamped. The old man showed his prisoner the tents at a distance, at the same time remarking his countenance with the most diligent attention.3 8. "There" says he, "are your Countrymen; there is the enemy who wait to give you battle. 9. Remember that I have saved thy life, that I have taught thee to construct4 a canoe, and to arm thyself with a bow and arrows; to surprise the beaver in the forest, to wield the tomahawk, and to scalp. the enemy. 10. What wast thou when I first took thee to my hut? Thy hands were those of an infant; they were fit neither to procure thee sustenance5 nor safety. Thy soul was in utter darkness; thou wast ignorant6 of every thing; and thou owest every thing to me. Wilt thoa, then go over to thy nation, and take up the hatchet against us?" 11. The officer replied: "I would rather lose my own life than to take away that of my deliverer." The 7 Deliverer, *! Indian then bending down his head, a preserver, and covering his face with his hands saviour. stood sometime silent; then looking earnestly at his prisoner, he said in a voice that was at once sof |