THE

YOUTHS' MAGAZINE;

OR,

EVANGELICAL MISCELLANY.

AUGUST, 1851.

FOSSIL FISH.

LONG after the discovery of organised Fossil bodies, they were considered as mere freaks of nature. To suppose that they ever lived and moved and had a being was a thing not only past belief, but even beyond conjecture. But geology, or rather palæontology, has satisfied us that the extinct forms of animal and vegetable life were as delicately and beautifully formed, and as perfectly adapted to their several functions as any now living upon the earth or in the waters. Our engraving this month presents us with an illustration of this remark. It represents the Semiophorus velifer of Agassiz, an extinct fossil fish whose immense fins assimilate it to the flying-fish of our own day. Not only is the outline perfect, but the most delicate bones and processes are preserved in such a way as to indicate the consummate wisdom and goodness of the Great Author of nature in his earliest works, and exhibit to us in their most minute and curious developments "the unambiguous footsteps of a God."

CAPTAIN ORDERLY'S MAXIMS.

I WISH YOU had known Captain Orderly! This was not his real name, but a designation appertaining to a post in the army, which he had so worthily filled, and to which his habits were so appropriate that the soubriquet had ever after attached to him. Intelligent, well educated, gentle, and sprightly, he was a perfect marvel to us! He was never in a hurry, never taken by surprise, never in dishabille, never unprepared for the duties of the hour! His wife was just like him, and they trained their numerous family to the practice of such order and punctuality that they were the admiration of the whole village. “Birds of a feather flock together," is an old saying often exemplified, for the servants of this household were examples in their vocation; and the quantity of business they contrived to dispatch in a most quiet and leisurely manner, would have been incredible had we not seen it in operation, and been also from time to time enlightened in the plans which they asserted were more helpful than an extra pair of hands! Not that the Orderlys were at all a loquacious family; busy folks are chary of their words; yet rarely could you meet with more cheerful seniors, more buoyant, spirited juniors. Care sat lightly on them, for everything was so thoroughly arranged and provided for, that an unexpected emergency very seldom happened, and was speedily adjusted; while, whenever real troubles came, Mrs. Orderly whispered to me that they were not without divine aid, which strengthened them to acquiesce in, and soon to feel grateful for, the discipline inflicted. Ah! it was no common faith which supported them through bereavements, losses, and sickness, which had deprived them of several beloved children-many luxuries, and some of the blooming health which I remember in my early days. They were ever ready to assist their neighbours, as we had often experienced to our great advantage in the hints of wisdom which they bestowed upon us from time to time, playfully, or gravely, as the case might be, so that we gradually learned to seek their opinion on any subject that interested us.

At one time we, younger members of our home circle, had become sadly dilatory and irregular in all our proceedings, notwithstanding the excellent examples of industry in our parents

and tutors; and woeful complaints of ill-prepared lessons, careless exercises, and untidy drawers, were incessantly, and, I must confess, deservedly repeated. A dire array of these were on a certain morning presented to our notice by our judicious governess, who, however, merely remarked that as her injunctions and reproofs had hitherto proved unavailing, she considered we had reached an age at which we could more effectually correct ourselves; she should therefore try the effects of moral discipline, and require from each of us at the end of a month, a written essay upon punctuality and order.

We were much touched by the tone in which this was announced, and would gladly have repaired our negligence. But the Essay!-We would far rather have forfeited all our tickets, or our pocket money, or gone without our dinner, or any other penance of speedy accomplishment-but to write upon such a subject! The better the theory, the more our practice would be condemned, and to confess ignorance would betray our unpardonable inattention to all the good rules which had been ceaselessly inculcated. Never was there a more uncomfortable dilemma; and we pondered uneasily in the vague hope that somehow or other, we should find unexpected relief.

Fortunately, this very day, papa desired us to fetch some papers from Captain Orderly, whose punctual habits rendered him a general trustee for divers public and private business. We obeyed his behests with uncommon alacrity, for we fancied the Captain could dispel our perplexity. He and his good wife were both at home, and looked provokingly comical at our narration. However, they very good naturedly sympathized with and assisted us with sundry valuable maxims, the observation of which, they assured us, was the secret of their own indefatigable zeal and successful achievements.

"Whatever is worth doing at all, is worth doing well,"—the Captain remarked, "is a rule calculated to check useless undertakings as well as spare irksome repetition of labour." I do not know whether our friend saw anything which induced him to mention this first, but I noticed that my sister turned the other side of a very smart reticule she had worked, but which had been so slightly made up that several of the stitches had given way, and two of the rings betrayed themselves by jingling

loose on the cord, instead of holding all tightly: in truth, my own cheeks glowed with an inconvenient blush at the recollection of several unfinished productions of the needle and pencil, which produced most unsightly confusion in my private haunts. "Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily,' is a scripture precept," continued Captain Orderly. Then again

"A time for everything and everything in its time," conjoined with the ancient rule of "a place for everything, and everything in its place," will prevent all hurry or forgetfulness. By availing yourself of the power of habit, which thus reminds you of constantly-recurring duties, and by a proper arrangement of these, you may avoid uneasiness, and perpetually maintain that freshness and vigour of mind which so materially aid the accomplishment of plans.

This, we thought, was a bright and novel idea, for we were apt now and then to have a fit of diligence, and expend all our energy upon some pursuit of temporary interest till mind and body were both too exhausted to resume regular occupation with any degree of comfort.

"Always fulfil duties before indulging in recreation."

We understood this well, remembering our friend Jannette's experience in neglecting this rule.*

While Captain Orderly was talking, he was too good an economist of time to have his fingers idle, and was busily working at some of the simpler parts of a model he was preparing, of a useful invention he designed to improve. Suddenly his penknife slipped and spoiled the regularity of his toothed wheel. "Ah!” he exclaimed, "here is a tiny unexpected knot in the wood; this will interfere with the whole machine, putting all the rest wrong. I have not done much, so had better begin another directly. It is so unsatisfactory to go on where there is a flaw, and it is disagreeable to return to work put by in disorder." So, forthwith, the Captain recommenced, and we made a private memorandum for our essay-that every mistake should be rectified immediately, and our employment left in tempting condition to be resumed. An unwelcome remembrance obtruded itself here of the various occasions on which by delaying the "stitch in time," small fractures had

* See ante p. 98. et seq.

gradually enlarged to a most alarming extent whilst the confusion of my working apparatus had been no inconsiderable obstacle to reparation. Now in my old friend's little workshop, all was at hand, and looking so nice, one longed to be busy. So was his wife's department, where the long seams and neatly prepared wristbands, actually courted the nimble fingers of the fair sempstresses, whose skill rivalled their mother's! "Perhaps, methought, I could become as industrious if I could once infuse equal order among my possessions!"

Indeed, dear reader, I am ashamed to confess the multifarious delinquences of my youth in this particular; but Mr. Editor will not betray my name, and having now become what my nephews and nieces term "a pattern of neatness and precision," it may possibly be some encouragement to those young people who are even now similarly afflicted, to know that such failings really are curable! A contrary opinion for a long time prevented my adoption of any remedy. Like many other disorders however, it needs some resolution and much patient perseverance in the prescribed routine!

But all this time we had delayed our father's message; and now asked for the required documents.

"Let me see," answered the Captain, putting on his spectacles, as he led the way to his library; "did your father specify which he wanted?",

"He wrote down these numbers, sir, which he said you would understand,”—and I gave him the slip of paper.

"Thank you!-Yes, I have all these under my care;" and he opened drawer after drawer, taking out the several writings, and putting pencil memoranda in their places, till the originals should be restored.

"I suppose these affairs are very important!" I remarked. "The papers are very important to their owners, my dear, and though I feel them perfectly safe in your papa's hands, while he transacts the needful legal business—should sudden death occur to myself, it is due to my wards that they should know where to seek the missing memorials. When they are returned, these memoranda will be destroyed."

"How readily you found them all, sir!”

"Why should I not? It is very easy to keep all separate