"Yes, sir, I have," she answered, "but I have lived now many years, yet I can say that I have always found God a kind and indulgent father."

"He has ever been found to be so, and you have more opportunity in this quiet spot to foster a spirit of love towards God than those who live amidst the bustle of a town.”

"You are quite right, sir," she replied, "but perhaps more will be required of us on account of our privileges.”

We soon afterwards rose to depart, as it was now late, and we did not allow the pleasure we had thus unexpectedly enjoyed to go altogether unrewarded.

We were pleased to see such intelligence evinced by those in humble life, and looked upon the happiness and contentment which reigned in that little cottage as another proof that God's ways are ways of pleasantness.

We, without difficulty, found our way, as the moon now shone in unclouded splendour, bathing the landscape in a flood of silvery light, and tremulously beaming on the bosom of the river.

"WHAT IS MY THOUGHT LIKE ?"

PYRO.

GRANDPAPA sat in his easy chair looking the very beau ideal of a patriarch, with his finely shaped bald head fringed around the temples with a few curly locks of snow-white hair. His picture and his bust had been in many an exhibition, and thus aided the rising fortunes of several young artists; for even in gratifying the wishes of his children to possess a likeness of their revered parent, he sought to benefit others. As he sat resting after a long and busy day, he read the Youths' Magazine, which he had encouraged, and circulated ever since its first establishment nearly half a century ago. Now he rejoiced in its monthly arrival almost as much as his grandchildren, for to use his own language, "he had advanced beyond the period of relishing the abstruse arguments and speculations which had exercised his former maturity; and in the evening of life, felt most at home with the clear brief expositions of truth addressed to younger minds." Notwithstanding this modest estimate of himself, however, the "younger minds," perceived a vast dif

ference between their sanguine theories, and the judicious opinions of the indulgent friend, who could not only sympathize in their lively emotions from his past experience, but could add the weighty testimony of actual trial respecting the intrinsic worth of their inviting projects.

Accustomed to his presence while they pursued their evening occupations, and too ingenuous to need concealment, the party passed from graver studies to one or two recreative games; ostensibly for the sake of "the children." But even uncle George, and aunt Mary joined with full as much zest as the youngest amongst them. The merriment which occasionally followed an interval of quiet sounds, at last drew grandpapa's attention, though he still held his book; and would have looked as if reading, but that his spectacles had slipped low on his nose, and his bright eye was peeping over them as was his wont when unconsciously entertained.

"What is my thought like?" was the question he heard repeated to each individual, and most incongruous and various were the replies. "Like the snuffers," "like a crocodile;" "like the Koh-i-noor diamond;" "like the pitch lake;" "like a tinder box;" were some of the strange comparisons suggested by the mischievous nephews and neices who were combining to tax their favorite uncle's ingenuity. Their uncle, however, confounded them all, when in due time he announced his thought to be "Vain Youth;" and proceeded in accordance with the laws of the game, to demand the resemblance between his thought and the thought delivered by his co-thinkers. Most laughable was the perplexity of the circle so fairly caught in their own trap; and they sat still awhile, in silent meditation, how to make the best of it, and turn their comparisons to advantage. At length they were compelled to make the humiliating confession in demure accents. "Vain youth," said "is like the snuffers, because he often rudely extinguishes some moral light." "Like the crocodile," said another, "because he is apt to devour his neighbours by scandal and detraction.” "Like the Koh-i-noor diamond, because he is more glittering than useful; like the pitch lake, because he so often imparts some of his own dark characteristics to others; like a tinder box, because vain youth is a spark which soon dies out."

one,

"There now, I think we have had an ample dose of mortification!" exclaimed Margaret; "but dear uncle, what made you think such a thought? I hope our vanity did not prompt it ?"

"Whoever finds the cap fit, is welcome to put it on," replied her uncle, smiling; "though, I will relieve your apprehensions by acknowledging, that I was not intending any personal censures. The history of my thought, however, will illustrate in some measure, that wonderful faculty of mind which renders man so far superior to the brute creation. One of you repeated something about 'congruity of appellation.""

"Oh, yes!" said Henry, "I did from my lesson in Prosody." "Well!" continued uncle George, "my mind immediately reverted to a quaint old minister who was remarkable for this peculiar style of composition, and he invariably designated the rising generation of men, as 'vain youth;' with what degree of propriety, your remarks in our game this evening has in some measure evinced."

"If you were often to play at it with us, uncle, I think, we might hope to lose our claim to the title; for you always give us so much to think about," interposed Margaret.

"It is worth while to notice how slight a circumstance will recal long forgotten incidents, or trains of thought; links of argument, or chains of circumstances. Well regulated thoughts will furnish a perfect mine of enjoyment and instruction. Without the utterance of a word, the thoughts may compare, weigh, and judge; measure, calculate, and plan so precisely, as to form a just estimate of the future results. Any one who watches the operation of his own mind will not wonder at the nine or ten modes of thinking enumerated by our great Locke." "I am sure, I never think much about my actions," exclaimed Maria, "there is no occasion, for I am always obliged to do as I am bid."

"I lost all my raspberries this year for want of proper thought," remarked Henry, "so I have learned by experience, that thought is necessary. I cut down all the new shoots in the early spring, instead of the old worn out branches; and yet I meant to be such a clever gardener."

"Your loss resulted then, rather from thought wrongly

directed," answered uncle George, "which may be almost as injurious in its results as no thought at all: but remember, no great action, or great discovery, can be accomplished without diligent thought."

"But uncle, I thought many of our cleverest inventions, and most important discoveries, were made by accident."

"The same accident had doubtless occurred frequently before; but produced no invention, no discovery, till it happened to some thoughtful individual."

"He must have had some genius too, uncle, to invent a steam engine, or a spinning jenny, or a telescope." "Oh! if I were but a genius," sighed Henry, "no doubt I should think splendidly."

"I do not know whether that could follow Henry," replied his uncle; "for what you call genius, is often so sadly deficient in thought, as to waste much valuable talent: but when talent is combined with thought, it is indeed an enviable possession." However, Sir Isaac Newton's grand discoveries, were no sudden revelation of genius, but the reward, to quote his own words, of patient, persevering, thinking,' till light gradually dawned upon his mind. All great designs in works of art, were perfected first in thought."

"What wonderful minds, Sir Isaac Newton, and the great masters in painting, sculpture, and music, must have had."

"It is a singular fact, that most of the great musical composers, wrote down their splendid harmonies before executing them, and in those which required many different instruments, all the several parts were assigned without hearing a sound! Beethoven, who was totally deaf in his latter years, enjoyed his touching melodies only in thought, for he could not hear a note!"

"How astonishing!"

"Yet every rational creature is endowed with the same precious, apparatus, or 'tools,' if I may so speak, whereby, however his hands are occupied, he may engross his intellect with high and enobling themes; may find perpetual happiness and instruction, without disturbing his neighbours; or incurring their ridicule by exposing the speculations which further reflection may prove untenable."

"Dear! let us try and think a little more!" exclaimed all the young party.

"Do so by all means; and remember, a thought is often the germ of a character. Solomon truly declares, 'As a man thinketh, so is he.'”

"How can that be ?" asked Henry.

"We see this continually exemplified in the varieties of professional character; so much so, that we can often detect accurately from a man's conversation, his peculiar mode of thought, and the pursuits which engage his chief attention."

"What must we do then to improve ourselves ?"

"Nurture your minds with great thoughts,' was advice given to an aspiring and energetic youth, with as much wisdom as truth."

"And whence shall we obtain great thoughts, uncle George? Not from our own small minds surely !" remarked Henry very gravely.

"Nay, I must refer you now to grandpapa, with whose hoary hairs dwells more wisdom than I have yet culled;" replied uncle George, turning to his venerable sire with an affectionate smile which dignified as much as it softened the manly features, and glowing in the full maturity of intellect and feeling.

"You must seek great thoughts my children, from the greatest writers of antiquity," said grandpapa.

"From the old Greek and Roman classics, and the maxims of the seven wise men, I suppose?"

"No Henry; the maxims of the seven wise men are modern, compared to the true ancient classics; and foolishness by the side of those, 'who in old time spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.' In their writings, you may speedily learn, 'what are your thoughts like,' for there are various kinds enumerated, though none of a very attractive quality; vain thoughts,' ' evil thoughts,' 'doubtful thoughts;' all which need our prayerful watching, lest, like the birds of the air, they steal away any portion of the good seed which may be scattered even upon 'wayside hearers.'

"But grandpapa," said Margaret, "how can we help our thoughts,