HOWEVER united and happy a family so large as that of Mr. Railton may be, it cannot reasonably be expected to remain long together free from trouble of one kind or another. To say nothing of other matters, the sickness and bodily diseases to which young people are liable, subject them to weakness and pain, and occasion solicitude to their parents. Cold, and sore throat, and toothache, and headache, are maladies that most people are acquainted with; and few children are altogether strangers to chilblains, hooping-cough, and measles.

Now, these domestic trials are sometimes made much heavier than they would otherwise be, by the impatience, peevishness, or

want of firmness on the part of the sufferer. There is no real reason, because a boy has cut his finger, that the whole household should be thrown into confusion with his crying and blubbering; or when a girl has a headache, that she should annoy others by raving and stamping, because she does not like to take her medicine. These things ought not to be.

Mr. and Mrs. Railton were anxious to bring up their young people so that they might act on all occasions with firmness of character, and in this they set an excellent example themselves. But children are apt to be thoughtless; and to give way to their sudden feelings, forgetful of the pains which are taken with them, and the lessons which are taught them day after day. Parents have much to endure on this account.

Now, it happened, on the morning of the next lecture day, that Mary had a sad fit of the toothache: when, on examination, it appeared that the ailing tooth was a decayed one, so much so that her mamma at once expressed her opinion that the sooner the dentist was sent for to remove it the better.

Poor

Mary was hardly prepared so suddenly to undergo an operation that she much dreaded, and tried her best to endure the pain, with the hope of keeping her tooth in her head. The hours passed away, until the time came for Mr. Railton to join his children, when

what should be the subject he proposed but Firmness of character.

Mrs. Railton could not help thinking that William, who sat rather awkwardly with his right hand under the table, looked much paler than usual; but she kept her thoughts to herself.

"And now," said Mr. Railton, taking his accustomed seat, "I hope that my dear children are making some progress in learning to feel; for, on many occasions, I have noticed that the remarks made by me have not been forgotten. My present subject, firmness of character, may be considered under two heads; namely, firmness in duty, and firmness in endurance: and, unless you obtain this useful quality, very little dependence can be placed upon you.

"The weathercock on the church-spire is placed there for the very purpose of turning and changing with every opposite breath of wind. But if you are to flicker and waver, and be blown about by every breath; if you are to be one thing to-day, and another tomorrow; changing your opinions, neglecting your duties, breaking your promises, and forsaking your principles, why then, as I said, there will be little or no dependence placed on your words or your deeds.

66 When you know what your duty is, you must firmly do it, cost what it may. You must learn to say, No! to every one that

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tempts you to do evil. No kind intention, no friendly feeling, will justify you for want of firmness in a case of duty. 'My son,' says Solomon, 'if sinners entice thee, consent thou not,' Prov. i. 10.

"It is the first weakness, the first wavering, the first false step in a case of duty, that is most to be dreaded. Think of this, my dear children. If you would never curse and swear, avoid every thing like an evil word. If you would not lie or steal, never practice deception, nor take away the value of a pin from another. God's word does not say, Keep thy tongue from great evil; but 'Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile,' Psa. xxxiv. 13: it does not say, Thou shalt not steal things of value; but 'Thou shalt not steal,' Exod. xx. 15.

"Firmness in enduring trials and bodily pain is a fine quality, when it springs from a proper motive; not from pride, but from Christian principle, and a desire not to afflict others. Even heathens look on firmness as a noble quality, and practise it accordingly. The Spartans used to treat their children roughly, and to beat them, that they might be able to endure hardship and pain without murmuring."

"Oh, that was very cruel, papa!" cried Susan.

"And among some of the tribes of the North American Indians," continued Mr.

Railton, "they inflicted the most shocking tortures on their young men, before they allowed them to rank as warriors. The old warriors assembled in a hut called the Mystery

Lodge, and the young men applied fire to their bodies and pierced themselves with knives and spears, without showing the least sign of fear or pain."

And that was still more cruel," said Susan.

"True," said Mr. Railton, "it was cruel. But if the Spartan children who worshipped idols, and the young Indians, brought up in ignorance and superstition, could show firmness in endurance, surely the children of Christian parents should not be inferior to them in any good quality. Christian children