The surgeons concluded that her case was incurable; and, in reply to her earnest inquiries, she received the unwelcome tap. She immediately burst into tears, and wept aloud in all the bitterness of anguish. "What?" said she, "shall I never again see the light of day, or hear a human voice? Must I remain shut up in darkness and silence as long as I live?" and again she wept. If she had been able to see, she might have been pointed to the promises of the Bible; if to hear, they might have been cited for her comfort. At length, a friend who was present took up the Bible and pressed it to her breast. It was a touching and beautiful

act.

She placed her hands on it, and asked, "Is this the Bible?" Her hand was squeezed in reply. She immediately clasped the Bible in her hands, and held it to her bosom, and exclaimed, "This is the only comfort I have left. I shall never be able to look upon its blessed pages, but I can think of the precious promises I have learnt from it in the Sabbath-school;" and then began to repeat some of its promises. "Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he will sustain thee. Call upon me in the day of trouble, and I will deliver thee. My grace is sufficient for thee," &c. She dried her tears, became submissive to the will of God, and was happy.

THE IMPORTANCE OF A GOOD CHARACTER.

HAVING addressed several remarks to the young on mental improvement, I would now direct their minds to a subject of great importance, without which their knowledge will lose its lustre. You may improve your minds, you may amass stores of knowledge, all but inexhaustible in their extent; you may dig deep in the mines of science and learning, but a good character must give grace and ornament to your knowledge, or you will be but learned fools.

If you have not a good character, with all your knowledge, you will be like many within your circle of acquaintance, whose influence is small, though their knowledge is

extensive, because their characters are bad. An unimpeachable character is worth more than treasures of gold and silver. In fact, the greatest treasures cannot purchase it. It is a diamond of the first water. It is a star of the first magnitude. Like heaven, it is all glorious; or, like the sun, it shines with distinguished lustre when undimmed by the mists of detraction. The man of character stands above his fellows. Men look up to him with veneration and respect. The man who has a good character is like the current coin of the realm, which passes everywhere current, because it is known. Character adds emphasis to the words of the intelligent man.

Were we required and necessitated to choose and advise between the two, we would say, be a man of good character in preference to a man of knowledge. "If there be knowledge, it passeth away," but character is eternal. What we are here in character, we shall be hereafter. Let your minds, then, be deeply impressed with the weight and value of character, and while you have an opportunity of signalizing yourselves, endeavour to attain and secure both knowledge and a good character, but particularly the latter. "A character truly excellent is an invaluable treasure. Its presence converts even the dungeon into a palace; its absence changes even the palace into a dungeon. It is of all ornaments the most precious and beautiful; and of all badges of distinction the most brilliant and ennobling. It secures the most estimable of all opinions; the most valuable of all privileges the approbation of the wise, and the society of the good. The sacrifice of character involves a loss incalculable, frequently irreparable. Its preservation, therefore, like its acquisition, is of very great importance.

The testimony of a good conscience is a treasure of which no circumstance or violence can ever deprive its possessor, without his knowledge and consent. It sustains him under the heaviest load of temporal or personal privation or affliction. It gilds his path amidst the darkest season of adversity or calamity. It guides him safely through the most intricate labyrinths of perplexity and difficulty. Attempts may occasionally be made to becloud or extinguish its brightness. Its partial obscuration or apparent evanescence may be the

result. But, like the revolving luminaries of a lighthouse, it wanes or vanishes only to reappear and blaze with increased splendour and effect. For its acquirement, no proper exertion or sacrifice can be too great, no vigilance too severe or protracted, no internal scrutiny too close, or external circumspection too strict, no solicitude too ardent, no resolve too firm, no declaration or avowal too strong or explicit. Its full possession constitutes the most ample reward."

On what a slender thread, not only life, but that which, to many, is dearer than life-character such as we are describing-is suspended. Like a thread, it is soon snapped or injured. A false rumour may damage it, but a momentary sinful gratification or indulgence, and it is gone for ever! As an invaluable treasure, it cannot be too carefully guarded. With many, this is their all; and this gone, all is gone. A good character must be established and maintained, to secure respect and influence. While it is easier to gain a character than to keep it, the thing is not impossible. Aim then at excellence of character.

Winsford.

G.

THE JACK KNIFE.

A SHIP was driven out of her course, and cast away within sight of an unknown coast. All on board might have escaped in the boats, though rather crowded, but one of the passengers, on their refusing to admit his trunk into the boat, remained in the ship to unfasten it and get out his pocket-book, which contained notes to the amount of 20,0007. This he thought would not detain him a moment, and he requested them to wait, but in the hurry and confusion of the moment, he could not immediately recollect what he had done with the key of the trunk. Having found it at last and secured the money, he perceived to his dismay that every boat was out of sight, while the ship was falling apart, and suddenly he found himself in the sea. Catching at some article that was floating by, he clung to it almost uneonsciously, not relaxing his hold even when his senses

were failing. Fortunately, he was floated to land, and when he revived, he found himself lying on the beach. As soon as his strength returned, he ascended an eminence, but could see no sign of the wreck or boats, or of any human creature. But as he was leaning despondingly against a tree, he was suddenly startled by being slapped on the shoulder, while a voice to his ear exclaimed, "What cheer, my heart?" Turning around he gladly recognized one of the crew, and inquired what had become of the rest.

Why, I don't know, but I suppose they are safe by this time, but I have seen nothing of them."

"Were you with them in the boats?" "No, I staid on board to the last."

"And so did I, though I was not aware of your being aboard. I hope you succeeded, as well as I did, in saving your property."

"I had nothing to save but a jack knife and plug of tobacco-both safe enough in my trowsers' pockets." "Then why did you not think of saving yourself at once ?"

"No, I could not think of leaving the ship as long as the planks held together. She could not say I was not true to the last. But come, comrade, let us see what kind of quarters we have got into."

They travelled some distance without any sight of a habitation. Necessity quickened their ingenuity, they were successful, occasionally, in catching fish, oysters, or birds, in which the sailor's jack knife proved of invaluable service, in preparing the proper snares and weapons, in opening the oysters, cutting up, or cleaning the fish or birds-above all, in striking a light to make a fire for the purpose of cookery. Once also, when they were attacked by a wild beast, the sailor, by a prompt use of his jack knife, saved

their lives.

They had lived in this manner for some months, when, arriving at the opposite part of the island, they found it inhabited by savages, who conducted them to their king. The gentleman, being very anxious to conciliate his majesty, produced a five-hundred pound bank note, and politely offered it to his acceptance. The king, examined it with

curiosity, applied it to his nose and tongue, and being satisfied that it was not good to eat, returned it with contempt. The gentleman soon found that his twenty thousand pounds could not procure him the smallest consideration. The sailor, on the contrary, in a few days became a personage of great importance, for the many services which he was enabled to render with his jack knife, among a people where iron was unknown. They liberally supplied their wants, and his rich friend was glad to profit by his bounty.

One day, as they were attending the king on an eminence overlooking the sea, they descried a distant sail evidently passing the island. They kindled a bonfire and hoisted signals, but they did not succeed in attracting notice.

"If we only had a boat," exclaimed the sailor, "I think we could get within hail as she does not stand far out, though it is plain she intends to pass without touching this way."

The gentleman produced his twenty thousand pounds, and offered it to the king in exchange for a canoe, but his majesty rejected the roll of paper, and turned to the sailor, with a single word "knife.”

The bargain was instantly closed, the jack knife was received by the king with no less delight than was experienced by the Englishmen as they jumped into the canoe. By dint of hard paddling, and a favorable current, they got within hail, and were taken aboard of the ship, which proved to be an English vessel homeward bound.

As they came within sight of the white cliffs, the gentleman took the sailor apart, and handed him two notes, which amounted to a thousand pounds, and said: "You must not refuse to accept this, for you have done more than twenty times as much as I could have done. I trust you may find these bills, one day or other, as useful as your jack knife has been. I have learned by this time that a man's wealth is to be measured, not by the extent of his possessions, but by the use he can make of them."