temporary triumph of the will, and that which is the offspring of genuine benignity. Frederic seemed to listen to his conversation with infinite delight. He acquiesced in the truth of all his observations, and perhaps felt for a time all that he seemed to feel. But the impression was not sufficiently deep, nor of sufficient duration, to change the long confirmed habits of his mind. He afforded an admirable illustration of the parable given by St. Luke, which under the figure of a house, out of which the evil spirit has been driven, describes the state of a man who has made a few feeble efforts at amendment.

As good habits (the furniture of the mind) cannot be immediately formed, the house remains for some time "empty, swept, and garnished." "Then returneth he," (the evil spirit,

the

the predominant vice or passion,) "and taketh to him seven other spirits, "more wicked than himself, and they "enter in and dwell there and the "last state of that man is worse than the first." So it unfortunately happened with regard to Frederic.

66

Albert, when he met with Mr. Milner and his pupil, was on his way to visit the silver mines in Hungary, to which he was led by the enlightened curiosity that inspires the true votary of science with an ardour which scorns to think of danger or fatigue. Yet natural history was to Albert only as a favourite amusement. It was a pursuit in which he delighted, and to which he destined his future hours of leisure, but to which he resolved never to give up a moment which ought to be devoted to the fulfilment of any important duty. In order to qualify him for assuming

assuming with becoming dignity that high place in society which he was soon to fill, he considered the acquirements of knowledge, in all its various branches, and the cultivation of taste in all its harmonious connections, to be essentially necessary. But he would as soon have thought of becoming a fiddler or a dancingmaster, as a mere collector of shells and pebbles.

In little minds, even great objects become little, because in such minds all objects are connected with the littleness of self-important vanity. But when the heart and the understanding are equally enlarged, the elevation of mind that attends on scientific pursuits, becomes a source of pleasure, deeper and richer than any that selfish vanity or ambition ever dreamed of.

Frederic, could not conceive what amusement

amusement Mr. Milner and Albert could find in exploring rocks and mountains, which appeared to him so wild and barren: but on hearing of the silver mines, he readily acquiesced in the proposal of visiting them, as he thought they certainly must afford something worth seeing. The questions he asked were numerous; but they were all confined to one point, viz. the sterling value: and often as the calculation was repeated, he never heard of the amount without wishing, with a sigh, that he too had a silver mine!

"And why this wish for enormous "wealth, my dear sir?" said Mr. Milner. "Is not your present fortune "sufficient for your present wants ?"

"O, I don't want to spend more "than I do just at present," returned Frederic; "but then with a silver "mine! O how many things one 66 might

might do with the revenues of a "silver mine!"

"Believe me, if you do not find "satisfaction in making a good use "of the fortune you already com"mand, you would feel no enjoy"ment in possessing the revenues of "an empire."

"Sir," replied Frederic, "my for"tune is my own, and I spend it as “I please; and, thank God, I am "accountable to no one for my con"duct!"

"Not even to God himself?" rejoined Mr. Milner emphatically. Frederic hastily let down the front glass of the carriage, and, though they were then going at a hand gallop, desired the postillions to mend their pace.

They travelled with great rapidity, and were already in view of the mountains, from whose treasures

Albert