one in fuel.' So, Rather go to bed supperless than rise in debt.'

'Get what you can, and what you get hold,

'Tis the stone that will turn all your lead into gold.'

And when you have got the philosopher's stone, sure you will no longer complain of bad times, or the difficulty of paying taxes.

"This doctrine, my friends, is reason and wisdom: but, after all, do not depend too much upon your own industry and frugality, and prudence, though excellent things; for they may be blasted without the blessing of Heaven: and therefore ask that blessing humbly, and be not uncharitable to those that at present seem to want it, but comfort and help them. Remember Job suffered, and was afterwards prosperous.

"And now to conclude, 'Experience keeps a dear school; but fools will learn in no other, and scarce in that; for it is true, we may give advice, but we cannot give conduct.' However, remember this, 'They that will not be counselled, cannot be helped;' and further, that 'If you will not hear reason, she will surely rap your knuckles.'"

Newgate. The London city prison for great criminals. Montaigne. A celebrated French

writer, born in 1533. His essays are very celebrated. Johnson. One of the most celebrated writers of the 18th

century. He wrote essays,
biographies, etc., but his great
work was a dictionary of the
English language.

Lent. The forty days before
Easter.

"SPARE WELL AND SPEND WELL."

FACTS TO THINK OVER.

average, proportion, usual.

pledges, promises of repayment.

moral courage, not physical cou-
rage, but strength of mind.
*United Kingdom two

It is computed that in the hundred and seven millions of pawnbrokers' pledges are taken out each year. If all were redeemed within the first month, and none of them exceeded two shillings in amount, the interest which the people pledging would be called upon to pay would amount to no less a sum than eight hundred and sixty thousand pounds per annum. It is, however, more than probable that the average amount paid for each pledge is nearer sixpence, if not above that sum.

Thus, for money lent to the very poorest persons in the kingdom, upwards of five millions sterling are paid annually by them as interest to the pawnbrokers. This sum, enormous as it is, has reference to interest alone.

Strange to say, about 90 or 95 per cent. of all pawned goods are redeemed within the year, as they must be, if redeemed at all.

The sum of money lent each year on the security of goods pawned is difficult to determine, but taking each pledge at an average value of two shillings and sixpence, it would amount to no less than twentyfive millions of pounds sterling.

This sum must, therefore, not only be advanced to the poor, but far the greater part of it, 90 per cent. at least, or twenty-two millions and a half, must be

repaid by them in addition to the five millions of interest before-mentioned.

Surely it is well to ask, why do people tax themselves so heavily?

In fact, this is a sum which the *Chancellor of the Exchequer would find it very difficult to add to the taxation of the rich, and yet it is voluntarily paid by the poorest of the poor without any real benefit to themselves or their families.

Why should not every one at once give up this reckless extravagance, from which no enjoyment can be gained, and be his own pawnbroker?

The way of doing this is simple enough. It is just the reverse of the plan adopted when the professed pawnbroker is made use of. The man who is his own pawnbroker instead of waiting till he is in want of money, then pawning his goods and saving up to redeem them, saves up first, and when in want borrows from the money he has saved up.

Instead of paying to the pawnbroker, he will pay into the Post-office or Penny Bank. He keeps all his goods at home, and when he is well off and in full work-not as he would be obliged to do to a pawn-shop, when he is in difficulties-he pays in his shilling every Friday or Saturday, or sixpence, or whatever he can spare. When short of money he still keeps his things; gives notice that he wants money at his bank, and then merely calls for it and draws it out. There is indeed scarcely a person who could not become his own pawnbroker, by a little display of moral courage, or by what

might be more properly termed the cultivation of a habit.

If he did so he would have the use of his goods, save his share of the five millions a year paid to the pawnbroker, and receive interest besides.

The evil, to the whole nation, arising from the ill use of such an enormous sum can hardly be estimated. Let us see what good might result from this five millions, which is nearly equal to the whole amount raised from the entire population of this country for income tax.

It would be sufficient to give a pension of five shillings a week to every man in England and Wales of 65 years and upwards.

It would give every pauper in England and Wales a pension of two shillings a week.

It would very nearly pay for the education of all children in this country under 12 years of age.

Let every working man and working woman avoid the pawn-shop; visit instead the Post-office or Penny Savings Bank, retain their goods, and thus become more respectable, happy, and independent men and women in every way.-Provident Knowledge Papers, by George Bartley.

United Kingdom. The kingdoms of Great Britain, viz., England and Wales, Scotland and Ireland, under one Queen and Government.

Chancellor of the Exchequer.

The Minister of the Government who manages the financial or money part of public business. The Prime Minister, Mr. Gladstone, is now also Chancellor of the Exchequer.

PROVISION FOR SICKNESS.

community, a number of people. majority, the greater number. gratuitous, given without pay

ment.

contingencies, possible chances. salutary, wholesome.

ménage, a French word for household.

efficacious, good, effective.

problem, a puzzle to find out. central, the centre, the midst. periodical, at certain times. sanitation, health-giving. prescriptions, written recipes. nucleus, a beginning, a centre. subsidies, contributions, payments.

remunerated, paid for.

WITH all the good management in the world, times of illness and trouble will come to the happiest households, and to be prepared for such events is of the utmost consequence. To those who live in large and airy dwellings, where the sick person can be separated from the rest of the family, tenderly nursed, supplied with every necessary and desirable medicine and food, and attended by a skilful doctor, nothing need be suggested. But there is a large class of the community who whilst in health are fully able to provide comfortably for their own and their family's wants, but cannot bear the extra pressure of illness, either in the shape of loss of wages or the expenses caused by medical attendance and nursing. It has long been the habit of the majority of such persons to look to the hospitals and gratuitous dispensaries of the country as their resource in such difficulties, and many who would be ashamed to take money from others, or to feel that they were receiving charity, do not scruple to take advantage of these institutions, and to put themselves in the position of paupers.