Heed not Mammon's golden bell;
Go a-head.

Make no compromise with sin;
Tell the serpent he looks well,
But you cannot let him in—
Go a-head.

Better days are drawing nigh;
Go a-head.

Making duty all your pride,
You must prosper, live or die,
For all heaven is on your side;
Go a-head

NOW!

"Now" is the constant syllable ticking from the clock of Time. "Now" is the watchword of the wise. "Now" is on the banner of the prudent. Let us keep this little word always in our mind; and, whenever any thing presents itself to us in the shape of work, whether mental or physical, we should do it with all our might, remembering that "now" is the only time for us. It is indeed a sorry way to get through the world by putting off till to-morrow, saying, "Then" I will do it. No! this will never answer. "Now" is ours; "Then" may never be.

K

BYE-AND-BYE.

THERE'S a little mischief-making
Elfin, who is ever nigh,
Thwarting every undertaking,

And his name is "Bye-and-Bye."

What we ought to do this minute,
Will be better done, he'll cry,
If to-morrow we begin it—

"Put it off," says "Bye-and-Bye."

Those who heed his treacherous wooing,
Will his faithless guidance rue;
What we always put off doing,
Clearly we shall never do.

We shall reach what we endeavour,
“Now” we more rely,

If on
But unto the realms of " Never,"

Leads the pilot "Bye-and-Bye."

PERSEVERANCE.

THIS word means the steady pursuit of a plan, whether good or bad; but it would be very unwise to persevere in a plan which conscience or practice had proved to be bad. In actual life, where there are so many different pursuits, and different ways of doing the same thing, it means steadiness in the execution of whatever plan is determined upon. Burgh makes mention of a merchant, who, at first setting out, opened and shut his shop every day, for several weeks together, without selling goods to the value of one penny, who, by the force of application for a course of years, rose at last to a handsome fortune. "But I have known," he says, “many who had a variety of opportunities of settling themselves comfortably in the world, yet, for want of steadiness to carry any scheme to perfection, they sank from one degree of wretchedness to another for many years together, without the least hopes of ever getting above distress and pinching want. There is hardly an employment in life so trifling that it will not afford a subsistence, if constantly and faithfully followed. Indeed, it is by indefatigable diligence alone that a fortune can be acquired in any business whatever."

An accomplished American says, "That the man who is perpetually hesitating which of two things he will do first, will do neither. The man who resolves, but suffers his resolution to be changed by the first counter-suggestion of a friendwho fluctuates from opinion to opinion, from plan to plan, and veers like a weathercock to every point of the compass with every breath of caprice that blows-can never accomplish any thing great or useful. Instead of being progressive in any thing he will be at best stationary, and, more probably, retrograde in all. It is only the man who carries into his pursuits that great quality which Lucan ascribes to Cæsar, Nescia virtus stare loco-who first consults wisely, then resolves firmly, and then executes his purpose with inflexible perseverance, undismayed by those petty difficulties which daunt a weaker spirit-that can advance to eminence in any line."

If any one is in doubt as to what perseverance is, he may soon find out by a little observation. Look round among your friends and acquaintances; there is perhaps among them an example of perseverance. Keep your eye on him for a time: does it not seem as though he had a double vitality within him, some ther man's life as well as his own? It is true that his heart beats and his blood circulates in the same way as that of other men, but you cannot help fancying that there is something else in the circulation invigorating every nerve and muscle, only to cease when the wonderful machine stands still. If at times it seems to be idle, you may be sure that it is not real idleness-but only a pause for a new start.

In the possession of rank and riches he may, perhaps, not be so well off-that is, not so bountifully supplied as many of his neighbours; but yet he goes on with a cheerful, hopeful spirit, which sustains him in trials that would swamp ordinary people. There is reciprocal cause and effect: perseverance promotes cheerfulness, and cheerfulness promotes perseverance. He who is never idle, who has no waste time, is in the fairest way to secure contentment of mind and body. Nine times out of ten, the idle man, he who has nothing to do, is unhappy, and is put to all sorts of shifts to kill timethe most lamentable kind of murder. There is something

almost terrible in the idea of flinging away one's breathing moments, the hours and days which are only lent to us, as though they were worthless. No one likes to fling away shillings by the handful, and yet how few hesitate to squander minutes!

Not so, however, with the persevering. He has an object in view, and strives to accomplish it. Early and late he follows it up, finding time not too long, but too short. He cannot do half that he would in a day; all his waking moments are employed with the duty he has in hand, or in thinking about it.

Whether in business or pleasure, he knows how to make the most of a minute. Idle gossip, trivial recreation, dissipating pursuits, have no charms for him; there is a purpose in all that he undertakes, whether of business or pleasure. If at times he fail, he tries again—and again—and still tries, come what may. It is a fine manly quality this perseverance, especially when well directed.