he flings his stake into the hedge, and goes back again. His evil purposes have all been frustrated—the thoughtless boy has baffled him at every turn.

And now the little midshipman is at home-the joyful meeting has taken place; and when they have all admired his growth, and decided who he is like, and measured his height on the window frame, and seen him eat his supper, they begin to question him about his adventures, more for the pleasure of hearing him talk than any curiosity.

"Adventures!" says the boy, seated between his father and mother on a sofa, " Why, Ma, I did write you an account of the voyage, and there's nothing else to tell; nothing happened to-day—at least, nothing particular.”

"You came by the coach we told you of?" asked his father.

"O yes, Papa; and when we had got about twenty miles, there came up a beggar, while we changed horses, and I threw down (as I thought) a shilling; but, as it fell, I saw it was a sovereign. She was very honest, and shewed me what it was, but I didn't take it back; for you know, Mamma, it's a long time since I gave anything to anybody."

Very true, my boy," his mother answers; "but you should not be careless with your money; and few beggars are worthy objects of charity."

"I suppose you got down at the cross-roads ?" says his elder brother.

Yes, and went through the wood. I should have been here sooner if I hadn't lost my way there."

"Lost your way," says his mother, alarmed, " my dear boy, you should not have left the path at dusk.”

"O, Ma," says the little midshipman, with a smile, "you're always thinking we're in danger. If you could see me sometimes sitting at the jib-boom end, or across the main topmast cross-tree, you would be frightened. But what danger can there be in a wood ?"

"Well, my boy," she answers," I don't wish to be overanxious, and to make my children uncomfortable by my fears. What did you stray from the path for ?"

"Only to chase a little owl, mamma; but I didn't catch her after all. I got a roll down a bank, and caught my jacket against a thorn-bush, which was rather unlucky. Ah! three good large holes I see in my sleeve; and so I scrambled up again, and got into the path, and asked at the cottage for some beer. What a time the woman kept me, to be sure. I thought it would never come; but very soon after Mr. D. drove up in his gig, and he brought me on to the gate."

"And so, this account of your adventures being brought to a close," his father says, 66 we discover that there were no adventures to tell ?"

"No, papa, nothing happened-nothing particular, I mean." Nothing particular! If they could have known, they would have thought lightly in comparison of the dangers of "the jibboom end, and the main topmast cross-trees." But they did not know, any more than we do, of the dangers that hourly beset us. Some few dangers we are aware of, and we do what we can to provide against them; but, for the greater portion, “our eyes are held that we cannot see." We walk securely under His guidance, without whom "not a sparrow falleth to the ground;" and when we have had escapes that the angels have admired at, we come home and say, perhaps, that "nothing has happened-at least, nothing particular."

It is not well that our minds should be much exercised about these hidden dangers, since they are so many and so great, that no human art or foresight can prevent them. But it is very well that we should reflect constantly on that loving Providence which watches every footstep of a track, always balancing between time and eternity; and that such reflections should make us both happy and afraid-afraid of trusting our souls and bodies too much to any earthly guide, or earthly security-happy, from the knowledge that there is One with whom we may trust them wholly, and with whom the very hairs of our heads are all numbered. Without such trust, how can we rest, or be at peace; but, with it, we may say with the Psalmist, "I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep, for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety!"

ORRIS.

COMPANY MANNERS!

ONE beautiful morning in the early summer, various roads leading towards a noble mansion were enlivened by crowds of gay carriages, each conveying elegantly dressed papas and mammas, brothers and sisters, to hear the recitations on a grand gala day, of a flourishing public school for young gentlemen.

Very satisfactorily did "the young gentlemen" deport themselves in the eyes of the visitors, as they responded to the queries of their examiners; chanted and sung their most thrilling melodies; exhibited their choicest drawings and paintings; and declaimed in English and French, Latin and Greek, select monodies, dialogues, and debates. Orations both comic and tragic, dogmatical and argumentative, were delivered with all those appropriate arts of elocution which have been known to make the worse appear the better cause, and entrance the fickle multitude, from the days of Cicero and Demosthenes to our own contemporary the Prince President of a neighbouring Republic.

Then came the distribution of prizes, and amidst hearty though subdued symptoms of applause and congratulation, one and another of the youths came gracefully forward to receive the richly-bound volumes, or precious medals which were presented by the chairman with some stirring remark calculated to fix itself in the memory, and shine out in bright array every time the recollection of this day of school-boy glory should flit athwart the mind, when it could only be reckoned among the seasons past and gone of "auld lang syne."

The hour of liberty arrived. Had a stranger surmised the cause from the effect, he might have supposed it was the celebration of a second Negro Emancipation. But the holidays were fairly begun, and all the barriers removed, the lads wandered as privileged guests amid the most secluded parterres whence they were excluded during the fagging half-year. All was courtesy and politeness-everybody, tuned up to overflowing enjoyment, was solicitous also for the social pleasure; every asperity was smothered over, disagreeables of all kinds were banished from the scene,-who would not send their sons-nay go themselves-to such a school? "I've heard there is no teaching politeness to boys," said some old-fashioned

dowager, "but really one is disposed to believe that modern society has discovered the art now-a-days."

Evening shades dispersed the company. Wagon loads of luggage had been despatched over-night, and small portmanteaus or convenient carpet bags contained the present supply which each pupil carried off in papa's brougham, or mamma's pony-chaise. Before long, these specimens of juvenile propriety were scattered abroad, to spread the influence of their refined habits among the lesser tribes at home!

We cannot pretend to follow all, and are sorry that truth compels us to depict facts which redound not quite so much to the honor of "our esteemed young friends" (for so the reverend president had courteously designated them) as we could wish.

There are some youths who seem to have an inherent and unconquerable love of what is coarse and low, so that however they are privileged and guarded, they use the language and seek out the companionship of the "fast" or the vulgar.

Now at this seminary aforesaid every household arrangement was conducted on the most liberal scale, and the niceties of person and manners were cultivated to a reasonable extent. The table was abundantly spread, adorned with snowy linen, and well served and furnished, while the party was waited on in the fashion customary in the middle ranks of society.

"It is strange and disappointing, is it not?" murmured a gentle mother, "that after all their training at school, my boys should amuse themselves with soiling their father's carpets, and upsetting the mustard upon the white damask which decorates their home-dinner table ?"

"Very strange!" we reiterated, and pondered long for some adequate reason, but could discover none. Can you, dear reader? It was rather strange too, we thought, as we became intimate with these young folks' domestic habits, that their voices should become so gruff, and their manners so harsh towards their little sisters, while even mamma and aunts were assailed by abrupt requests, sounding rather more like a young slaveholder's commands, than a polished gentleman's petition to a lady!

A

Surely they could not suppose it manly to be uncouth? deferential suavity to others would be the best proof that they

understood and appreciated their own position. Amidst the multifarious lectures on Astronomy, Philosophy, Science, Literature, and the Fine Arts-the spirit of the age, and the phases of the times, it might not be amiss for some well qualified orator to undertake an exposition of the theory and practice of good manners to edify the rising generation, for why should courtesy and politeness be absent from the family circle? If we are not to annoy strangers with our individual peculiarities, or awkwardness, why should we subject our nearest and dearest friends to their inconvenience?

These young persons were religiously brought up, and accompanied their pious parents regularly every Sabbath to public worship, where they conducted themselves with so much decorum, and listened so sedately to the addresses of their pastor, that one's heart was consoled by the hope that they would not wander far from the safe road-that though their manners might be rude at home, their minds at any rate would escape the moral contagion which sometimes depraves the most accomplished courtier. Alas! for the futility of such expectations! Good principle is needed for discreet conduct, as well as for moral virtues.

A party was formed to visit a neighbouring lighthouse, and with joyous faces and lively anticipations our young acquaintances at the appointed hour joined the company, which embarked in a pretty little steamer for the excursion. Quiet elderly couples-careful fathers and mothers, with many a group of young folks, perched themselves in cosy nooks, or paced the decks, inhaling the sweet sea breezes and admiring the romantic scenery bordering the coast. Occasionally a light musical laugh rose above the hum of graver conversation, and following the direction of the sound the eye rested upon a merry circle who were enjoying the trip after their own fashion,

"Finding fun in all they heard,
Making game of all they saw."

Amusing nonsense, and airy nothings, created perpetual mirth, yet so guileless and innocent that even old age felt almost young again in listening to the exuberant gaiety of "sweet sixteen."