who fall behind, though flung upon fortune, more frequently arises from want of skill and perseverance. Life, young friends, is like a game at cards. Our hands are alternately good or bad, and the whole seems, at first glance, to depend on mere chance. But it is not so, for in the long run the skill of the player predominates over the casualties of the game. Therefore, do not be discouraged with the prospect before you, but ply your studies hard, and qualify yourselves to receive fortune when she comes your way. -Sir Walter Scott.

Strengthened by Defeat.

But noble souls, through dust or heat,
Rise from disaster and defeat

The stronger,

And, conscious still of the divine

Within them, lie on earth supine.

No longer.

LONGFELLOW.

The Development of Courage.

A great man is always willing to be little. Whilst he sits on the cushion of advantages he goes to sleep. When he is pushed, tormented, defeated, he has a chance to learn something. He has been put on his wits, on his manhood; he has gained facts; learns his ignorance; is cured of the insanity of conceit; has got moderation and real skill. The wise man always throws himself on the side of his assailants. It is more to his interest than it is theirs to find his weak point. The wound cicatrizes,

and falls off from him like a dead skin, and when they would triumph, lo! he has passed on invulnerable. As long as all that is said is against me, I feel a certain assurance of success. But as soon as honeyed words of praise are spoken for me, I feel as one that lies unprotected before his enemies.-EMERSON.

Condensed Comments.

They are slaves who dare not be

In the right with two or three.

JAMES RUSSELL Lowell.

If there be one thing upon earth that mankind love and admire better than another, it is a brave man—a man who dares look the devil in the face and tell him he is the devil.-JAMES A. GARFIELD.

We pluck at roses and encounter thorns;

Clutch at life's thorns, and fill our hands with roses.

ANNA K THEINE GREEN.

Courage is a love of the morally bea tit' more than life.-PLATO.

THE CROSS.

The Cross the Cause of Faith.

The cross, which is the object of faith, is also, by the power of the Holy Spirit, the cause of it. Sit down and watch the dying Savior till faith springs up spontaneThere is no place like Calvary for The air of that sacred hill brings

ously in your heart. creating confidence.

health to trembling faith.

said:

Many a watcher there has

"While I view Thee-wounded, grieving,

Breathless on the cursed tree

Lord, I feel my heart believing

That Thou suffer'dst thus for me."

-SPURGEON.

The Cross the Cure for Trouble.

What is the cure for all this social chaos, domestic trouble, secret pain-this wrong-doing as between kings and subjects, fathers and children, man and man? The one cure is the cross of Christ. Have I not preached that with some consistency ever since you knew me? Have I ever given a second prescription for this malady of the world? If I ever have, allow me now to tear it up-publicly tear it up-so that nobody can ever patch it together so as to make one word of it through all time. The prescription I will give is given to me. The prescription by which I would abide according to the exhortation of Scripture-the prescription which I would preach to all mankind-is this: The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from sin."-JOSEPH PARKER.