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 casualities of the game. Then be not discouraged by the prospect before you, but ply your studies hard, and qualify yourself to receive fortune when she comes in your way.

PERSEVERANCE.

TIME hath, my lord, a wallet at his back,

Wherein he puts alms for Oblivion,

A great-sized monster of ingratitudes;

Those scraps are good deeds past, which are devour'd

As fast as they are made, forgot as soon

As done. Perseverance, dear, my lord,

Keeps honour bright; to have done, is to hang
Quite out of fashion, like a rusty nail,

In monumental mockery. Take the instant way,
For honour travels in a strait so narrow,
Where one but goes abreast; keep, then, the path ;
For Emulation hath a thousand sons,

That one by one pursue; if you give way,
Or hedge aside from the direct forthright,
Like to an enter'd tide, they all rush by,
And leave you hindmost.

Or like a gallant horse, fallen in first rank,

Lie there for pavement to the abject rear,

O'errun and trampled on: then what they do in present,

Though less than yours in past, must o'ertop yours;
For time is like a fashionable host,

That slightly shakes his parting guest by the hand,
And with his arms outstretch'd, as he would fly,
Grasps in the comer: Welcome ever smiles,

And Farewell goes out sighing. O let not virtue seek
Remuneration for the thing it was: for beauty, wit,
High birth, vigour of bone, desert in service,
Love, friendship, charity, are subjects all

To envious and calumniating Time.

GO A-HEAD.

WHEN your plans of life are clear,
Go a-head-

But no faster than your brains:
Haste is always in the rear;

If Dame Prudence has the reins,
Go a-head.

Never doubt a righteous cause,
Go a-head;

Throw yourself completely in:
Conscience shaping all your laws,
Manfully through thick and thin,
Go a-head.

Do not ask who'll go with you,
Go a-head;

Numbers spurn the coward's plea !
If there be but one or two,
Single-handed though it be,
Go a-head.

Though before you mountains rise,
Go a-head;

Scale them! certainly you can ;
Let them proudly dare the skies;
What are mountains to a man?
Go a-head.

Though fierce waters round you dash, Go a-head.

Let no hardships baffle you;

Though the heavens roar and flash,
Still undaunted, firm, and true,
Go a-head.

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.

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,
If on "Now" we more rely,
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