den and heat of the day they had to fight against hard times they had to stand up against learning and power. Their times were not like ours: a man may now 50 think what he will, and nobody cares what he thinks. A man of that school was, of course stiff, rigid, unyielding. Tuckney was such a man: Whichcot was for smoothing things, and walked abroad. We see circumstances operating in many other ways. A minister un55 married, and the same man married, are very different men. A minister in a small parish, and the same man in a large sphere where his sides are spurred and goaded, are very different men. A minister on tenter-hooks -harassed-schooled, and the same man nursed-cher60 ished-put into a hot-house, are very different men. Some of us are hot-house plants. We grow tall: not better-not stronger. Talents are among the circumstances which form the diversity of character. A man of talents feels his own powers, and throws himself into 65 that line which he can pursue with most success. Sau rin felt that he could flourish-lighten-thunder-enchant, like a magician. Every one should seriously consider, how far his talents and turn of mind and circumstances divert him out of the right road. Cecil. 2 SAM. Xviii.-19 Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how that the Lord hath avenged him of his enemies. 20 And Joab said unto him, Thou shalt not bear tidings this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another day: but this day thou shalt bear no tidings, because the king's son is dead. 21 Then said Joab to Cushi, Go, tell the king what thou hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran. 22 Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, But howsoever, let me, I pray thee, also run after Cushi. And Joab said, Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings ready? 23 But howsoever, said he, let me And he said unto him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and overran Cushi. 24 And David sat between the two gates: and the watchman went up run. to the roof over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone. 25 And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king said, If he be alone there is tidings in his mouth. And he came apace, and drew near. 26 And the watchman saw another man running and the watchman called unto the porter, and said, Behold, another man running alone. And the king said, He also bringeth tidings. 27 And the watchman said, Methinketh the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said, He is a good man, and cometh with good tidings. 28 And Ahimaaz called, and said unto the king, All is well. And he fell down to the earth upon his face before the king, and said, Blessed be the Lord thy God, which hath delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king. 29 And the king said, Is the young man Absalom safe? Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king's servant, and me thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was. 30 And the king said unto him, Turn aside, and stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still. 31 And behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, Tidings, my lord the king: for the Lord hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee. 32 And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do the hurt, be as that young man is. 33 And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom! my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son! Hor. HAIL to your lordship! Ham. I am glad to see you well: (approaches.) Hor. The same, my lord, and your poor servant ever. 5 Ham. Sir, my good friend; I'll change that name with you. And what makes you from Wittenberg, Horatio? Hor. A truant disposition, good, my lord. 15 We'll teach you to drink deep ere you depart. Hor. My lord, I come to see your father's funeral. fellow-student; Ham. I pray thee do not mock me, I think it was to see my mother's wedding. Hor. Indeed, my lord, it followed hard upon. Ham. Thrift, thrift, Horatio; the funeral baked meats 20 Did coldly furnish forth the marriage tables.. Would I had met my dearest foe in heaven, 25 30 Or ever I had seen that day, Horatio! My father—————Methinks I see my father- Ham. In my mind's eye, Horatio. Hor. I saw him once, he was a goodly king. Hor. My lord, I think I saw him yesternight. Hor. My lord, the king, your father. Hor. Season your admiration for a while, Ham. For heaven's love, let me hear. Hor. Two nights together had these gentlemen, Appears before them, and, with solemn march, 50 Ham. But where was this? Hor. My lord, upon the platform where we watch'd. Hor. My lord, I did; But answer made it none. Yet once, methought It lifted up its head, and did address 55 Itself to motion, like as it would speak; 60 65 Ham. 'Tis very strange! Hor. As I do live, my honoured lord, 'tis true; To let you know of it. Ham. Indeed, indeed, Sir, but this troubles me. Hor. We do, my lord. Ham. Armed, say you? Hor. Armed, my lord. Ham. From top to toe? Hor. My lord, from head to foot. 70 Ham. Then saw you not his face. 75 Hor. O yes, my lord: he wore his beaver up. Ham. What, looked he frowningly? Hor. A countenance more in sorrow than in anger. Hor. Nay, very pale. Ham. And fixed his eyes upon you? Hor. Most constantly. Ham. I would I had been there! Hor. It would have much amazed you. 80 Ham. Very like, very like; staid it long? Hor. While one with moderate haste might tell a hun dred. Ham. His beard was grizzled ?—no ? Hor. It was, as I have seen it in his life, 85 A sable silvered. Ham. I'll watch to-night; perchance 'twill walk again. Ham. If it assume my father's person, I'll speak to it, though hell itself should gape, Shakspeare. 38. An idea of faith impressed on a child. Children are very early capable of impression. I imprinted on my daughter the idea of faith, at a very early age. She was playing one day with a few beads, which seemed to delight her wonderfully. Her whole soul 5 was absorbed in her beads. I said " My dear, you have some pretty beads there."-" Yes, Papa!"-" And you seem to be vastly pleased with them."- -"Yes, Papa!"-"Well now, throw 'em behind the fire." The tears started into her eyes. She looked earnestly at 10 me, as though she ought to have a reason for such a cruel sacrifice. "Well, my dear, do as you please: but you know I never told you to do any thing, which I did not think would be good for you." She looked at me a few moments longer, and then-summon15 ing up all her fortitude--her breast heaving with the effort she dashed them into the fire.-"Well," said I; "there let them lie, you shall hear more about them another time; but say no more about them now." Some days after, I bought her a box full of larger beads, 20 and toys of the same kind. When I returned home, I opened the treasure and set it before her she burst into tears with ecstacy. "Those, my child," said I, are yours: because you believed me, when I told you it would be better for you to throw those two or three 25 paltry beads behind the fire. Now that has brought you this treasure. But now, my dear, remember, as long as you live, what FAITH is. I did all this to teach you the meaning of FAITH. You threw your beads away when I bid you, because you had faith in me, that |