end to the other, has but one voice of forgiveness, endurance, and love, in answer to CHRIST'S pardon, long-suffering, and tender mercy to us, and as a condition of our profiting by them. If I had a younger brother going to school, I think what I should say to him would be this. Let them kick you, let them jeer you, and when they do, think of CHRIST; but never see another boy bullied without taking his part. Fight for others where you would not fight for yourself; and only defend yourself. I know people will say that this would make boys poor-spirited and cowardly. But they forget that the Gospel blesses the meek and lowly and gentle. And I am sure what I said before was true, that the only courage worth possessing, the only real bravery, is to have the heart to endure for what is right, come what will,

and suffer what you may. If a boy can learn to bear an insult and to protect the weak, he will be braver, better, and a much truer Englishman than such a fellow as Wilkinson, who threshed you the other day."

Our readers will easily feel the truth of these words. For surely there never was a braver or more truly high-spirited lad than Austin Barrow, though he dared not fight, nor swear, nor break bounds, nor deliberately do anything wrong.

F

At the end of the week, Dr. Wilson returned. He was seen in close conversation with Etterton, and there seemed to be a high debate between them. Many were the speculations afloat among the boys. Some thought the Doctor would take up the original business, punish the culprits severely, and reverse Etterton's punishment of Barrow and Davenant. Others thought he would say nothing at all-others that he would address the school on the subject.

The truth was, that Dr. Wilson did not well know what to do. He longed to punish the guilty and to acquit the innocent, but he did not wish to destroy Etterton's authority. He desired also an opportunity of speaking to the boys on the offence itself, but this he could not do without bringing up the whole subject, so he passed the matter over in silence, only speaking in a particularly kind tone to Barrow whenever he had occasion to address him. And some of the boys said they saw a tear in his eye on noticing the pale and worn countenance of the delicate boy, when he gave in the imposition to Etterton. For in fact, what with the usual work-with attending to Davenant and the imposition, Barrow had been really overdone, and looked very unwell and depressed.

51

CHAPTER V.

Beterioration.

Like April showers, the tears of youth descend-
Sudden they fall, and suddenly they end.

THE RETROSPECT.

TIME wore on, and school and its ways became familiar. Home was thought of less and less frequently, and Godfrey did not feel so isolated and out of his position as he had done. This change was by no means unaccompanied by evil. Partly because Barrow was writing for the prizes, and partly because Dr. Wilson grew more and more attached to him, and more often made him the companion of his walks, Godfrey saw less of his friend, and having no stay in himself, he proportionably declined from the high tone which Austin Barrow's society had hitherto preserved in him.

Godfrey had found that, although deficient in critical knowledge, yet in mind and taste he was

His

very superior to the boys of his class. themes, his English verse and some of his Latin, and his translations, were infinitely better than those of his peers. The consequence of this was,

that although Etterton disliked him, yet he soon began to refer to him on these subjects, and Godfrey was constantly receiving praise for those lessons in which alone he cared to excel. Alas, here was a sad error at the outset! It is as true that people are generally as insensible to the importance of their own deficiencies as they are to the deficiencies themselves. And moreover, we love the subjects which are most congenial to us, and usually magnify them as all important on this very account. But Godfrey added vanity to these causes of his contempt of scholarship. He did not shine in it-he found it difficult to acquire, he could excel in other subjects, and therefore he dwelt on them and neglected the other.

Of course Davenant's education suffered from these circumstances. He wasted much of his time in musing and writing poetry, and in similar pursuits. But the moral injury which he suffered was far greater. He did not submit to any really difficult or irksome work, which he could avoidand so he lost the mental discipline or restraint

of learning, and strengthened his love of admiration and his old desire of being thought something out of the common way, and mysteriously grand by genius.

Austin Barrow soon perceived all this and remonstrated most kindly and earnestly with him. In particular he lent him "Law's Serious Call," and begged him to read all the eighteenth chapter very carefully, but the marked passages in particular.

The following were two of them :

"But above all, my son, mark this ;-never do any thing through strife, or envy, or emulation, or vain-glory. Never do any thing to excel other people, but in order to please GOD, and because it is His Will that you should do every thing in the best manner that you can. For if it is once a pleasure to you to excel other people, it will by degrees be a pleasure to you to see other people not so good as yourself. Banish therefore every thought of self-pride, and self-distinction, and accustom yourself to rejoice in all the excellences and perfections of your fellow creatures, and be as glad to see any of their good actions as your For as GOD is as well pleased with their well doings as with yours; so you ought to desire that every thing that is wise, and holy, and

own.