large number of vicious and depraved criminals, not a blow has been struck! The cat-and-ninetails does not hang there upon their walls, as the disgusting badge of authority;-no swords, or guns, or instruments of death are paraded there to the spectator's eye. The prison has the appearance of a large and well-ordered workshop, and is in fact one of the best governed in the nation, reflecting equal honor upon its principal, and upon the local authorities who have selected, and thus long sustained him.

EXAMPLE BETTER THAN PRECEPT.

We find in Plato, a noble instance of the power of example over precept. His nephew, Pensippius, who became excessively debauched, was turned out of doors by his parents. Plato took him in and entertained him, as if he had never heard a word of his debaucheries. His friends, amazed and shocked at a procedure that seemed to them to carry insanity in it, blamed him for not laboring to reform his nephew, and save him from utter ruin. Plato answered, that he was laboring more effectually than they imagined, in letting him see the manner of his living, what an infinite difference is between virtue and vice, and between honorable and base things. This method succeeded so well, that it

39š4on

inspired Pensippius with a great respect for his uncle, and a violent desire to imitate him, and devote himself to the study of philosophy, in which, it is said, he afterwards made great progress. Evil examples are as dangerous as good ones are beneficial. For as the slightest touch will defile a clean garment, which can only be cleansed by a good deal of trouble, so the conversation of the wicked and debauched, will in short time defile the mind of an innocent person, in a manner that will give him great trouble to recover his former purity. You may therefore more safely venture into company with a person infected with the plague, than with a vicious person; for the worst consequences of the first is death, but of the last, the hazard of a worse destruction,-Monthly Repository.

a very

In the above case, we perceive that Plato acted on the law of kindness, "overcome evil with good."

THE TRULY GREAT MAN.

Says the wise man, "He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he that ruleth his own spirit is greater than he that taketh a city." An answer soft will wrath divert,

And from its purpose turn,

While harsh and grievous words will make
The fire of anger burn.

PLEASURE IS CHEAP.

Did you ever study the cheapness of pleasure? Do you know how little it takes to make a multitude happy? Such trifles as a penny, a word, and a smile do the work. There are two or three little boys passing along-give them each a chesnut, and how smiling they look; we'll be bound to say they will not be cross for an hour. A poor widow lives in your neighborhood, who has several children; send them a few apples and they will be happy. A child has lost his arrow-all the world to him-and he mourns sadly; help him to find it, or make him another, and how quickly will the sunshine play upon his sober face. A boy has as much as he can do to pile up a load of wood; assist him a few moments, or speak a pleasant word to him, and he forgets his task, and works away without minding it. Your apprentice has broken a mug, or cut the vest too large, or he "has left an out," or "pied a stick full," say "you scoundrel," and he feels miserable; but remark, "I am sorry, try to do better in future," and he feels a great deal better. You have employed a man-pay him cheerfully, and speak a pleasant word to him, he leaves your house with a contented heart, to light up his own hearth with smiles of gladness. As you pass along the street, you meet many a familiar face. Say "good morning," as though you felt happy, and it will

work admirably on the heart of your neighbor. Pleasure is cheap-who will not bestow it liberally? If there are smiles and sunshine, and flowers all around as, let us not grasp them with a miser's fist, and lock them hermetically in our hearts. No. Rather let us take them to scatter about us; in the cot of the widow, among the groups of children, in the crowded mart, where men of business congregate, in our families, and everywhere. We can make the wretched happy-the discontented cheerfulthe vicious virtuous-at an exceedingly cheap rate. Who will refuse to do it ?-Philadelphia Saturday Courier.

EFFECT OF HARSH WORDS ON THEIR AUTHOR.

An elderly Christian, residing in New York, stated when he related his experience, that for about three years after his conversion, his soul was filled with the love of God, and constant and perfect peace dwelt in his heart; but one day being ill-treated by an individual, angry feelings rose in his bosom, and he gave utterance to a few harsh words, and instantly gloom, darkness and despondency weighed him down, and he thus continued for several months, bowed down like a bull-rush.

VAN AMBURGH, THE WILD BEAST TAMER.

His great success in taming and controlling wild beasts, and leading them to form strong attachments to him, is all accomplished by mild treatment and kindness. Any person who witnesses his performances, it seems to me, can no longer doubt the correctness of the Lion Stories in the fore part of this work, which are well authenticated, and are published in several school books.

PARENTS OF WASHINGTON.

The parents of the beloved Washington, ever exercised a kind and gentle disposition. After George, in his early boyhood, had carelessly ruined a favorite English cherry tree, his father, though much grieved, uttered no harsh words; but as George frankly confessed the deed, with a cheerful countenance, and in a pleasant voice, he says, "run to my arms, my little darling, you have paid me a thousand times for the tree by telling the truth." This was also the course pursued by his excellent mother, as in the case of George being the cause of the death of a favorite colt of hers. Hence, under God, our country is indebted to the parents of Washington for such an excellent man; had they been