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THE TWO BUSTS.

NEVER affect knowledge in that about which you know nothing. By acting contrary to this advice, you may pass for a person of discernment one moment, and be overwhelmed with confusion the next.

I will not undertake to answer for the truth of the tale, but it is said that a stranger once went into the study of a statuary, where two busts were standing; one, he was told, was the resemblance of the murderous Greenacre, and the other that of the benevolent Howard.

For some time he gazed on the figures, observing in one all the ruffian qualities of a murderer, and as distinctly tracing in the other all the amiable virtues of a philanthropist. Long and loud were his praises in commendation of the sculptor, who had succeeded in depicting so faithfully and forcibly the lineaments of virtue and vice. All passed off remarkably well, until the discriminating stranger, by one of his remarks, made it appear too plainly that he had mistaken

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one bust for the other; that in which he had admired virtue, was the likeness of Greenacre ; and the other, in which he had abhorred vice, was the resemblance of the philanthropist.

If we are in the mood to profit, we may get good from the narration given. Who is there that has not credit for more wisdom than he possesses? With many it is a favourite object to appear wiser than others; and with most of us it is easy to be proud, but very hard to be humble.

A HINT TO A NEIGHBOUR ON

INDIGESTION.

As you are troubled with indigestion, taking medicine, and leading a weary life of it, now better for a season, and then again worse than ever, I will prescribe for you. Experience is an excellent physician; take, then, my recipe. You are welcome to it, though it is invaluable.

Look less to the food you eat, and more to the temper and frame of mind in which you eat it.

Instead of getting much physic into your stomach, get a little thankfulness into your heart, and you will soon see what will become of your indigestion. The love of God shed abroad in the heart helps the temper; a good temper helps the appetite; a good appetite helps the stomach; and a good stomach assists the digestion.

So long as you are under the dominion of fear, anger, hurry, care, grief, ill-temper, or any bad passion, you may live in vain on the wings of larks, the thighs of woodcocks, aud the breasts of

HINT TO A NEIGHBOUR ON INDIGESTION. 231

partridges. Nothing will suit your indigestion; the tender will become tough, and the light will `lie heavy on your stomach.

Let love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, abide and abound in your heart. Obtain this spirit, eat your food under its influence, and get often into the fresh air; and, take my word for it, you will ere long be able to eat toasted cheese and barm dumplings with impunity.

THE

BASKET OF SUMMER FRUIT.

WHERE is the Bible reader in the whole world who has not occasionally found, when reading the word of God, an unusual fulness, significancy, and sweetness in texts which he has read over a hundred times without emotion? Sometimes, too, the words suggest to the mind comfortable thoughts, which appear to have little or no connexion with the true meaning of the text. A case of this kind occurred to me yesterday, as I read the words, "And he said, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A basket of summer fruit," Amos. viii. 2.

Now the basket of summer fruit seems, in the prophecy, to set forth the approaching end of Israel; but it communicated to my mind joyous feelings, and delightful anticipations. "Summer fruit," seemed the symbol of coming mercies, and blessings about to be enjoyed. What more pleasant to the eye, what more grateful to the taste,

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