of one which will have no end; you must lead an eternal life in another world, whether you desire to do it or not. Have you ever seriously thought how long this future life will last? Yes, you will tell me, you know it will last for ever. You answer rightly; but have you weighed the importance of the word-EVER? It is a little word, and soon passes the lips; but the largest capacity cannot fully comprehend its meaning. Compare it with a thousand, or with ten thousand, or with ten times ten hundred thousand years, and you will find the longest period you can imagine to be so greatly exceeded by it, as to be absolutely no part of it at all. A grain of sand is a part of the earth, a drop of water is a part of the ocean, but the greatest number of years is no part of eternity. This consideration is wonderful in itself: but it becomes inexpressibly interesting, when you know that nothing less than this eternity will be the measure of the length of your future life? How would you wish to spend this endless life? There is no doubt you will say-happily. God is very good to you; he has provided for you means of happiness in the other world far exceeding any thought you can form of them in this: but this happiness will not become yours till you have stood your trial; and the issue of that trial may be, not happiness, but misery; misery unspeakable both in degree and in duration! BP. WATSON. THE FIRST STAGES OF THE SCHOOL-BOY'S PILGRIMAGE TO THE TEMPLE OF LEARNING. NOTHING could be more easy and agreeable than my condition when I was first summoned to set out on the road to learning, and it was not without letting fall a few ominous tears that I took the first step. Several companions of my own age accompanied me in the outset, and we travelled pleasantly together a good part of the way. We had no sooner entered upon our path than we were accosted by three diminutive strangers. These we presently discovered to be the advanced guard of a Lilliputian army, which was seen advancing towards us in battle-array. Their forms were singularly grotesque; some were striding across the path, others standing with their arms a-kimbo, some hanging down their heads, others quite erect, some standing on one leg, others on two, and one, strange to say, on three; another had his arms crossed, and one was remarkably crooked; some were very slender, and others as broad as they were long. But, notwithstanding this diversity of figure, when they were all marshalled in line of battle, they had a very orderly and regular appearance. Feeling disconcerted by their numbers, we were presently for sounding a retreat; but, being urged forward by our guide, we soon mastered the three who led the van, and this gave us spirit to encounter the main army, who were conquered to a man before we left the field. We had scarcely taken breath after this victory, when, to our no small dismay, we descried a strong reinforcement of the enemy stationed on the opposite side. These were exactly equal in number to the former army, but vastly superior in size and stature; they were, in fact, a race of giants, though of the same species with the others, and were capitally accoutred for the onset. Their appearance discouraged us greatly at first, but we found their strength was not proportioned to their size; and having acquired much skill and courage by the late engagement, we soon succeeded in subduing them, and passed off the field in triumph. After this we were perpetually engaged with small bands of the enemy, no longer extended in line of battle, but in small detachments of two, three, and four in company. We had some tough work here, and now and then they were too many for us. Having annoyed us thus for a time, they began to form themselves into close columns, six or eight abreast; but we had now attained so much address that we no longer found them formidable. After continuing this route for a considerable way, the face of the country suddenly changed, and we began to enter upon a vast succession of snowy plains, where we were each furnished with a certain light weapon, peculiar to the country, which we flourished continually, and with which we made many light strokes, and some desperate ones. The waters hereabouts were dark and brackish, and the snowy surface of the plain was often defaced by them. Probably we were now on the borders of the Black Sea. These plains we traversed across and across, for many a day. Upon quitting this district, the country became far more dreary; it appeared nothing but a dry and sterile district, the soil being remarkably hard and slaty. Here we saw many curious figures; but we soon found that the inhabitants of this desert were mere ciphers. Sometimes they appeared in vast numbers, but only to be again suddenly diminished. Our road, after this, wound through a rugged and hilly country, which was divided into nine principal parts or districts, each under a different governor ; and these again were reduced into endless subdivisions. Some of them we were obliged to decline. It was not a little puzzling to perceive the intricate ramifications of the paths in these parts. Here the natives spoke several dialects, which rendered our intercourse with them very perplexing. However, it must be confessed, that every step we set in this country was less fatiguing and more interesting. Our course at first lay all uphill; but when we had proceeded to a certain height, the distant country, which is most richly variegated, opened freely to our view. I do not mean at present to describe that country, or the different stages by which we advanced through its scenery. Suffice it to say, that the journey, though always arduous, has become more and more pleasant every stage; and though, after years of travel and labour, we are still very far from the temple of learning, yet we have found on the way more than enough to make us thankful to the kindness of the friends who first set us on the path, and to induce us to go forward courageously and rejoicingly to the end of the journey. JANE TAYLOR. APPENDIX. PREFIXES, AFFIXES, AND PRINCIPAL LATIN AND GREEK ROOTS OCCURRING IN THE PRECEDING LESSONS. Extra, without or beyond Juxta, nigh to Ob, oc, of, op, in the way of Per, through Pre, before In, in before a verb, not before an Super, sur, above Trans, beyond Un, not Intro, to within LATIN AND GREEK WORDS, WITH THEIR ENGLISH REPRESENTATIVES. C Cado, I fall, (changed into cido when compounded) Casus, fallen, as cadence, casual, accident Cano, canto, I sing, as recant, canticles, precentor Cando, I set on fire, census, inflamed, as incense, incendiary Capio, take, captus, taken (cipio and ceptus when compounded), as capture, reception, recipient Caput, the head, as capital, precipitate Caro, carnis, flesh, as incarnate, carnivorous Cavus, hollow, as concave, excav Decus, decoris, grace, honour, as Dico, I say, dictus, said, as predict, dictate Dies, a day, as dial, diary Dignus, worthy, meet, as dignity, dignitary Doceo, I teach, doctus, taught, as doctor, docile, doctrine Doleo, I grieve, as condole Domus, a house, as domicile, domestic Duco, I lead, ductus, led, as induce, aqueduct Durus, hard, as durable endure E Emo, I buy, emptus, bought, as redeem, exemption Eo, I go, itum, to go, as exit, cir- F Facilis, easy, as facilitate, difficulty Facio, I make, factus, made (ficio and fectus when compounded), as factor, perfect, omnific Fallo, I deceive, as infallible Felix, felicis, happy, as felicity Fero, I carry, as ferry, infer, circumference |