Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1852-03-30
TAKE CARE OF YOUR SPARE MOMENTS.

TAKE CARE OF YOUR SPARE MOMENTS.
A lean awkward boy came one morning to
the door Of the principal of celebrated school,
and asked to see him. The servant eyed his
mean clothes, and thinking he looked more like
a beggar than anything else, told him to go
around to the kitchen. The boy did as he was
hidden, and soon appeared at the back door.
81 should like to see Mr." said he.
"You want a breakfast, more like" said the
servant girl "and can give you that without
troubling him."
"Thank you" said the boy; "I should have
no objections to bit of bread but should
like to see Mr., if he can see me-"
"Some old clothes, may be, you want" re-
patched trousers "Iguess he has none to spare;
he gives away sight," and without minding
the boys request, she went away about her
work.
"Can see Mr--w again asked the boy, af-
ter finishing his bread and butter
"Wel he's in the library; if he must be dis
turbed, he must; but he does like to be alone
sometimes" said the girl, in peevish tone.---
She seemed to think it very foolish to admit
such an Unlocking fellow into her masters pres
ence; however, she wiped her hands, and babe
him follow. Opening the library door, she
said
"Here's somebody, sir who is dreadfully anx-
ions to see you, and so let him in"
| don't know how the boy introduced himself,
or how he opened his business; but know
that after talking while the principal put aside
the volume which he was studying, and took up
some Greek books and began to examine the
new conner. The examination lasted some time.
Every question which the principal asked, the
boy answered as readily as could be.
"Upon my word," exclaimed the principal,
"you certainly do wellp' looking at the boy
from head to foot over his spectacles. "Wby,
my boy, where did you pick up so much !'
"La my spare moments" answered the boy.
Here he was poor, hard-working, with but
few opportunities for schooling, yet almost fit
ted for college, by simply improving his spare
moments. Truly, are not spare moments the
"gold dust of timer How precious they sho'ld
be! What account can you give Of your spare
moments! What can you show for them 3
Look and see. This boy can tell you how much
can be laid up by improving them; and there
are many, many other boys am afraid, in the
Jail, in the house of correction, in the forecastle
Of whale ships, in the gambling house, or in the
tippling shop, who, if you should ask them when
they began their sinful courses, might answer,
In my spare moments" "In my spare moments
| gambeJ for marbles" 6 In my spare moments
began to smoke and drink" alt was in my
spare moments that | began to steal chestnu,s
from the old woman's stand" cit was in my
spare moments that gathered with wicked asso-
cates.'
Oh, be very, very careful how you spend your
spare moments Temptation always hunts you
out in small seasons like these, when you are
not busy; he gets into your hearts, if he possi-
bly, can, in just such gaps. There he hides him.
self, planning all sorts of mischief. Take care
of your spare moments Mrs. III. c. Knight.
1t is very necessary that good men should
live in very bad times, not only to reprieve
wicked world that God may not utterly destroy
it, rs he once did in the days of Noah, when all
flesh had corrupted its ways; but also to season
human conversation, to give check to wicked
ness, and to revive the practice of virtue by some
great and bright examples, and to redress those
violences and injuries which are done under the
sun at least to struggle and contend with a
corrupt age, which will put some stop to the
growing evil, and scatter such seeds Of virtue
as will spring up in time. 1t is IN argument of
Gods care of the world, that antidotes grow in
the neighborhoods of poisons; that the most de-
generate ages have some excellent men, who
seem to be made on purpose for such time, to
otCui tHO toilCut, anu W SNO oObO Saoc W bHC
lniseries of mankind. Dean Sherlock.
THE New STYLE, was adopted in Catholic
countries by order Of Pope Gregory Kill, in
l582-the 9Th of October was called the 10Th,
emitting 10 days. Protestant Britain adopted
this rule 1852, calling the Sd of September the
l4th, emitting eleven nominal days Russia
adheres to the old style, the difference from the
new being now twelve days. Up to 1852, the
year was held to begin in England with the 25th
of March; 1851 did so, but 1862 began January
], by act of Parliament, agreeably to the Greg
oran or Roman-cathoic Calendar, which is the
true time, with only an error of one day in about
5000 years. qsa
Two wealthy gentlemen were lately convers-
ing in regard to the period when they had best
enjoyed themselves. ~ will tell you" says one,
" when most enjoyed life. Soon after | was
twenty-one, worked for Mr.. -, laying stone
wall; at t,centy cents a day." SWELL" replied
the other, "that does not differ much from my
experience. When was twenty, hired myself
out at seven dollars per month. have never
enjoyed myself better SINCE" The experience
of these two individuals teaches, first, that ones
happiness does not depend on the amount Of his
gains or the station he occupies second, that
very small beginnings with industry and pru-
dence may secure wealth.
WISE LAws.--Evil men speak rs they wish