Year: 1859

diversion could not. Many an instant
Of minds of fine order falling into
feebleness or imbecility from violating
this law of our being and taxing the
brain too unsparingly may be found;
and yet we meet people who think
themselves very wise, talking as if
there was no childhood and should be
no youth in life. No opening of the
year and no flowers in the spring
would bc quite as natural. Well
meaning and good people there are
who, either from education or GOODNESS
of heart, have these morbid diSposi-
tions. They do not consider that they
are striving to overturn Gods merci-
ful institutions for human enjoyment.
The Creator has ordained beauty and
bloom; the stars garnish the heavens
and the flowers brighten the earth for
our happiness; from His open hand
freshness and joyfulncss are showered
on our pathway of life. Ought we
not to be glad for these things?
Should not this happiness find ex-
preston in those plays of childhood
and amusements of youth that keep
the body, as well as mind. in a health
ful condition? "a merry heart does
good like medicine" is Bible truth.
Then beware of shadowing innocent
amuscments with the gloom of guilt,
or turning the sombre cloud of disap-
pointment over the bright sky of life's
morning hour!


We have been led into this train of
reflection by conversation with one
of our friends respecting the late Hugh
Miller, whose melancholy suicide may
be traced to an overtaxed brain and
the pressure of life which had never
had its complement of heal,hful diver
sion. In his autobiography-one of
the most interesting books for young
people to be found-he alludes to a
period of his early youth when he
nearly sunk into melancholy that
may be characterized as the premoni-
tion of this fatal tendency Of the mind


\ more worthy example Of life de-
voted to industry and improvement
can scarcely be offered to young men
than that of Prof. Hugh Miller, and
yet we would earnestly warn all our
youth from such unceasing toll and
study as he pursued, taxing body and
mind beyond their strength as he did.
The unfortunate circumstances in
which he was born imposed on him
the necessity for great exertion; and he
made this over-exertion at an age
when neither his growth nor strength
was matured, and this was not soften
ed by any intervals of joyous amuse-
ment. These things were, we are
persuaded, the chief causes that led to
the premature failure of his strength of
mind, and gave this good man up to
those dark fancies that ended in mad
ness. lie was brought up-not edu-
cated-among class of people who,
so far from advising amusement OF
providing any diversions of youth for
his enjoyment, would probably have
denounced any attempt on his part to
procure them. The path of life in
which he was set had no embellish-
ments; it was stern and sterile oI
innocent gaycty as the hills around


him were OF flowers; it was rough and
rugged as the rocks on which he
toiled. He was an ambitious and


highly conscientious youth, and went


further in his self-denials than the Sc


verest of his guides required. Hi,


mind was rarely unbent; never amused


1t lacked the oil of joy on the wheels
of time; and so his own rash hanc


stopped the jarring machine of morta
life. Peace to his ashes! He toileC
nobly in his Masters work, but not
wisely, or he would not have left it il


such way nor at such an hour.


Shall we not learn from this catas
trophe that an overtasked life is no


the best condition for the cause of hu
manity or for the interests of tru
religion? To make perfect human
being. the development of each season
of life must have its necessary tim
and means; and each phase shoult
have Its hours of vigorous action an,


of innocent relaxation. Indolence


vice, and sin are always to be Stunned
guarded against, and prevented; still


we must not forget that asceticism an,
: misanthropy are more likely to brin,
temptations to sin than are cheerful
, ness and that charity which seeks t
, promote innocent happiness. w


trust no reader of ours will interpre
! this as excusing the indolent, pleasure
!. loving votary from his or her labor
Of duty. We only wish to guar
against the extremes of being "carefr
and troubled about many things" fo