Year: 1879

in him often gave him small sums, like

 others, though debarred, like others,

 from rendering his mother assistance,

 which an honest pride forbade her to

 accept, and of which health and in-

 dustry prevented her from being in

 absolute need.

 A year passed, and, chancing to be

 in the company of evil associates, Arch

 ley got into trouble with them. They

 committed some theft, in which he did

 not share, and of which he was igno-

 rant until he was arrested, like them,

 and tried as their accomplice. Infor-

 ID ation of the affair being brought to

 MT. Dwight, he felt convinced of the

 boys innocence, and after questioning

 him undertook to plead his case;

 which influence, however, only suc- ceeded so far against the false testi- mony of the really guilty that Archley

 was fined for trespass while the others

 were more severely dealt with.

 The shame of the accusation seemed to overcome the grieved boy far more than the fear of punishment, however unjust; and he wept more bitterly than the young reprobates who had thought to make him share their punishment as well as their disgrace.

 "You need not shed tears, my boy" said his temporary protector, soothing ly, so that all could hear. None who know you can think harm of you. The best are often injured by false evidence beyond their power of defense against law; and in this case, the penalty it prescribes for you I believe you can pay, without depending upon anybody but yourself"

 !" My mother is so poor," sobbed the boy, f that don't like her to pay so much; and how can I pay it? ?''

 "What have you done with the box ?"

 "Oh, forgot that; but I don't think there can be much in it, for the little I have saved up in it.

 '' Send for 1t, and we will see about that"

 The little box was therefore brought and opened in court, and, much to the surprise of the boy, far more was found in it than was demanded to meet the penalty. This discovery cheered young Archley, for he was now relieved from his modification at dependency by being able to pay his fine with his own money, which he did with some pride; and, with his mother, his friend and his box, he marched out of court l amid the cheers oe hisjoyous playlnates. l

 "You see, my young friend, that by | being provident, without being mean, | you have been able to Erescue yourself 1 from difficulty" said MT. Dwight, on | parting with them. '' Bear the lesson | In mind, in future, as well as you have l kept your promise, and you will find 1t | of service throughout your life. long after I am dead, perhaps. There is more than the amount you have paid. I wished you to send for the box, only the better to illustrate what virtue less prodigality might have left you

 The lesson thus learned had a doubly good effect, and the boy was more care ful as to the character of his com panions ever after.

 The manifold changes of few more years, transformed the boy into a man, involving other alterations in the con dition of his life. His mother slept in the grave; his good friend, Mir. Dwight, had moved away, he knew not whither; and he, in neighboring town, no less popular as man than he had been as a boy, had, by dint of intelligent enter prise, acquired thriving business, of | which he was the head.

 Fortune long seemed to favor the | young man, and often the image and | counsel of his early good adviser came up before him, and the pleasant re- membrance made him yearn to see him. 1 But, unfortunately, the advice which | he remembered he did not follow. His 1 benevolence and confiding nature, his eagerness to oblige, and his impulsive | sympathy at every signal of distress, became known to all around him, and 1 by slow and sure degrees the unstinted | exercise of his uncalculating charity | annulled the good results of his honest industry, and carried his affairs grad ually into the background, where prod igal generosity often leads and leaves a man, and where debt incurred by help ing others bring distress and ruin upon the deserted bankrupt.

 Herbert Archley failed, and found few friends to praise, pity him, or de- fend bis honesty of purpose, and none who were able or dared to help him. To him came now the old experiences of the too benevolent, who have less means to sustain than heart to prompt generous actions; and though fortune did not so utterly forsake him as to con- sign the well-meaning debtor to jail, his freedom to wander seemed 10 lib erty to him, who, as he left the town, a poor and censured man, could not leave its recollections also behind.

 The imprisoned thought was itself imprisonment, as, when far away, he brooded, in poverty, over his follies and misfortunes.

 '' Were not ever thoughtful step we take in this world thronged with proofs of our insignificance and ignorance, we might dare attempt to grasp at and ar i raion the wisdom of the AlmiOhtv he reflected as he mourned. " Yet, in what light have, it sometimes seems unjust that charity should be the cause of its own punishment, or be per l mitted at all to suffer. But, now, how ( well I recollect the counsel given me by that good man in. my youth-to be l kind, without giving all away, and that ] one might be provident without being ' mean. He gave me a fatherly lesson