234

day to day, and strove to appear cheer-
ful and contented; but his intimate
friends soon discovered that he was be-
coming unsettled and crazed in mind.

He was finally carried off and confined

in a lunatic asylum at the North. He
remained there, receiving medical treat-
ment, until his property was exhausted.
He was then sent back to his friends.
About two years ago, after a severe ill-
ness, his reason, at least a portion of it,
returned, but he was the wreck you
now behold him. His physical energies
were exhausted—his face even was red,
and repulsive in its aspect. He became
the inmate of a neighboring poor-house,
and that at present is his only home.
To me, he will always be an object of
the deepest sympathy. God seems to

have tried him as he did his servant J ob,

1 the furnace of affliction. Perhaps, like
him, he will come out purified by mis-
fortune.”

“Jam sure that I shall never laugh
at him after this,” said Emma.

‘Nor I either,” said Charlie. “ I
will tell the school-boys about him to-
morrow.”

“Your last remark, mamma,” said
Emma, “reminds me of that beautiful
passage that you were pointing out to me
yesterday—‘ Earthly prosperity should
be estimated by its influence on the soul.
What we term adversities, may in real-
ity be blessings. When we cast off
these vestments of clay, perhaps they
may come in beautiful garments to wel-
come us to everlasting habitations. Here
we spoke of them as evil messengers ; in
the court of Heaven, we may recognize
them, as angels sent on errands full of
love.”

«This is very true, my daughter.

  

THE YOUTH’S CABINET.

But the wind is rising; let us go into
the house.” il

It is seldom that the Southern boys
enjoy the pleasures attendant upon skat-
ing. Occasionally however, the water
freezes, and then rare sport it affords
them. Such as can get skates and sleds,
make diligent use of them—those who
cannot, slide upon the soles of their
shoes, and enjoy it nearly as well. Soon
after Charlie’s conversation with his
mother in regard to old Father Blinker,
there came several wintry nights, which
congealed the water to a depth hardly
ever seen before by the oldest men in
the village. The boys were full of glee.
Out and away they went, to try every
mud-puddle and pond in the vicinity.

There was a large sheet of water not far
from the academy, and there they found

ampleenjoyment. They skated, hopped,
slid, and sung, as if half wild with mer-

riment. Many of them declared that

they had never seen real fun before, and

heartily wished that they could go north,

where ice was found through all the
winter months. None enjoyed this
amusement more than Charlie Cleave-

land. He was among the fortunate few

who were in possession of skates, and
now he soon learned how to use them.
He dashed around over the glassy sur-
face of the Jake in fine style. But the
cold weather was not of long duration,
and then it became dangerous to go
upon the ice. The boys, however, were
unwilling to relinquish their amusement.

«You must not venture upon the ice
to-day, Charlie,” said Mrs. Cleaveland,
one morning, as he was starting to school.
“J know that it must be dangerous, and
you must give me your promise Lefore
you leave me.”