THE YOUTH’S CABINET.

373

 

life to observe, that there is a hol y sadness
about our sorrows for the departed, that
leaves a fragrance of good feeling behind.
We mourn, it is true, but we mourn not
as those who have no hope; nor need our
heaviness of heart be such a burden as
you seem to imagine. Have you never
observed, my son, that there is a sense of
weight hanging about the mind after hav-
ing indulged in excessive levity ?”

“ No, sir, ’'ve never noticed it in my-
self, though I think I have noticed it in
others—mostly in grown people.”

“Well, I know children are blessed
with light-heartedness, which is a part of
their nature. But for myself, I weary
with trifling, and my heart grows sad
amid laughter and glee; and when it does
so, I seek retirement and prayer. There
is One, Tommy, who seeth in secret, and
to whom the burdened and heavy-laden
heart can go, and in whom it can find
such comfort as the world cannot give.
I would have you know, while young in
years, that there is a sweet comfort and a
true joy in the religion of the Bible.”

“ Well, sir, little Anna Kramer's father
and mother are as sorry, I know, as peo-
ple can be; for how can they help it,
when they remember how good, and how
kind, and how sweet a child little Anna
always was—and that’s what makes me
so sorry too, for nobody could help loving
that little girl, I am sure. But then, as
Mr. Reed told us when sister Emma died,
‘the dear child is better off;—don’t you
remember, papa, he said so?”

“T do remember it well, and I am as-
sured that it is true. ‘This is an evil
world, and it is so full of temptation !”

“But we should not wish people dead,
should we ?”

“Certainly not ; for by such a wish we

would break the sixth commandment ;
but we may have faith in God, and a dis-
position of heart to rely upon Him; and
then, above all, there is the blessed pro-
mise and hope of seeing again those from
whom we have been severed here— the
loved and lost’—lost not forever, but only
lost, except in memory, for the present.
We shall join them again, if we ourselves
are virtuous and pure, and love the Savi-
our. Do you not believe it, my son ?”
“Yes, sir; I believe it, but I am afraid,
not with so much confidence as you do.”
E. H. K.

‘
Brotherly Affection.

ustoms vary in different countries.
In England, when a man dies
without making a will, his proper
ty goes to his eldest son. Mr.
Glanville, who lived in the days of Charles
II. had an eldest son, who was incurably
vicious; and seeing no hope of reforming
him, the father gave his property to his
second son. When Mr. Sergeant Glan-
ville died, and his eldest son learned what
was done, he became greatly dejected,
and in a short time his character under-—
went an entire change. When his bro-
ther perceived this, he invited him and a
party of his friends to a feast. After sev-
eral dishes had been served, he ordered
one, covered up, to be set before his bro-
ther; which, on being opened, was found
to contain the writings that conveyed to
him the estate. This, he remarked, was
what he was sure his father would have
done, had he lived to witness the happy
change which they saw.