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PERSEVERANCE. | 143

that their credit is questioned, and their
downfal foretold and expected.

Watch their progress nevertheless, and as
they cure themselves of their timidity, do
you cure yourself of yours.

The rash»child begins to run too early, and
gets beaten into a more just opinion of him-
self. He is soon cured. But though cured,”
he is by no means sure of beating the timid,
self-distrustful child in the long run, Mere
animal courage is almost worthless. The
courage of the soul is what is to be de-
pended upon. And what is the courage of
the soul? It is a fixed and holy confidence
in God. |

The timid child, instead of rising up from
his little stool, and walking off at once, to be
caught by his mother, sits still and trembles
and whimpers, or faces about and drops
down by little and little, and for a long time
cannot be coaxed into trusting himself. But
watch him, and by and by you find. him
holding on a chair, then standing alone, then
trying to walk, led by both hands, then by a
single finger. Study him well, and remem-
ber the lesson. Or watch the sailor-boy