102 Turnaside Cottage.

On the evening of the funeral day, I went to see
Mr. Hurst again, and told him that I had resolved
not to spend my time any longer in worldly occu-
pations and studics, but to make my life one long
preparation for death. He heard me as kindly and
consideratcly as usual, and said it was natural and
fitting that I should have these feclings.

“But,” he said, “I would have him to consider
that Almighty God puts us into the world to live
rather than to die, and that the best preparation
for death is a good and useful life. Also, that He
hath given to us talents and faculties which He
meancth us to turn to the best account we can, not
to leave unused and neglected, while we turn all
our efforts to one only, and that, after all, a selfish
end.”

A selfish end! This expression surprised me ; but
I remembered how Mr. Hurst had before con-
demned the selfishness of hermits and monks of
old times, who retired from the world and the work
they might have done in it, in order more securely
to save their own souls.

“But,” I said, “the Bible says, ‘Seek ye first the
kingdom of God and His rightcousness.’”

“True, my son; and I would have you indeed to
put that first, as the mainspring of all your actions.
But in the way you propose to yourself, will you