WISE MEN.

“ You may remember, Arthur,” said Mr. C. to his
son, “that some time ago, I endeavoured to give you a
notion of what a great man was. Suppose we now
talk a httle about wise men ?” )

“With all my heart, sir,” replied Arthur.

Mr. C. A. wise man, then, is he who pursues the best
ends by the properest means. But as this definition
may be rather too abstract to give you a clear compre-
hension of the thing, I shall open it to you by examples.
What do you think is the best end a man can pursue
in. life P

A. I suppose, to make himself happy.

Mr. C. True. And as -we are so constituted that
we cannot be happy ourselves without making others
happy, the best end of living is to produce as much
general happiness as lies in our power.

A. But that is goodness, is it not P

Mr. C. It is; and therefore wisdom includes good-
ness. The wise man always intends what is good,
and employs skill or judgment in attaining it. If he
were to pursue the best things weakly, he could not
be wise, any more than though he were to pursue bad
or indifferent things judiciously. One of the wisest
men I know is our neighbour, Mr. Freeland.

A. What, the Justice ?

Mr. C. Yes. Few men have succeeded more per-
fectly in securing their own happiness, and promoting
that of those around them. Born to a competent
estate, he early settled upon it, and began to improve
it. He reduced all his expenses within his income,
and indulged no tastes that could lead him into ex-
cesses of any kind. At the same time he did not refuse
any proper and innocent pleasures that came in his
way; and his house has always been distinguished
for decent cheerfulness and hospitality. He appled