122 ROBERT DAWSON.

and very distant ones too! “If I ever want to borrow
a sovereign of my richest neighbour, he never happens
to have one just then,—and now I do not care.”
I looked at his shabby coat, and thought of his wife
and children,—poor !—poor !—very poor! and asked,
~ Why is it? Had not Charley ability? Why, yes; but
when Charley was a boy, his parents always did his
work for him. had to do mine for myself. Do not
his present inefficiency, and fear of work, and frequent
complaints, grow out of the too much aid, the useless
sympathy, the constant gratification of his wishes, ren-
dered to him by his parents in boyhood? Children
must engage in active service, in labours, dangers,
- fatigues, if they would have healthy constitutions, a
self-relying spirit, and the ability to take care of them-

selves. .

Then, boys, be not afraid of work! Do not be afraid
of obstacles in the pursuit of agoodend. A life lies be- .
"fore you: its length you know not. It offers materials for

you to carve out your own destiny, of course under the