ON CHARACTER

THERE are many people who find much gratification in observing the words and actions of others. Wherever they are, whatever they see and hear, and with whomsoever they associate, they are always on the look out for those peculiarities that constitute character. You shall have a few of my characters: they are oddly tumbled together; but you may pick out, here and there, what may prove to be seasonable information.

There are weak-minded and feeble-bodied invalids, who are never well, and who never would be well if they could. The doctor must call, the draught must be taken, and every friend must tell them, on pain of serious displeasure, that they look very ill, and must take great care of themselves. I have met with a few of these.

There are quiet folks in the world, who let others have their way, who sit and laugh in their sleeves at the wilfulness of others, and withal get pitied and pelted into the bargain. This class is somewhat scarce; but it has come within the range of my observation.

There are ignorant, hot-headed, high-minded hurley-burley blusterers, who tyrannize wherever they have power. To rail at servants, to look big, and call about them at inns and other places, and to quarrel with the feeble and timorous, is their delight.

There are tattling gad-abouts, who can no more withhold from the whole neighbourhood anything they may happen to know or hear, than a cackling hen that has just laid an egg. Be it true or false, let it do good or evil, the story must be told. Sorry am I to say, that the tribe of the gad-abouts is a numerous one.

So.

There are kind-hearted souls, who can never be happy themselves, unless they can make others Half-a-dozen such as these in a village, and a score in a town, do more real good, and fling around them more sunshine, than a hundred merely respectable inhabitants. Oh how I love to fall in with beings of this description!

There are free givers, who have not a particle of charity. They will head a subscription, visit a benevolent institution, put largely in the plate at the church or chapel door, and plead the cause of the widow and the orphan. These things are done that they may be seen of men," and "verily they have their reward."

There are passionate persons, so hot and pep

pery, so truly combustible, that a word will throw them into a blaze. Whether the offence be small or great, intended or accidental, it is all one. They are like loaded guns, which go off when the least thing touches the trigger. Of one of this class it was aptly said,

"He carries in his breast a spark of ire,

That any fool may fan into a fire."

wise;

There are thoughtful men who remain at home, and grow and there are thoughtless wanderers who go abroad, and come back ignorant. It is not what the eye sees, but what the mind reflects on, that supplies us with wisdom.

There are persons who, acting from sudden impulses, make use of such high-flown exclamations on trifling occasions, that they have no suitable words for occurrences of importance. They know nothing of the positive and comparative, but always make use of the superlative. The squeaking of a mouse and the fall of a churchspire would call forth the same ejaculation. The offenders of this class are usually feminine.

There are indolent indulgers of themselves, so lethargic that they can make no effort, except on occasions of extraordinary necessity, like the glutton that gorges himself to supply his hunger, and then relapses into his accustomed torpidity.

There are busybodies, whose own business seems not to be of half so much importance to them as the occupations of others. These sift trifling matters to the bottom; make much of little things, and do a plentiful deal of mischief to all around them. They gain the credit of knowing every body and every thing. Some court them, some fear them, and some despise them; but every one dislikes them.

There are susceptible, affectionate, and impulsive spirits, who quickly manifest their kindhearted feelings, but do not retain them. Like the spark that gives a momentary warmth and brightness, and is suddenly extinguished, their emotions come and go with the occasion that calls them forth. With many of this class have I held communion.

There are well-meaning, weak-minded simpletons, who cannot say, No! but agree in every thing with every body; such sentences as these are ever in their mouths: "You are right, sir!” "True! true! true!" Exactly so!" "It cannot be otherwise!" " Undoubtedly!" "To be sure it is!" "That is what I say!" "There is no question about the matter!" "I see! I see!"

There are silent and reflecting observers of men and things, who commonly hear and see,

and say nothing. They neither approve nor condemn audibly, and many imagine that they have no opinion; yet there are times when they can speak. When you meet with such an one, hold him, and let him not go; for he is worth his weight in gold.

There are speakers fond of fine words; they are so self-sufficient and ill-instructed as to confound simple language with a deficiency of intellect, thereby undervaluing what is really an attain ment of a high order, and only to be acquired by much study and practice. Students of this kind abound.

There are thankless repiners, who always remember to complain of the least of their troubles. and always forget to rejoice and thank God for the boundless blessings he has so liberally bestowed. A thankless spirit is a curse to its pos

sessor.

There are true cocoa-nut friends, who with a rough outside possess great kindness of heart. These speak rather with their hands than their tongues; with their deeds than with their words. If you have such a friend value him; for you may go far, and not find another.

There are polished and plausible persons, who have ever fair words at their disposal. They promise freely, but perform slowly. There is a silky

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