another can assume different shapes, it is the phantom we pursue that we take for happiness.

Earthly happiness is sought by all. The sage pursues it in his books and reflections; the savage discerns it in the wilderness; the prince views it sparkling in a crown; the peasant beholds it in abundant crops of grain; the sailor sees it in the ocean; the soldier hears it in the stormy fight; and the school-boy and school-girl hope to find it in a holiday.

If I could peep into your hearts, from the youngest of you to the oldest, what a medley should I find there of visionary things laid up in store to make you happy! Waxen dolls and birth-day presents; glowing hopes and pleasant holidays; young friends and old acquaintances; joyous scenes and family gatherings; satin dresses and kid gloves; journeys and jubilees; sunbeams and silvery clouds! I would not, if I could, take away your enjoyments; but I must whisper the wish that they may be under control.

We all love to pluck the fairest fruit, and to gather the sweetest flowers; but put this down as a truth worthy to be graven on a pillar of brassThat more enjoyable fruits and flowers grow by the wayside of the path of duty, than in all the wilderness of wilful inclination.

We all set a value on riches; but Mexico

is a long way off, and its gold is hard to gain ; the Bible, a far richer source of real wealth, is at hand. I will point out two texts that are worth a hundred Mexicos :- "God is love," 1 John iv. 8. "Christ died for the ungodly," Rom. v. 6.

Willingly would I write more; but time presses, and I must hurry on to the end of my remarks. Though I cannot make you happy, I can commend you to Him who has all happiness at his disposal. I can ask of him to bless you with true knowledge, and to keep you from evil; yea, to guide you by his counsel, and afterwards to receive you to glory.

Old Humphrey is, usually, cheerful as the day, and he loves to throw around him an air of cheerfulness wherever he goes; but with all his light-heartedness, and in the midst of all his infirmities, he considers this world as nothing without the well-grounded hope of a better. Were you to place him on the rack; fling him beneath the wheels of Juggernaut; yea, grind him to powder between the upper and nether mill-stone; you would not even then crush out of him the joyous hope of everlasting life through the Saviour of sinners!

This is not such a letter as I intended to write; but give me credit for feeling more kind

ness and interest in your real welfare than I have expressed, and believe me to be, my unknown young friends, yours in the very spirit of sincerity and kindness, OLD HUMPHREY.

ON EXPERIENCE.

It is almost impossible for a man to live to grey hairs without passing through a great variety of scenes, and being placed in a great variety of situations. It is this circumstance, in connexion with others, that constitutes the difference between the experience of youth and age. The young, however excellent their talents and extended their attainments, having witnessed fewer scenes, and acted in a less variety of situations, must be, comparatively, deficient in the knowledge of life. The fresh recruit may be active and strong, and after a little practice become expert at his warlike weapons; but his military knowledge is not like that of the old campaigner.

Though my own life has had as little of a striking kind to diversify it, perhaps, as the lives of my neighbours, yet, when I bring to one point the scenes through which I have passed, and the situations in which I have been placed, they present a somewhat formidable array, and force upon me the regret that they have not made me wiser and

better, and much more humble, considerate, forbearing, and thankful than I am. Now, if, reader, yours is the furrowed brow and the grey hair, most likely your experience has been somewhat like my own. Let me, then, give a glance at the past, for it may be that our mutual reflections thereon may be attended with advantage. I am not a dweller on things of this kind; a hasty glance, a rapid review, a dash or two of my pen on the several points to which I may refer, will be all that I shall offer. By putting myself in the attitude of a questioner, the end I have in view will be the more easily attained.

Have you been one of a happy party when the bells of the church tower have rung a merry peal, and when the gay garlanded bride has stepped lightly from her carriage at the church gates? Has she hung on your arm, and have you given her to the rejoicing bridegroom at the altar, and ejaculated a prayer that the presence of the Holy One might rest upon them, blessing them in their basket and in their store, their going out and coming in, from thenceforth and for ever?

When the flesh and heart of the aged pilgrim has failed him, and he has given up the ghost, his soul magnifying the Lord, and his spirit rejoicing in God his Saviour, have you been there? And have you frequently followed the plumed