"are of much avail: we must be governed, not by general rules, but by individual circumstances." Oh, man! what a thorny path thou must lead to reach the Eternal City! How many snares and pitfalls! how many enemies to encounter! Within, the depravity of your own heart; without, the assaults of so many insidious foes, placing forbidden fruit before your morbid appetites, and leading you on to destruction; their temptations coinciding with, and strengthening the impulses of your native depravity. How can you ever reach eternal life? Can any one be saved? Is there no one, then, to pluck the fruits of the trees of life, or bathe in the river of bliss that rolls at their feet? Yes, blessed be God, through Jesus Christ, who only gives us the victory! there will be hosts redeemed from the thraldom of depravity, the dominion of sin, the influence of demons! Heaven will not be tenantless and deserted; but the song of Moses and the Lamb will resound throughout eternity, sung by countless millions of the human race! CHAPTER XXX. ROBERT AT FIFTEEN. ROBERT WOODS has now reached the age of fifteen, the time when the decision is to be made whether he will continue in his present situation or be bound apprentice to some mechanic. By this time, he had made himself so useful to his master, who had such confidence in his skill and integrity, that but few thoughts and few words sufficed to continue him as the bound apprentice to Joseph Curtis, to acquire the business of farming, taking care of a saw-mill, &c., to use the words of the indentures. Robert was now a strong, athletic, agile youth, of the size and activity of a lad of eighteen; an adept in all the exercises and sports of boyhood; accustomed to labour, considering it a duty, and therefore a pleasure, and never a task. He was almost ex clusively employed at the saw-mill, at least in the spring, summer, and autumn months; and feeling it so much his permanent residence, he had done what his taste suggested to make it picturesque, if not beautiful. A little room at one end-made of coarse slabs, it is true, but made with neatness-gave him a place for retirement and study, and a receptacle for his books and the implements of his various business or amusement. A lock and key secured it from intruders; and here he laid the foundation of all that he proved to be in after-life. A window, consisting of a sliding pannel, like those in stables, looked out on the west, and overlooked the plunge of the foaming water, after it had left the wheel. It is true, there were cracks in several places, and the light and rain came in through various chinks and crevices;, but his book-shelf was dry, his little nook for his birch-bark rolls was dry, and he cared not for himself. Something else besides children's copies and respectable pot-hooks and trammels, began to cover those birch-bark rolls. The first openings of a young mind, the first stretchings after immortality, the first rays of a young imagination, stimulated by the beauty around him, began to appear on those rolls. had pro Robert had money now; and money ed him books, and utensils, and tools, of va rious kinds. His fish were well sold; and not" only Mr. Clifford was the purchaser, but others, even at the county town, though fifteen miles distant, patronised the young fisherman. He laid snares for the ruffed grouse; (or partridges, as they are called in New England; he soon procured, first a coarse little gun, and then a rifle, and his game brought a ready price. He never forgot his dear, good Mrs. Curtis, as he called her; and she always had her share of game and fish, and that always at the very time when they were most acceptable. What was the secret of Robert Woods' success? Had he received demoniacal assistance? Am I describing an impossibility? By no means. The secret of his success was simply the effect of strength of body, steadiness of nerve, and coolness of judgment. Possessing all these qualities, any one can be successful in athletic pursuits or in the acquisition of game. He learned things quickly, it is true; but he did not receive them by intuition. He observed coolly: he then drew his conclusions, rapidly it is true, but generally accurately. He had steadiness of nerves in body, and steadiness of purpose in mind, and he accomplished what he desired. There was no miracle had done what his taste suggested to make it picturesque, if not beautiful. A little room at one end-made of coarse slabs, it is true, but made with neatness-gave him a place for retirement and study, and a receptacle for his books and the implements of his various business or amusement. A lock and key secured it from intruders; and here he laid the foundation of all that he proved to be in after-life. A window, consisting of a sliding pannel, like those in stables, looked out on the west, and overlooked the plunge of the foaming water, after it had left the wheel. It is true, there were cracks in several places, and the light and rain came in through various chinks and crevices; but his book-shelf was dry, his little nook for his birch-bark rolls was dry, and he cared not for himself. Something else besides children's copies and respectable pot-hooks and trammels, began to cover those birch-bark rolls. The first openings of a young mind, the first stretchings after immortality, the first rays of a young imagination, stimulated by the beauty around him, began to appear on those rolls. Robert had money now; and money had proed him books, and utensils, and tools, of va Cur |