A little thinking will show, that men of any character, good or bad, do act thus on a sort of regular plan.

Some general principle, for instance, suffices in many cases. "That honesty is the best policy," has become a proverb; and it has kept many a one from ruin. There are indeed meaner spirits, who cannot form an idea of policy without craft and subtlety; this soon becomes deceit; and when it sinks to this, it is discovered, and defeats its own purpose. Let the youth then exert a little observation, see what general principles conduct to respectability; and let him select such as have been well tried, such as may peculiarly suit his own situation; to guide him in specific difficulties, or to guard him against his peculiar temptations. The very determination to act on principle will lead to his adopting, one after another, such as more appropriately suit his exigencies. How ought I to act? will become a continual inquiry; and the answer will seldom be very difficult to ascertain, when the custom of discrimination is once thoroughly established.

FORMATION OF HABITS.

SUCCESS in life depends in a great measure on the early formation of our habits. Whether our grand object be wealth, or fame, or that far nobler one, exalted virtue, we must shape our habits to that object, or we shall fail. What enabled Franklin to attain the highest honors of philosophic fame, to stand, as he expresses it, "before kings," and, what is better, to live in the memory of his

countrymen ?-the early formation of good habits. The perusal of his autobiography, which no young man should omit, will show what those habits were. What made Girard the richest citizen of our country, and the benefactor of his race?-the formation of early habits of frugality, disinterestedness, industry and self-denial. Such habits are not formed in a day, nor will they result from a few faint resolutions. They are the result of continued effort.

Whatever is of value must in most cases be sedulously pursued. Seldom can it be caught in a moment, like a prize in the lottery, or brought to perfection like a mushroom in a few hours. Character most certainly is of slow growth. No method can force it, or hasten its ripening; like asparagus, so treated it is sickly, and without flavor. Only by long continuance, and unvaried, unintermitted care, can this jewel be obtained, polished, and set; so as to show itself to the best advantage. Not by accident, nor by fits and starts, but by regular, judicious, and permanent habits, may a youth hope to attain this important qualification, character.

Habit is either an insidious enemy, or a firm friend. We had need be much on our guard concerning its influence; rather let us enlist it, and employ it judiciously: it will render us much assistance, in forming a character useful, estimable, and efficient.

THINKING.

THINKING, not growth, makes manhood. There are some, who, though they have done growing, are still only boys. The constitution may be fixed, when the judgment is immature; the limbs may be strong, while the reasoning is feeble. Many who can run, and jump, and bear any fatigue, cannot observe, cannot examine, cannot reason or judge, contrive, or execute they do not think.

Accustom yourself then to thinking. Set yourself to understand whatever you see or read. To run through a book is not a difficult task, nor is it a very profitable one. To understand a few pages only, is far better than to read the whole, where mere reading it is all. If the work does not set you to thinking, either you or the author must be very deficient.

Great stores of knowledge are in some cases accumulated, without making the man wise; because, though he has read, and remembers, he has never duly considered. It is most conducive to health to let one meal digest, before we take another: it might be equally beneficial not to take up another book, perhaps not to pass to another 'page, till we have by reflection securely made that our own which we have just been reading.

To join thinking with reading, is one of the first maxims, and one of the easiest operations. There is something to work upon; the mind has only to shape, to square, to polish it, which may be done with comparative ease.

But he is not to be called a thinking man, who reasons only while he reads; whose mind is vacant, unless some one else fill it. Be not content,

therefore, to think merely as some author, or some circumstance, may bid you; but try to think from yourself. Let loose your cogitations, we might say, perhaps with more propriety, watch them, train them, and keep them from running wild and useless. Mind is of necessity ever active: at no waking moment, at least, is it destitute of ideas. The art of thinking, is not always that of creating, but of marshalling the thoughts, which else wander in a desultory, and therefore an ineffective, useless manner. To sit five minutes utterly vacant, is not easy, even to minds the most absent. But to mark the various fancies which flit across the imagination, though a duty, a pleasure of high degree, is what we often neglect. To cure this negligence is the object of this chapter. Be not indolent, be not careless, watch your own thoughts, it will teach you the art of thinking. Accustom yourself to set them each to their proper service.

You will have more work done, and better. Mind can work upon itself, and never to better purpose: all it knows from other sources, will by this means become profitable: it is sowing the grain, not merely grinding it; and the produce will be accordingly abundant.

It is only by thinking, that a man can know himself. Yet all other knowledge, without this, is splendid ignorance. Not a glance merely, but much close examination will be requisite, for the forming a true opinion of your own powers. Ignorance and self-conceit always tend to make you overrate your personal ability; as a slight degree of knowledge may make a timid mind pass upon himself too humble a judgment. It is only by thinking, and much impartial observation, that a man can discover his real disposition. A hasty

temper only supposes itself properly alive; an indolent indulger imagines he is as active as any one; till by close, and severe examination, each may discover something nearer the truth. So important as such discoveries are, do not grudge the necessary, the appropriate process, on which this self-knowledge depends.

What are your prospects in life? have you any plan, any expectations, any apprehensions? By thinking these over, you may forestall obstacles, and avoid them; may beware of opportunities, and secure them.

Thinking is absolutely necessary to forming an opinion. "For my part, I think so, or so," comes very awkwardly from a youngster, who has not yet begun to think at all. Yet such are most apt to bolt out their opinions. You should be afraid of giving a judgment, on any case which you have not considered. A little thought will give modesty, perhaps hesitation to an opinion, which so circumstanced will pass with much less offensiveness; nay thus it may meet with some friendly mind, to guide it into clearness. It may be much more easy to retract it, if quite absurd, or to mould it, if only mis-shapen. Or it will be more possible, more easy to defend, what has been thus considered, than will the hasty sentiment of the giddy, the obtrusive.

To retain an opinion because once given, however absurdly, is the next step to giving it without consideration. The same fault in the character generates both circumstances. Such retaining a notion once broached, is, however, not firmness, but obstinacy: and if this should be in a case wherein a little thinking would set all to rights, it