hair] from a beam, and another pierced his thigh with an

awl;

Though destitute of instruction, these were laborious in study.

One read by light of glowworms, another by reflection of snow;

These, though their families were poor, did not omit to study.

One carrying fagots, and another with his book tied to a cow's horn,

And while thus engaged in labor, studied with intensity.

Soo Laoutseuen, when he was twenty-seven years of

age,

Commenced assiduous study, and applied his mind to

books.

This man, when old, grieved that he commenced so late;

You, who are young, ought early to think of these things.

Behold Leäng Haou, at the advanced age of eightytwo,

In the imperial hall among many scholars, gains the first rank;

This he accomplished, and was by all regarded as a prodigy.

You, youthful readers, should now resolve to be diligent.

Yung, when only eight years old, could recite the odes; Ánd Pe, at the age of seven, understood the game of

chess:

These displayed ability, and were by men deemed extraordinary;

And you, my youthful scholars, ought to imitate them. Tsae Wanke could play upon stringed instruments; Seay Taouwăn, likewise, could sing and chant :

These two, though girls, were intelligent and well-informed;

You, then, my lads, should surely rouse to diligence. Lew Ngan, of Tang, when only seven years old, Showing himself a noble lad, was employed to correct writing;

He, though very young, was thus highly promoted; You, young learners, should strive to follow his example;

And he who does so will acquire similar honors. Dogs watch by night; the cock announces the morning.

If any refuse to learn, how can they be esteemed men? The silkworm spins silk; the bee gathers honey; If men neglect to learn, they are inferior to the brutes. He who learns in youth, and acts when of mature age, Extends his influence to the prince, benefits the people, Makes his name renowned, renders illustrious his parents,

Reflects glory on his ancestors, and enriches posterity. Some for their offspring leave coffers filled with gold; While I, to teach children, leave but one little book. Diligence has merit; play yields no profit;

Be ever on your guard! Rouse all your energies !

A CONFUCIAN TRACT.

PRESERVE

AN EXHORTATION TO MEN CONSTANTLY TO
HEAVENLY PRINCIPLES AND A GOOD HEART.*

Men, when first born, have a nature given to them by heaven. An ancient author has said: This (the original good heart) is an important thing; it is the most honorable and weighty thing in a man's life; he must not lose it; because if this is preserved, then the man is alive if this is not preserved, then the man is dead. If, although this is not preserved, the man still continues alive, there is after all nothing more left of him than the mere bodily shell containing wickedness; there is no real life.

Seih Kinghien says: Every day you ought to call out to yourself, "Old Master! are you at home?' In the

* Translated for the Chinese Repository, Vol. XV, 1846. The gratuitous printing and distribution of tracts is much practiced amongst the Chinese. The Confucianists do it to recall the people to the practice of virtue as taught by the sages; the Buddhists do it in order to bring more to their temples, that their revenues may be augmented; while all hope by these good works to

accumulate merit.

evening you ought, in a retired apartment, to ask your heart, saying, "Do any of the matters which you have attended to to-day wound the heavenly principle, or do they agree with principle?" If your conduct does not correspond with heavenly principle, you ought in future carefully to guard against it.

Heaven gives benevolence, politeness, justice, wisdom. (Here is given a representation of the heart. Inside of it are the words :) Benevolence, justice, politeness, wisdom, nature almost divine.

(Outside, but connected with it, are the words :) The affections: joy, anger, sorrow, happiness: thoughts, wishes, purposes.

The course of learning, proper for men, consists in restoring reason to its pristine lustre, in an enlightened heart, and in making the summit of virtue the only point of rest.

A map of the heart as it is gradually obscured and lost. (Here is given a representation of the heart in six phases, at first quite white, gradually blackening till it is altogether black.)

1. When the infant is newly born, the original heart is altogether complete.

2. When it is influenced by desire, the original heart begins to be obscured.

3. When principle and lust war together, the original heart is half obscured.

4. When the passions become dissolute, and more and more ardent, the original heart is more than half obscured.

5. When the evening feelings (of remorse) are no

longer preserved, the original heart is exceedingly obscured.

6. When the few (remnants of good) are altogether lost, the original heart is completely obscured.

A map of the heart as it is in the course of being repaired and again brightened.

(Here is a similar representation of the heart, at first altogether black, then gradually whitening, till it becomes all white.)

1. Being involved and drowned in wickedness for a long time, the original heart is destroyed and lost.

2. When we wash away what is unclean, and scrape off the dirt, the original heart begins to be restored.

3. When we reform errors, and remove to virtue, the original heart is gradually being restored.

4. When we subjugate self and put away selfishness, the original heart is half restored.

5. When we put away licentiousness, and preserve sincerity, the original heart is very much restored.

6. When all virtue is reverentially brought into action, the original heart is altogether restored.

Heart.

Only to use this straight heart is better than to study the classics. Gods and spirits will all respect you; your after generations and descendants will prosper.

They who only use the heart as thus inverted will form into clubs, and beat and rob men. Vengeance will come