The contented will always have a competence, and be their whole lives without disgrace. He who knows where to stop, and always stops there, will his whole life be without shame. Compared with those of your superiors, your circumstances may not be competent; compared with your inferiors, you possess superfluity."

7. "Sit in your secret chamber, as if passing through the public street. Take care of the inch-large heart, as if driving six horses."

8. "Man's temper is like water. Water overturned, cannot be gathered up again. The temper, let loose, cannot be again brought under restraint."

9. "The living man who does not learn, is dark, dark, like one walking in the night."

IO. "He who brings up a son, but neglects to instruct him, loves him not. He who instructs his son, but without due strictness, also loves him not."

Wisdom

11. "A mirror displays the countenance. sheds light on the heart. If the mirror be bright, dust cannot stain it. If wisdom be clear, that which is evil and lascivious will not be produced."

12. "He who is without education in youth, will be without knowledge in old age."

13. "A good prince is generous to his people, without extravagance; employs them in labor, and they murmur not. He desires without covetousness; is dignified without pride; displays majesty without sternness."

14. "Young persons and servants ought not in any affair, whether small or great, to act of themselves; they ought always to ask of the elder branches of the family."

15. "Brothers are like hands and feet. A wife is like one's clothes. When clothes are worn out, we can sub

stitute those that are new. When hands and feet are cut off, it is difficult to obtain substitutes for them."

16. "The benevolent man loves others. The polite man respects others. He who loves others, others will always love him. He who respects others, others will always respect him."

17. "He who is ready with promises, will rarely fulfill them. He who flatters one in his presence, will commonly be found to speak evil of him behind his back.” 18. "The mouth is the door of human misery; and the tongue, the axe which exterminates the body."

19. "To hold intercourse with a good man, resembles the scent of the lánhwui flower. One man plants it, and all inhale the fragrance. To associate with a bad man, is like one climbing a wall with an infant in his If he slip his foot, both fall and suffer."

arms.

20. "There are four things in women which deserve praise a woman's virtue, her countenance, her words, her labors. A woman's virtue requires no extraordinary talent above that possessed by others. Her countenance requires not the exquisite charms of superlative beauty. Her words require not fluent lips or the talent of discussion. Her labors require not a higher degree of skill and dexterity, than that commonly possessed by others. Let her be chaste, innocent, sober, and economical; mind her duty; be neat; in walking and resting, preserve modesty; in her actions, observe a rule these constitute female virtue. Let her wash and dust well; keep her clothes neat and clean; bathe at proper times; and preserve her person from filth: these constitute female beauty. Let her choose her words; avoid unbecoming conversation; speak at proper times; thus she

will not displease others: these constitute female conversation. Let her diligently spin, and make cloth; let her not indulge her appetite, in regard to savory food and liquors; let her prepare good things to set before the guests: these constitute female labor. These four combine the essential virtues and duties of women. They are exceedingly easy, and she who practices them is a virtuous woman.'

A PRECOCIOUS YOUTH.

The examples of intelligent youth rising to the highest offices of State are numerous in all the works designed for beginners, and stories illustrative of their precocity are sometimes given in toybooks and novels. One of the most common instances is here quoted from the Eastern Garden's Miscellany, that of Confucius and Hiang Toh, which is as well known to every Chinese as the story of George Washington barking the cherry-tree with his hatchet is to American youth.*

"The name of Confucius was Yu, and his style Chungní; he established himself as an instructor in the western part of the kingdom of Loo. One day, followed by all his disciples, riding in a carriage, he went out to ramble, and on the road came across several children at their sports; among them was one who did not join in them. Confucius, stopping his carriage, asked him, saying, 'Why

* Williams' Middle Kingdom.

The story is quoted by Dr. Williams from the Chinese Repository, Vol. X, p. 614. We may, in passing, be permitted to call attention to this book-the Middle Kingdom-two closely printed volumes of 600 pages each. It is undoubtedly the fullest and most reliable work of its kind on China which has yet appeared.

is it that you alone do not play?

The lad replied, Al

play is without any profit; one's clothes get torn, and they are not easily mended; above me, I disgrace my father and mother; below me, even to the lowest, there is fighting and altercation: so much toil and no reward, how can it be a good business? It is for these reasons that I do not play.' Then dropping his head, he began making a city out of pieces of tile.

Confucius, reproving him, said, 'Why do you not turn out for the carriage?' The boy replied, ' From ancient times till now it has always been considered proper for a carriage to turn out for a city, and not for a city to turn out for a carriage.' Confucius then stopped his vehicle in order to discourse of reason. He got out of the carriage, and asked him, 'You are still young in years; how is it that you are so quick?' The boy replied, saying, 'A human being, at the age of three years, discriminates between his father and his mother; a hare, three days after it is born, runs over the ground and furrows of the fields; fish, three days after their birth, wander in rivers and lakes: what heaven thus produces naturally, how can it be called brisk?'

Confucius added, 'In what village and neighborhood do you reside, what is your surname and name, and what your style?' The boy answered, 'I live in a mean village, and in an insignificant land; my surname is Hiang, my name is Toh, and I have yet no style.'

Confucius rejoined, 'I wish to have you come and ramble with me; what do you think of it?" The youth replied, A stern father is at home, whom I am bound to serve; an affectionate mother is there, whom it is my duty to cherish; a worthy elder brother is at home, whom