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SELECTIONS.

PURSUIT OF KNOWLEDGE UNDER DIFFI CULTIES.*

Formerly Chungne had the young Heangto for his teacher;

Even the sages of antiquity studied with diligence. Chaou, a minister of State, read the Confucian dialogues,

And he too, though high in office, studied assiduously. One copied lessons on reeds, another on slips of bamboo;

These, though destitute of books, eagerly sought knowledge.

[To vanquish sleep] one suspended his head [by the

*From the San Tsz King-Tinnetrical Classic.—Chinese Repository, Vol. IV, 1835-6. The San Tsz King is the Chinese First Reader; and, like all text books in Chinese schools, it must be so thoroughly committed to memory that, from beginning to end, not a word may be missed in the recitation.

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; And Pe, at the age of seven, understood the game

chess:

of

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 illustrio. his pa rents,

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 I

A CONFUCIAN TRACT.

AN EXHORTATION TO MEN CONSTANTLY TO PRESERVE * 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.

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