11. If she attempted to go out of the room without thus coming to bid him good-night, although his head was under his wing, and you thought him asleep, he would instantly scream out, to put her in mind. To this may be added the singular fact that he would not sing the same song for any one else who might take a candle to his cage, though he would respond by a chirp to his good-night. 12. What the usual duration of a lark's age is we can not say. Tommy himself lived a happy life for thirteen years. At length he grew ill; and care and skill were expended on him in vain. He was wrapped in cotton, and placed near the genial warmth of a moderate fire; yet still he languished. His young friend, for whom he used to sing his sweet goodnight, approached him with her candle. He lifted his little head, and, as the dying swan is said to sing, he attempted to warble for her a last farewell. She burst into tears, and retired. In the morning Tommy was dead. CON-TRIBUTE, v. t., to give; to con- | EF-FI'CIENT (-fish'ent), a., causing ef Pronounce Hugh, Hu. Do not say cuss for curse; feound for found. Give the y sound to long u in man-u-fact'ür-er, fört'ūne, reg'ù-lar, &c. always 1. THE path of success in business is invariably the path of common sense. Notwithstanding all that is said about "lucky hits," the best kind of success, in every man's life, is not that which is brought about by accident. The only "good time coming" we are just ified in hoping for is that which we are capable of making for ourselves. 2. It is not good for human nature to have the road of life made too easy. An eminent judge, when asked what contributed most to success at the bar, replied, "Some succeed by great talent, some by high connec tions, some by miracle, but the majority by commencing without a shilling." 3. It may, indeed, be questioned whether a heavier curse could be imposed on man than the complete gratification of all his wishes, without effort on his part, leaving nothing for his hopes, desires, or struggles. A certain marquis asking Sir Horace Vere what his brother died of, Sir Horace replied, "He died, sir, of having nothing to do."—"Ah!" said the marquis, "that is enough to kill any general of us all." 4. Those who fail in life are very apt to assume the tone of injured innocence, and conclude too hastily that every body excepting themselves has had a hand in their personal misfortunes; but it will generally be found that men who are constantly lamenting their ill luck are only reaping the consequences of their own neglect, mismanagement, and improvidence. 5. Attention, application, accuracy, method, punct 1ality, and dispatch, are the principal qualities required for the efficient conduct of business of any sort. It is the result of every-day experience, that steady attention to matters of detail lies at the root of human progress; and that diligence, above all, is the mother of what is erroneously called good luck." 6. A French statesman, being asked how he contrived to accomplish so much work, and at the same time attend to his social duties, replied, "I do it simply by never postponing till to-morrow what should be done to-day." It was said of an unsuccessful public man, that he used to reverse this process, his maxim being, "never to transact to-day what could be postponed till to-morrow." 7. Sir Walter Scott, writing to a youth who had obtained a situation and asked him for advice, gave him, in reply, this sound counsel: "Beware of stumbling over a propensity which easily besets you from not having your time fully employed, I mean what the women call dawdling. Do instantly whatever is to be done, and take the hours of recreation after business, never before it." 8. One of the minor uses of steady employment is, that it keeps one out of mischief. It is observed, at sea, that men are never so much disposed to grumble and mutiny as when least employed. Hence an old captain, when there was nothing else to do, would issue the order to "scour the anchor." 9. An economical use of time is the true mode of securing leisure. It enables us to get through business, and carry it forward, instead of being driven by it. On the other hand, the miscalculation of time involves us in perpetual hurry, confusion, and difficulties; and life becomes a mere shuffle of expedients, usually followed by disaster. Nelson once said, "I owe all my success in life to having been always a quarter of an hour before my time." 10. A proper consideration of the value of time will inspire habits of punctuality. Nothing begets confidence in a man sooner than the practice of this virtue, and nothing shakes confidence sooner than the want of it. He who holds to his appointment, and does not keep you waiting for him, shows that he has regard for your time as well as for his own. Thus punctuality is one of the modes of testifying respect. 11. We naturally come to the conclusion that the person who is careless about time will be careless about business. When Washington's secretary excused himself for the lateness of his attendance, and laid the blame upon his watch, Washington quietly replied, "Then you must get another watch, or I another secretary." Franklin once said to a servant, who was always late, but always ready with an excuse, "I have generally found that the man who is good at an excuse is good for nothing else." 12. The unpunctual man is a general disturber of others' peace and serenity. He is systematically late; regular only in his irregularity. He always arrives at his appointment after the hour; gets to the railway station after the train has started; and posts-his letter when the mail has closed. It will generally be found that the men who are thus habitually behind time are habitually behind success, and that they become grumblers and railers against fortune. 13. Integrity in word and deed ought to be the very corner-stone of all business transactions. To the tradesman, the merchant, and manufacturer, it should be what courage is to the soldier, and charity to the Christian. It was well said by Hugh Miller, of the honest mason with whom he served his apprenticeship, that he "put his conscience into every stone that he laid.” 14. The truth of the old maxim, that "Honesty is the best policy," is upheld by the daily experience of life. The true mechanic will pride himself upon the excellence of his work; the high-minded contractor, upon the faithful performance of his contract in every particular; the upright manufacturer, upon the genu ineness of the article he produces; and the good mer chant, upon the fair value of what he sells. And all these will find that their substantial success is promoted by their probity and just dealing. ارم 15. It must be admitted that trade tries character perhaps more severely than any other pursuit in life. Honor to those who stand the trial like true men ! Money got by cheating, swindling, and overreaching, may for a time dazzle the eyes of the unthinking; but what is it worth, compared with the satisfactions of a free conscience? To the gains of swindlers and rogues the words of the apostle strongly apply: "Your gold and silver are cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire." 16. There may be success in life, without success in business. The merchant who failed, but who afterward recovered his fortune, and then spent it in pay. ing his creditors their demands in full, principal and interest, thus leaving himself a poor man, had a glorious success; while he, who also failed, paid his creditors ten cents on a dollar, and afterward rode in his carriage, and occupied a magnificent mansion, was sorrowfully looked on by angels and by honest men as lam'entably unsuccessful. 17. True success in life is success in building up a pure, honest, energetic character; in so shaping our habits, our thoughts, and our aspirations, as to best qualify us for that higher life on which we shall enter after the death of the visible body. Wordsworth well describes the "happy warrior" as one who "makes his moral being his prime care." 18. "T is he whose law is reason; who depends |