THE STORY OF A YOUTH WHO DISREGARDED THE DUTY OF SELF-PRESERVATION.

The following case appeared not long since in the newspapers, and we quote it here for the purpose of illustrating the lamentable effects of disregarding the duty of self-preservation :—

'The coroner has received information that one of the boys on board the ship "Warspite," off Charlton, has committed suicide by hanging himself in a fit of temper. The lad, who was named George Dodson, aged fifteen, was admitted by the Marine Society on the 18th ult., and on Wednesday was placed in solitary confinement for misconduct, and half-an-hour afterwards was found hanging by his comforter quite dead. On the discovery being made, there were some signs of insubordination amongst the other boys, and Captain Phipps, the commander, went on shore for the assistance of the police, and order was restored.'

Doubtless, on reading this account, our young readers will be filled with surprise and horror.

Here is a youth, only fifteen years of age, committing the awful crime of self-murder. What are the lessons to be learned from such a sad event as this?

Surely the lad who committed such wickedness could never have seriously thought of the value of human life and its responsibilities, or

of the solemnity of death. He had probably thousands of times repeated the commandment, 'Thou shalt do no murder,' and heard good advice from his teachers, but he had not allowed any of these to influence his thoughts, feelings, conscience, or conduct. Think of the steps by which he was led to this act of self-destruction.

Ignorance and disregard for instruction we may consider as the first step. This led to uncontrolled passion-the second step; then followed insubordination to his teachers-the third step; and then came the fourth and final step-he hanged himself in a fit of temper.' How fearful must have been the state of mind which urged him to deprive himself of the precious blessing of life! No provocation received from his teachers could have led to such lamentable results if he had possessed the slightest self-respect or reflection or good feeling. Here, indeed, we have a sad instance of what ignorance and disregard for instruction will lead to.

Reflect, young reader, on this mournful story, and the lessons it conveys. If you value your peace, temporal and eternal, set a high value on your life as a blessing bestowed on you by the Creator for your happiness, and to preserve which is the most important of duties, but to destroy which is the most heinous of crimesa crime not only most unnatural, but contrary to the word of God, who alone is the giver and disposer of life, in whose hand our breath is

and whose are all our ways.' Watch over your thoughts, feelings, conscience, curb every tendency to an evil temper, pay a proper regard to those who instruct you, and value their teaching. Then, instead of imitating the conduct of George Dodson, you will prolong and enjoy your life, and be beloved both by God

and man.

He died

As one that had been studied in his death
To throw away the dearest thing he own'd
As 'twere a careless trifle.

For the credit of virtue it must be admitted that the greatest evils which befall mankind are caused by their crimes.

You should not fear, nor yet should you wish for, your last day.

If this life is unhappy, it is a burden to us which it is difficult to bear; if it is in every respect happy, it is dreadful to be deprived of it.

If the thought of death be not pleasant to you, hearken to every temptation to sin as you would hearken to a temptation to self-murder. You love not death; love not the cause of death.

What we call life is a journey to death; and what we call death is a passport to life. Let us then, like sentinels, be ready because we are uncertain, and calm because we are prepared. The shortest life is long enough if it lead to a better, and the longest life is too short if it do not.

MORAL LESSONS FROM THE TEACHING OF THE SCRIPTURES.

Of Temperance.

ADD to knowledge temperance, and to temperance patience.

Every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things.

The fruit of the Spirit is temperance; against such there is no law.

Of Intemperance.

Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess.
Keep not company with a drunkard; and with

such a one eat not.

Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging; and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

Be not among wine-bibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh for the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty.

Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause; who hath redness of eye? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright: at the last it biteth like a serpent and stingeth like an adder. Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter

perverse things: yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the topmast. They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.

Of Industry.

In all labour there is profit.

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.

He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread; but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough.

Seest thou a man diligent in business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean

men.

Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished; but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.

The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much; but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.

Of Idleness.

Be not slothful in business; but fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.

He that is slothful in his work, is brother to him. that is a great waster.

The hand of the diligent shall bear rule, but the slothful shall be under tribute. The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting; but the substance of a diligent man is precious.