parents were poor. My means of education were limited to a district school. These again were circumscribed by my father's death, which deprived me, at the age of fifteen, of the scanty opportunities which I had previously enjoyed.

"A few months after his decease, I apprenticed myself to a blacksmith, in my native village. Thither I carried a taste for reading, which I had previously acquired through the medium of a society library; all the historical works in which, I had at that time perused.

'At the expiration of a little more than half my apprenticeship, I conceived the idea of studying Latin. Through the assistance of an elder brother who had obtained a collegiate education by his own exertions, I completed Virgil during the evenings of one winter.

"After devoting some time to Cicero, and a few other Latin authors, I commenced Greek. It was now necessary, that I should devote every hour of day-light, and a part of the evening, to the duties of my apprenticeship.

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Still, I carried my Greek grammar in my hat, and often found a moment, while heating some large iron, when I could place my book before me, against the chimney of my forge, and go through with the conjugation of a verb unperceived by my fellow-apprentices.

"At evening, I sat down unassisted and alone, to the Iliad of Homer, twenty books of which, measured my progress, in that language, during the winter. I next turned to the modern languages, and was much gratified to find, that my knowledge of

Latin furnished a key to the literature of most of the languages of Europe.

"This circumstance gave a new impulse to the desire of acquainting myself with the philosophy, derivation, and affinity of the different European tongues. I could not be reconciled to limit myself to a few hours, after the arduous labours of the day.

"I therefore, laid down my hammer, and went to New-Haven, where I recited to native teachers in French, Spanish, German, and Italian. I returned at the expiration of two years to the forge, bringing with me such books in those languages as I could' procure.

"When I had read these books through, I commenced the Hebrew with an awakening desire of examining another field; and by assiduous applica⚫tion I was enabled in a few weeks to read this lan

guage with such facility that I allotted it to myself as a task, to read two chapters in the Hebrew Bible before breakfast each morning; this and an hour at noon, being all the time that I could devote to myself during the day.

"After becoming somewhat familiar with this language, I looked around me for the means of initiating myself in the rich fields of oriental literature, and ' to my deep regret and concern, I found my progress in this direction hedged up, by the want of requisite books.

"I immediately began to devise means of obviating this obstacle; and, after many plans, I concluded to seek a place as a sailor on board some ship bound to Europe, thinking in this way to have

opportunities of collecting at different ports, such works in the modern and oriental languages as I found necessary for this object.

"I left the forge and my native place, to carry this plan into execution. I travelled on foot to Boston, a distance of more than a hundred miles, to find some vessel bound to Europe. In this I was disappointed, and while revolving in my mind what steps to take, accidentally heard of the American Antiquarian Society in Worcester.

"I immediately bent my steps towards this place. I visited the hall of the American Antiquarian Society, and found here to my infinite gratification, such a collection of ancient, modern, and oriental languages as I never before conceived to be collected in one place, and, upon evincing a desire to examine some of these rich and rare works, I was kindly invited to an unlimited participation in all the benefits of this noble institution.

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Availing myself of the kindness of the directors, I spent about three hours daily at the hall, which, with an hour at noon, and about three in the evening, made up the portion of the day which I appropriated to my studies, the rest being occupied in arduous, manual labour. Through the facilities afforded by this institution, I have been able to add so much to my previous acquaintance with the ancient, modern, and oriental languages, as to be able to read upwards of fifty of them, with more or less facility."

Is there not something like sublimity, in the perseverance by which knowledge is acquired, amid difficulty and discouragement? It surely must give

great delight, to be able to uphold the mind under such severe exertions, as have been exhibited, in the va rious examples, of which we read and hear.

The possession of knowledge, should lead the young to adopt high and noble motives of action. The ancient republic of Sparta, had an interesting custom, which was calculated to produce such a result.

On a certain day, the inhabitants formed a procession, divided into three companies, the old, the middle-aged, and the young. Before the festive sports, and exercises commenced, the hoary-headed men, sent from their ranks, a speaker, who said, "We have been, in days of old,

Wise, generous, brave and bold."

Those, in the prime of life, then put forth their orator, who addressing the aged fathers of the people, replied,

"That, which in days of yore, ye were,

We, at the present moment, are."

Lastly, from the blooming troop, a boy advanced and expressed in a clear, audible tone, the spirited resolution

"Hereafter, at our country's call,

We promise to surpass you all."

Dear sons of my country, her pride, and her hope, catch the spirit of this Spartan promise. If you cannot surpass the great and the good, who have gone before you, study their excellences, walk in

their footsteps, and God give you grace to fill their places well, when they are mouldering in the dust.

Remember that knowledge of the right kind leads to humility. The fully ripened ear of wheat, bends downward. It is the little blade, that holds itself up so pertly. It is the shallow brook that makes the loudest babbling among the pebbles.

True learning and goodness bow the soul in adoration, before a Being of perfect wisdom. The higher you ascend in knowledge, said a philosopher, the wilder is the region you see beyond you;-Alps upon Alps, which no human intellect has surmounted.

Let me address to you the words of Alcuin, who wrote in England, more than a thousand years ago: "Oh ye, who enjoy the youthful age, so fitted for your lessons, Learn!-Be docile !-Acquire the conduct and manners so beautiful in the young.

"Let your early days be adorned with the study of the virtues, that your age may shine in honour. For remember, that the passing hour, like the re ceding wave, never returns again."

THE OLD SCHOOL-HOUSE.

ONCE, in travelling, I saw a very old building. It appeared to be falling into ruins. No smoke issued from its broken chimney. No foot crossed its grassgrown threshold. The casements were gone, and