ts formed in early life.

2. A BUNDLE OF HABITS.--Man, it has been said, is a bundle of habits;
and habit is second nature. Metastasio entertained so strong an
opinion as to the power of repetition in act and thought, that he
said, "All is habit in mankind, even virtue itself." Evil habits
must be conquered, or they will conquer us and destroy our peace and
happiness.

3. VICIOUS HABITS.--Vicious habits, when opposed, offer the most
vigorous resistence on the first attack. At each successive encounter
this resistence grows fainter and fainter, until finally it ceases
altogether and the victory is achieved. Habit is man's best friend and
worst enemy; it can exalt him to the highest pinnacle of virtue, honor
and happiness, or sink him to the lowest depths of vice, shame and
misery.

4. HONESTY, OR KNAVERY.--We may form habits of honesty, or knavery;
truth, or falsehood; of industry, or idleness; frugality,
or extravagance; of patience, or impatience; self-denial, or
self-indulgence; of kindness, cruelty, politeness, rudeness, prudence,
perseverance, circumspection. In short, there, is not a virtue, nor a
vice; not an act of body, nor of mind, to which we may not be chained
down by this despotic power.

5. BEGIN WELL.--It is a great point for young men to begin well; for
it is the beginning of life that that system of conduct is adopted
which soon assumes the force of habit. Begin well, and the habit
of doing well will become quite easy, as easy as the habit of doing
badly. Pitch upon that course of life which is the most excellent, and
habit will render it the most delightful.

* * * * *

A GOOD NAME.

1. THE LONGING FOR A GOOD NAME.--The longing for a good name is one
of those laws of nature that were passed for the soul and written down
within to urge toward a life of action, and away from small or wicked
action. So large is this passion that it is set forth in poetic
thought, as having a temple grand as that of Jupiter or Minerva, and
up whose marble steps all noble minds struggle--the temple of Fame.

2. CIVILIZATION.--Civilization is the ocean of which the millions of
individuals are the rivers and torrents. These rivers and torrents
swell with those rains of money and home and fame and happiness,
and then fall and run almost dry, but the ocean of civilization has
gathered up all these waters, and holds them in sparkling beauty
for all subsequent use. Civilization is a fe