nothing is given or taken of the bad qualities which
may be in each. A boy without a chum is very likely to grow either
conceited or selfish, or both. A good-natured chum is a very useful
check. He does not mind chaffing him out of any little absurdities, and
rubbing against one another they manage to knock off many odd corners and
polish up one another. Any chumship in evil is to be avoided. If a
chum, however much he may be liked, wants you to go in for a partnership
in evil he must be given up. I don't say that you can give up caring for
him, but he must be made to see clearly that he must make his choice
between the evil doing and you--that he cannot be chums with both. Chums
should have strict honour between themselves, and always be ready to
stand up for one another. A good chum prevents one becoming a prig, and
there is nothing short of actual vice which is so hateful in a boy as
priggishness. There is as much difference between a prig and a right-
minded boy as between chalk and cheese. A right-minded boy goes on his
way trying to do right and live honestly and purely, because it is right
and honourable, and because deep in his own heart he knows he has
promised Jesus Christ that he will live a godly life. A prig is also
doing right and living purely and honestly, but is all the time trying to
make other people see it, and not doing it simply because it is right.
Hence he has not half the strength when real temptation comes, because he
has always been looking at the outside effect of his life, instead of
looking inward, to see if he is true to his promise. Avoid priggishness,
but do not be afraid of being called a prig when it is only the taunt by
which someone hopes to shame you into doing that which you know in your
heart is wrong.

COURTSHIP.

There comes a time when a young man begins seriously to look forward to
settling in life and having a home of his own. As a boy he may have had
his likings among the girl companions with whom he was acquainted, but
now it becomes a totally different question, and his intercourse with
young women assumes the position of courtship.

It is only natural and right that man should look where God intended him
to look for a help-meet and companion, but all depends upon the way in
which he does it. There is no need to be in a hurry. Better to wait and
make quite sure. As a general rule I should say that twenty-five was
quite young enough for a man to ma