be thought "nice," or to be thought remarkable, but to
let Him shine out of our lives.

THE DUTY OF RESERVE.

One man, then, will need more than another to cultivate a quiet reserve
and restraint of manner in social intercourse with young ladies. It is
the way of some men, without thinking about it, to be too
demonstratively attentive. It is the way of others to forget that they
are not everywhere at home, and to be far too familiarly friendly. "I
look on every girl I meet as if she were my sister;" so said one young
Clergyman, a very fine fellow indeed, but certainly in this sentiment
very much and very dangerously mistaken. Attentions and confidences may
be meant as honestly as possible. But if they go beyond a certain line
(soon reached) they may most naturally be thought to mean something
more; to be a preliminary, however distant, to an offer. And just
possibly such a thought may not be unwelcome to the other person
concerned. And if so, and if all the while nothing but courtesy was
meant, you, my friend and Brother, without knowing it, perhaps without
ever knowing it, may _spoil the life_ of one who cannot possibly, as a
woman, express herself to you. I have known such a case in clerical
life. The man was a true man, but he allowed himself, for the
pleasantness of it, to be very agreeable where he meant no more than
friendship. Great, while silent, was the sorrow that resulted. Take heed
unto thyself.

SPECIAL RISKS.

There are some parochial circumstances where even unusual caution is
needed in this direction; for reasons which I allude to with pain. It
is a fact, I fear, that in some parishes the Curate is in danger of
being rather actively pursued, by here and there a parent, as a possibly
desirable son-in-law. I have even heard of a certain Incumbent who was
given not indistinctly to understand that the coming Curate would be
less welcome if he was a man already married. Such a state of things is
of course one of exceptional social risk and difficulty for a Curate,
and for a young single Rector or Vicar still more so. Nothing will do
but a very real "heed-taking," beginning always in secret with God, and
then quietly carried out with sanctified common-sense. Fatal mistakes,
really fatal to future usefulness in the Ministry, may very easily be
made otherwise.

But then there is an opposite side to the question. Some young men, not
all certainly but a good many, are in great danger of a rather
exaggerate