DEFEATS ITS OWN OBJECT.

15

Simpson then became a travelling pedlar, in which occupation he studied arithmetic and astrology; and soon afterwards directed his attention to geometry and algebra. In 1735 he repaired to London, worked for some time in Spitalfields, employed his leisure hours in study, and added to his principal calling, the duties of schoolmaster.

Amid the fatigue of hard and unceasing labour, and the cares and vexations of poverty, this extraordinary man made most important advances in scientific knowledge. In 1737, his "New Treatise on Fluxions appeared; then followed "A Treatise on the Nature and Laws of Chance," and "Essays on Several Curious and Interesting Subjects in Speculative and Mixed Mathematics." In 1743, he was appointed Professor of Mathematics at Woolwich; and the same year he gave to the world a large volume entitled "Mathematical Dissertations." In 1745, he was admitted a Fellow of the Royal Society; and about the same time he published a most valuable work, his "Treatise on Algebra." His "Elements of Geometry," another very able work, appeared in 1747; and his "Trigonometry, Plane and Spherical," in 1748. In 1750, he published a new work, called the "Doctrine and Application of Fluxions"; in 1752, his "Select Exercises for young Proficients in Mathematics"; and finally, in 1757, his "Miscellaneous Tracts." To all these labours are to be added the papers he published in the Philosophical Transactions"; and the contributions to the "Ladies' Diary,” of which he was for several years the editor.

66

Simpson's first acquaintance with books was formed during moments stolen from incessant labour, which cost him his domestic home, the favour of his friends, and finally, the shelter of his father's roof. He never had any master to instruct him, or any friend to assist him in providing for the necessities of the day. แ "Yet," says his biographer, "with both his days and evenings employed in toiling for a subsistence, he found time for intellectual acquisitions such as to a less industrious and ardent student would have sufficed for

16

THE OFFSPRING OF PATIENCE

the occupation of a whole life. This is a striking proof how independent we really are, if we choose, of those external circumstances which seem to make so vast a difference between the situation of man and man, and how possible it is for us, in any situation, to enrich our minds if fortune refuses us all other riches. It is the general ignorance of this great truth, or indifference to it, that prevents it from being oftener exemplified; and it would be rendering a high service to the human species, if we could awaken men's minds to a lively trust in our own strength, and a steady sense of its importance.”

Here, then, is an inspiring example, showing how a man, without a literary stepping-stone, may triumph over almost any outward circumstances, and goes far to show that genius consists of PATIENT PERSEVERANCE and INDOMITABLE RESOLUTION, and that

WE KNOW NOT WHAT WE CAN DO, OR WHAT IS IN US, TILL WE TRY.

INDUSTRY IS THE OFFSPRING OF PATIENCE AND

PERSEVERANCE.

"Idleness is the root of all evil," and up-hill work is often the root of practical good; for in life's struggles the DETERMINED WILL takes its aim and strikes the bull'seye in spite of the leers of Goody Indolence, the wiles of Madam Folly, and the delights of Circé. Give me a youth of industry and perseverance, give me activity, for then it only requires the mind to be led into a proper channel. I detest a lounging, lubberly boy, because I know he is so merely from bad habit. Habits are easily formed, more especially bad ones, and what to-day seems to be a small affair will soon become fixed, holding us with the strength of a cable. Habits of some kind or other will be formed, and these habits soon become a part of oneself-a kind of second nature. Industrious and good habits can be formed more easily than we at first suppose. A

habit of industry may be irksome at first; but persevere, and it will soon become pleasant. Have a plan for each day, and it is astonishing how nature will bend to custom. By habit, the slow soon become quick and the active slovenly.

ACQUIRE THE HABIT OF UNTIRING INDUSTRY.

For if we be so unfortunate as to suppose we have GENIUS, and that things will come to us, we shall soon find out our mistake. INDUSTRY is the PRICE of all we obtain, and DILIGENCE is the successful introduction to great enterprise. INDUSTRY accomplishes everything-achieves wonders. Look at the volumes that our forefathers have written. Look at the works penned by the immortal Scott and others in a very brief time. He that shall walk with vigour three hours a day will, in seven years, traverse a space equal to the circumference of the globe. It was a matter of astonishment to Europe that Luther, notwithstanding his great labours, produced an excellent translation of the whole Bible. Easily explained, "Nulla dies sine versu [no day without a verse], and this soon brought him to the close of the whole Bible."

REGULARLY APPORTIONED TIME WORKS WONDERS.

Do you know the story of

THE DISCONTENTED PENDULUM,

"the

pen

told by Jane Taylor?"One gloomy day," she says, dulum began to calculate how many times it would have to swing backwards and forwards in an hour, and then in a day, then in a week, then in a month, and then in a year, and therr in ten years. How was it possible to do so much, or to work at all at any given moment, with the dark prospect of so much work before it? So the pendulum stopped; nor would it be induced to start again, till it was reminded that though it would have so many times to tick in the whole year, it had the year to

18

PATIENCE AND PERSEVERANCE.

do it in, and was only required to do the hour's work in the hour!' Thus the dulness that blinds the mind, the anxiety and dread men heap upon themselves, arise from idle anticipation, trying to provide for to-morrow's work to-day. Leave tomorrow till it comes;—‘take care of the minutes, and the hours will take care of themselves.""

Patience, industry, and
industry, and perseverance

are the noble

qualities of the human mind-genius itself; “Il n'y a point de génie sans activité." Buffon tells us that if it had not been for activity, the habit of early rising, acquired by FORCE at first, he might have lived and died unheard of and unknown. “In my youth," he says, "I was very fond of sleep; it robbed me of a great deal of my time; but my poor Joseph [his servant] was of great service in enabling me to overcome it. I promised to give Joseph a crown every time that he would make me get up at six. Next morning, he did not fail to wake me and to torment me; but he only received abuse. The next day he did the same, with no better success, and I was obliged to confess at noon that I had lost my time. I told him he did not know how to manage his business; that he ought to think of my promise, and not mind my threats. The day following, he employed force. I begged for indulgence. I bade him be gone. I stormed; but Joseph persisted. I was, therefore, obliged to comply, and he was rewarded every day for the abuse which he suffered at the moment when I got up, by thanks, accompanied with a crown, which he received about an hour after. Yes, I am indebted to poor Joseph for ten or a dozen of the volumes of my works. I love the man who lives an industrious life; and if there is anything that I love least, it is a lazy, lounging boy."

ACTIVITY AND INDOLENCE.

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It has been asked-Is not the difference between activity and indolence a mere difference of constitution, much the same as the difference of colour in the hair of two men, or between the length of their noses? In short, is there any merit in an industrious man's industry?

This is a dangerous palliative for indolent folks, and the argument is unwholesome, for it is not true. Nature is strong, and a boy who is idle and supine cannot help being idle, any more than an energetic and active boy can help being industrious; but education, or training, has so strong a modifying power over the character by calling into action certain mental and physical qualities, while it keeps others in abeyance, that, in one sense, it may be said to be stronger than nature. The intelligent and higher faculties which are to rule over the mind must be strengthened and trained, which is the work of Education, and when she has done her work well, nature must, in justice, thank her as a most powerful ally.

The reflections of Rochefoucauld well deserve the attention of youth. Speaking of idleness, he shrewdly remarks:-" Of all our faults, idleness is the one to which we are most easily reconciled; we persuade ourselves that it is allied to all the virtues, and that without destroying them, it only suspends their functions." Many men have accomplished great ends merely by the observance of a few simple maxims. The maxim of Sir William Jones was "Never to neglect an opportunity of improvement;" another was-"That whatever had been attained was still attainable; and that the real or supposed difficulties of any pursuit formed no reason why we should not engage in it with perfect confidence of success." .It was also a fixed principle with him— "not to be deterred by any difficulties from prosecuting to a successful termination that which he had once DELIBERATELY UNDERTAKEN." Much time is lost by beginning plans and studies which we never carry out; and if the habit of entering upon that which we do not carry out and complete be contracted in early life, the evil daily increases. Such men no