66 "I'll dare the severest scrutiny," replied Henry, with an air of unusual boldness. Interrupted by the presence of a stranger, Henry returned home, to wait with anxiety the termination of the intervening hours. It was a memorable day-never to be forgotten. The alternate feelings of hope and fear influenced his heart, and increased the painful nature of suspense. Never did sentence of condemnation fall heavier upon the criminal, than did these false and cruel charges upon him; they weighed down his heart as if its veins were filled with molten lead; the iron entered into his soul; and he sought where to weep-but could not. Accustomed to prize a good name more than riches, the sensibility of his nature suffered the agony of a wounded spirit, whose glory the blast of obloquy had turned into shame, and whose honour it had laid prostrate in the dust. But when thus tortured with the sufferings of mental anguish, his conscious integrity yielded its reward of interior comfort; and his faith in the righteous government of the Divine Being claimed the promise, "not a weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper, and every tongue that riseth against thee, thou shalt condemn." Thus preserved from sinking into despondency, by the poize which only virtue and piety can supply, he hailed the rising sun, and hastened to the spot, where the desolating tempest burst with violence upon his head. him. Mr. Howitt was prepared to receive Prepossessed in his favour, and moved with compassion at the surprise and anguish manifested the preceding day, he determined to trace the accusations to their source. With his characteristic acuteness of penetration, he satisfactorily discovered that they only originated with Charles Spencer; and as he had been previously detected, during the examination of Mr. Spencer's affairs, preferring charges against the innocent for crimes which he himself had committed, this additional instance of baseness stamped the seal of infamy upon his name for ever. Elated with joy, Henry expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the friend, who had rescued his name from disgrace; and pledged his honour that his fidelity to him as a master should run parallel with his services. The responsibility of the situation into which he now entered, repelled the arrows of calumny which had been hurled at his reputation; while his undeviating uprightness secured the confidence and esteem of his employer. No. XI. HUMILITY. "Humility the sweetest, loveliest flower That bloomed in Paradise, and the first that died, 'T is gone if it but look upon itself; And she who ventures to esteem it her's, HUMILITY is the loveliest trait in the Christian character; it subdues the warring passions of the human breast; preserves a calm serenity of mind amid all the ills of life, and prepares the soul for intercourse with God. Every other virtue is confined in its operations by states and circumstances, and many lie altogether concealed from mortal eye from the want of an opportunity to display their graces. Some virtues are only seen in affliction, and others in prosperity; some in private life, and others in a public situation. Thus the fortitude of a martyr, or the meekness which endures provocation, cannot find sufficient scope for exercise in the flourishing times of Christianity, or beneath the sheltering arms of friendship. But humility has an unlimited extent, it knows no restrictions. The Christian is equally sensible of its influence on the mountain-top rejoicing in the fruition of delight which the visions of eternity inspire, as in the vale below, pressed down with trials, and the subject of temptation. It is this virtue which counteracts the workings of pride. Self-exaltation generally excites disgust, frequently offers insult, and sometimes inflicts pain. Nor is it less cruel to others than to its possessors; for the axiom is true, inflated ideas betray vacuity of mind. Conceit precludes learning, and they who boast of their attainments will generally be found |