The conversation of Mrs Maurice continued to a late hour; but as the remaining time was spent in encouraging poor Effie, who needed all that could be said to her, we will pass it over, and merely inform our readers that she awoke in the morning wiser, and even happier; for the joy that is felt in heaven over a repenting sinner, is reflected upon that sinner’s own heart.

CHAPTER VIII.

ANOTHER OF MR MAURICE’S LESSONS.

‘Father,’ said Harry, after the little family had gathered around the fire as usual, on the ensuing evening, ’it seems strange that people can love good books too well.’

’I believe they are not very apt to, Harry, especially boys who are so fond of snowballing and sliding, as a certain little fellow I met to-day.’

‘Oh you mean me, now, father, but I thought you liked to have me play.’

’So I do; only look out that the books and play go together.  One is for the mind, and the other is for the body, and both should be cared for.’

’Well, father, Mr Titus tells the boys, that the mind is the only thing worthy of attention, at least he talks as though he thought so; and so some of the larger boys think it is not scholarlike to play, and sit mewed up in the house from morning till night, like so many drones.’

‘And so grow pale and sickly-looking, do they not?’

’Yes, sir; and what’s more, I don’t think they learn a bit faster than some of the rest of us.’

’Very likely, Harry—­for whether they think proper attention to the body important or not, the state of the mind depends very much upon it.  A healthy mind, that is, a perfectly sound, active, and energetic one, cannot dwell in a diseased body; and so your play, while it amuses you, and seems to others to be mere waste of time, invigorates the body, affords rest to the mind, and is in reality as essential to your well-being as the food you eat, or the clothing you wear in winter.’

‘I wish Mr Titus could hear you say that, father.’

’Perhaps it would not be safe to talk so to all his boys, for I presume the most of them would at present be more benefited by what he says.  Children seldom love study too well.  Even our little book-worm, Effie, would never become too much engaged in anything but a story.’

’Father, Thomas Marvin says that he can’t get to school for a while, and he can’t spend the time in exercise; as he says fun takes his mind off his books, and makes him lose a great deal.  He is intending to teach a school when he goes away from here, but I don’t believe he will, for he looks sickly now.  But he thinks it is very foolish to spend time in jumping about, and all that, when there are things so much more important to be done.’

’The body, which God has so wonderfully made, and which He watches over with such tender care, is very far from being beneath our notice, Harry; and while we should give the greater care to the immortal part, we should not neglect the other.  I have been visiting a scholar to-day, who I doubt not was once of young Marvin’s opinion in these things, and, poor fellow! he does not even see his folly now.’