This is somethe evil eye;'

Envy comes sixth, green eyed envy! times spoken of under the name of amulets against this are abundantly used in Italy. In the Levant and further East there is the extremest dread of this 'mal ochio,' which a peculiar motion of the fingers is often used to disenchant. However this may be, the envious are mostly greater sufferers than the envied.

Curses are like chickens, they come home to roost.

The brighter the moon shines, the more the dogs bark. which does not hurt the moon, though it may get the dogs into trouble. An epigram has thus described one form of it.

Grudge leaves the poor his whole possession nearly,
He means his next of kin shall weep sincerely.

Envy is spoken of in Scripture as the 'rottenness of the bones;' more than any other sin it is its own immediate punishment.

"A sound heart is the life of the flesh:
But envy the rottenness of the bones."

Prov. xiv, 30.

It is however mostly best to deprecate it, and to avoid exciting it as far as may be;

"Wrath is cruel, and anger outrageous:
But who is able to stand before envy ?"

Prov. xxvii, 4.

Last of all see Sloth. A stupid looking vice, but with more of mischief in him than is generally admitted. The Church of Rome has not done amiss even

in consigning him to such society.

Idle brains are the devil's workshop.

The devil tempts some, but an idle man tempts the devil.

An idler is a watch that wants both hands
As useless when it goes, as when it stands.

Good Dr. Watts remarks in a not unknown connection,

Satan finds some mischief still

For idle hands to do.

A saying which once met with a most unexpected application; said the Rector's lady, who took such pains about the sewing class, to lazy Jane, who had been brought up to be spoken to; after other admonitions,-Now, tell me, who is it that finds work for the idle? She was hardly prepared for the immediate, and penitent answer,

Please M'm it's you!

Again, take this description,

'Lazy like a pig's tail, going all day, and doing nothing.' This saying well expresses the strenua inertia,' the active indolence of the restless busy body, who is given to minding every one's business except his own. But

No pains
No gains.

Naething's got without pains
Save dirt and long nails.

Continued sweeping makes a high heap.

Little strokes

Fell great oaks.

The employment of Piece work, now so general, and necessary, does not set before us a very pleasing side of human nature; but no one who has seen Day-labour dawdling over its work, will be inclined to doubt the advantage, or advisability. A man will work for himself with a heart he does not always seem to have for an employer. And some do not get even thus far; with what solemn, but sharpened irony, does Holy Scripture speak of such an one.

"The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting." Prov. xii, 27.

"A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom,
And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again."

Prov. xix, 24.

At the same time, it is to be observed, there may be over activity, as well as the want of it.

Not to mention other instances, both the Captain of a ship, and the Mistress of a family, have been some times known to carry cleanliness and industry to a very extremity of aggravation. The sailors in a certain ship, are said, on one occasion to have been driven to thus rewriting for themselves the Fourth Commandment.

All the six days thou shalt work and slave as much as thou art able,

On the Seventh holystone the deck, and rub the chain cable!

This extremity is almost equally to be avoided, for manifestly,

'There is a medium between painting the face and not washing it !' And the Golden Mean in this, and all else, is the happiest. Activity, however, it must he admitted is the safest side, and also prompt action, for

'Delays are dangerous.'

While your foot is shod crush the thorn.-Talmund.

The remedy of to-morrow is too late for the evil of to-day. We will close the chapter with the motto of the late Mr. Dallas, a man widely known for good and the great things he accomplished.

My father,' he says made me learn this, and I never forgot it,'

The wise and active conquer difficulties

By daring to attempt them, Folly and Sloth
Shiver and shrink at sight of toil and trouble,
And make the impossibilities they fear!

THE CARDINAL VIRTUES.

The Four Carlinal Virtues are Prudence, Temperance, Justice, and Fortitude. To these if we add the Three Theological Virtues, Faith, Hope, and Charity, we have another Seven, forming no unsuitable sequel, or undesirable antidote, to the Seven Sins we have just been considering.

Prudence has placed himself first in the series.

Take Time by the forelock.

is a maxim which none can afford to neglect.

Nothing can be done well unless time enough is allowed for it. Again prudence will profit by the experiences of others.

Felix quem faciunt aliena pericula cautum.

Happy he whom other men's dangers make observant.

cr
"I'll neither meddle nor make!"

said the young cock. He had seen the old cock's neck wrung for taking part with his master, and the hen's for taking part with the dame.

The Scotch caution is characteristic, given to one bent on interfering,

"You'll get your kail thro' the reek."

and have to sup on smoky porridge.

And there are many other such prudential maxims.

Trust not one night's ice.

Place not all your eggs in one basket.

As is that never to be forgotten Recipe, in Mrs. Glasse's immortal Cookery Book. 'How to make Hare Soup,'

'First catch your hare!'

which has since been enlarged on.

Dont sell the bearskin till you've killed the bear.

Dont count your chickens till the eggs' are hatched.

Never holler' till yourre out of the wood.

One cant tell what a pie is till the lid is off.

Chi fa conto senza l'oste,

Lo convien fare due volte.

He who reckons without his host will have to reckon over again.

One swallow does not make a Summer.

which last, when lately quoted, was promptly replied to by an enigmatical young lady,

But one grasshopper can make a Spring!

The Spanish warn that

Barefooted men should not tread upon thorns.

Measure an hundred times and cut once.

say the Italians.

He who stumbles twice over the same stone, deserves to break his shins.

Once bit twice shy.

Improbe Neptunum increpat qui bis naufragium fecit. He, who his shipwrecked twice over, should not blame the sea.

Prevention is better than cure.

It's no use locking the door when the horse is stolen.