THE OLD MONK'S LESSON.
THERE was once an old monk, who was walking through a forest with a little boy by his side. The old man suddenly stopped and pointed to four plants close at hand. The first was just beginning to peep above the ground, the second had rooted itself pretty well into the earth, the third was a little shrub, while the fourth and last was a full-
sized tree. Then the old monk said to his young companion, "Pull up the first."
The boy easily pulled it up with his fingers.
"Now, pull up the second."
The child obeyed, but it did not come up as
easily as the first.
"And the third."
Then the boy had to put forth all his strength, and
use 'both' arms, before he succeeded in uprooting it: "And now," said
the master, "try your hand upon the fourth."
But lo! The trunk of the tall tree, grasped in the arms of the child, scarcely shook its leaves; and the little fellow found it impossible to tear its roots from the earth. Then the wise old monk said,-
"This, my son, is just what happens with our passions. When they are very young and weak, one may, by a little watchfulness over self, and the help of a little self-denial, easily tear them up;
but if we let them cast their roots deep down into our souls, then no human power can uproot them-the almighty hand of the Creator alone can pluck them out. For this reason, my child, watch well over yourself, and study to keep your passions in check."
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