ivided it into as many shares as there were mouths to eat it, without
reserving any more than an equal part for himself. Indeed, it was the
general opinion of the boys, that his own share was the least. This day
he was much more satisfied than before, and went home gay and cheerful.

By pursuing this conduct, he soon acquired a generous habit, and became
liberal even to those who had nothing to give in return. He consequently
acquired the love and esteem of his companions, who no sooner saw him
than they ran to meet him with joyful countenances, and made his
pleasure their own. Thus, instead of being miserable and wretched
through avarice, he became completely happy in the practice of
generosity.

His father was, undoubtedly, highly pleased with this change, and,
tenderly embracing him, promised to refuse him nothing in future that
might add to his pleasure and delight. Samuel hereby learned in what
true happiness consists.

[Illustration]

DISSIPATION THE CERTAIN ROAD TO

RUIN.

[Illustration]

A young man, whose name was Humphries, was a dull companion, but an
excellent workman. Nothing ran in his head so much as the wish to become
a master, but he had not money to gratify that wish. A merchant,
however, who was well acquainted with his industry, lent him a hundred
pounds, in order that he might open a shop in a proper style.

It will from hence naturally follow, that Humphries thought himself one
of the happiest men in the world. He supposed his warehouse already
filled with goods, he reckoned how many customers would crowd to buy
them, and what would be his profits thereon.

In the midst of these extravagant flights of fancy, he perceived an
alehouse. "Come," said he, on entering it, "I will indulge myself with
spending one sixpence of this money." He hesitated, however, some few
moments, about calling for punch, which was his favourite liquor, as his
conscience loudly told him that his time for enjoyment ought to be at
some distance, and not till he had paid his friend the money he had
borrowed; that it would not be honest in him at present to expend a
farthing of that money but in absolute necessaries. With these right
ideas, he was nearly leaving the alehouse; but, bethinking himself, on
the other hand, that, if he spent a sixpence of his money, he should
still have a hundred pounds all but that sixpence, that such a sum was
fully sufficient to set him up in trade, and that a single half-hour's