conduct. He
was still fretful, still obstinate. He appeared like one early sold to
sin.

The minister of the parish came in to pray with him. He found him
ignorant of spiritual things. He talked to him on the subject of
religion,--urged him to prepare to meet God. He offered prayer by his
bed-side. He left him, however, showing very little evidence of
penitence, and entertaining for him very little hope.

Charles lingered along till early in March. The day of his departure
came. The father and mother bent over his bed: they saw that the hopes
which they entertained at his birth were now to perish. Instead of his
closing their eyes in death, they were now to perform that office for
him. He spoke not. Oppressive stillness reigned in the room. Not a sound
was heard, save the rattling in the throat of the dying youth. The last
breath was drawn; life, for a moment, quivered upon his lip. The spirit
took its flight; and the poor mother, in anguish of soul, exclaimed,
_"He is dead!"_

CHAPTER VIII.

CONCLUSION.

The way of transgressors is hard. Early did Charles Duran indulge in
habits of disobedience,--early was he forgetful of God,--early did he
run into the paths of vice and intemperance, and early did he go down to
his grave.

Disobedience to parents is a fearful sin! Children think they know what
is best for themselves. Parental restraint sometimes seems irksome to
them; but God has wisely ordained that in our youth we should be under
the instruction and control of our parents. Children, instead of feeling
that parental control is oppressive to them, should learn to be
thankful for it. It is enough for well-instructed and well-disposed
children, generally, to know what the wishes of their parents are. Much
of their happiness is derived from compliance with those wishes. The
approbation of their parents will afford such children far more pleasure
than all their forbidden indulgences.

The school history of Charles Duran will not fail, I trust, to make a
suitable impression upon the minds of my youthful readers. Scholars
sometimes think that it is not a great offense for them to violate the
rules of their school, neglect their books, or be unkind even to some of
their school-associates. So this boy thought. The result of his course
is before us. All such children should know that by such a course of
conduct they are laying the foundation for a bad character. They may,
for awhile, escape punishment; they m