attention they paid. When they returned home, he called Lewis into his
study, and said to him, “You saw how the sculptor began and continued
his work, and you have to-day seen the beautiful statue that he has at
length formed. He is a very clever man; but this is not all, he is,
besides, a very diligent and persevering man: he pursued his work,
stroke by stroke, day after day, and month after month, till he had
completed it. You learn very quickly; but take care, my dear boy, or
this will prove a snare to you by making you idle and careless. You
cannot be truly wise without being diligent, and the more talent you
possess, the more you should improve it. One blow of the chisel does not
make a statue, neither does a little cleverness and quickness make a
truly wise man. Think of these two maxims, and then you will not be vain
and idle: _first_, That God has given you every talent you possess, and
he requires you to improve it to the utmost, and will call you to give
an account of the way in which you have used it; and, _secondly_, That
the most diligent of the people of God, when they look back on their
lives, must consider themselves as ‘unprofitable servants.’ Never, then,
my dear Lewis, let me hear you boast over others; but let me intreat you
to remember the favourite proverb of the meek and lowly Jesus:
‘Whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased, and he that humbleth
himself shall be exalted.’”
[Illustration: FINIS]
FOOTNOTES:
[A] In most parts of the Continent wood is used for fuel.
[B] A sort of tinder used abroad.
[C] Our English readers will be surprised to find that these children
did not know of any hymns or divine songs suitable for children.
They must remember that this little narrative is about children in
Switzerland, and it should remind them how thankful they should be for
the many privileges they enjoy in England, which children in other
countries have not. How sad it is when children are careless and
indifferent as to these advantages!
[D] This may be termed an imitation rather than a translation of the
original.