THE PLEASURES OF MEMORY. 157 



and then are we reminded of the days of increasing 

 intelligence, (our latest school-boy days) when our 

 powers began to be nobly exercised in climbing " the 

 hill of Science. " - And here our foe to Memory's plea- 

 sures, will tell us a thousand vexatious tales of angry 

 teachers, and lengthened lessons, and shortened hours 

 of leisure. But while we^ surrender to him all that he 

 has a right to claim upon this ground, yet we do con- 

 tend that where early education has not been wretched- 

 ly conducted, there will yet be a preponderance of 

 pleasing recollections. Is the trifling vexation arising 

 from unwelcome though salutary restraint, to be for a 

 moment contrasted with the pleasure that is experienced 

 when drinking of the streams of information ! Labour 

 however, was called for, and difficulties were encoun- 

 tered, but then the greater was the satisfaction in arri- 



ing at the wished for result. And to this may be 

 added the pleasures of early friendship. Then did 

 many a tendril first begin to twine, and bind the hearts 

 of early companions to our own, tendrils that have been 

 watered by the dews, and strengthened by the suns of 

 many a summer, and outlived many a winter's tempests. 

 While we peruse the records of later days, we may 

 be reminded of increasing cares, but they tell us of in- 

 creasing pleasures too. As the mind becomes expand- 

 ed and able to grasp a larger share of the common 

 interests of humanity, probably its sensibility will also 

 be increased. It may find more sufferings with which 

 to sympathize and more sorrows to soothe. But then 

 too, the sources of enjoyment are still increasing. As 

 we extend our range, as we wander farther from the 

 paternal roof or the little circle of our childhood, we 

 discover new scenes of beauty and of joy, and new 

 streams of pleasure. We find sources of interest con- 

 tinually opening as we advance, and although our cares 

 may become more numerous, our means of enjoyment 

 may also become more varied and abundant. 



But here again we are reminded that as age and in- 

 telligence increase and friendship become stronger, the 



more keen and lasting is the pain we experience when 



