And so reasoned the selfish boy, amusing himself with gazing upon a shelf full of baby toys he could take no pleasure in using, but yet which he had not the heart to give away; and then he jingled a money-box, which was heavy enough to tell there were many, many coins inside, and yet he drew from his pocket a shilling, which he slipped through the narrow chink, thus adding to his useless store. Oh! sad it is to believe that no thought of gratitude to the Almighty for the blessings with which he was surrounded; no prayer for guidance from on high rose in his heart; no thought of the duty of cultivating the "talents" which had fallen to his share. Two or three years passed away, and notwithstanding the exhortations of Mrs. Sidney, and the bright examples of his cousins, no amendment was perceived in the character of Charles. Most persons who act improperly, as I have said before, endeavour to find an excuse for their conduct, and he formed no exception to the rule. His apology for his parsimony was, that he was saving every pound he could accumulate to help pay for his college education when he should be sent thither. A poor, shallow excuse, for his mother often assured him how little he needed such mean precaution, and entreated him to spend his money with proper liberality. Mrs. Sidney so often shed tears on his account, that no one in the house was much surprised to see her weeping on one important occasion. Charles was at this time about fifteen, when, entering his mother's morning room somewhat suddenly, he found her in tears, with an open letter in her hand, which Charles in a moment remarked had a black border and a black seal. "What is the matter, mamma?" said he "is any one we know dead?" "Yes, Charles," she replied; "I am sorry to say three relations, whom, though you may have heard of, you have never seen, have been suddenly removed from this world by the upsetting of a boat in which they had gone on a pleasure excursion." "Not Lord Sereton and his sons?" exclaimed Charles, clasping his hands, while an expression of anything but sorrow passed over his countenance. "Yes, Charles," replied Mrs. Sidney, after a moment's pause, "I am sorry to say they are no more." "Sorry, mamma," shrieked the youth, in a voice of gaiety that, considering the circumstances, was horrible. "_Sorry_, mamma, why then I . . . I . . . am . . ." "Yes, _you_ are Lord Sereton now." "And shall I have all the money, mamma, and the houses, and that beautiful park which I once went to see, and the carriages, and the horses, and the--the--all the beautiful things? Oh, yes, I shall, I know I shall. I am so glad--I am so happy. Lord Sereton was only papa's third cousin, I know, but I am the next heir."