POVERTY is in the soul, and not in the circumstances. We see this exemplified every day in the lives both of the poor and of the rich. There is Patrick, the gardener. He works six days in the week for his weekly wages, lives in a two-roomed house, fares very plainly, has two suits of clothes, one for daily wear and one for holidays, has a house full of children, but Patrick is contented and happy. His employer is far less so. Every new supply makes room for another want. He is always spreading out a little larger, and adding as much to his cares as to his enjoyments by his fresh acquisitions. Where shall we find the golden mean of content? Where ought we to find it? How rich in money ought we to be to have enough and not feel poor? How ample should be our learning to free us from the consciousness of being ignorant? How far should benevolence act as a controlling motive to keep us from feeling that we are selfish? Patrick is troubled by none of these questions. But may not one have a consciousness of real wealth in health, in competence, in knowledge, and in the power of acquisition of wealth, and knowledge, and virtue, that shall give content? How many of our wants are purely artificial, purely imaginary! He who has the most of these is the poorest of creatures, for it is impossible that he should ever be satisfied.—Ehrichs' Quarterly.