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younger boys, who all admired him because he was so clever, and loved him because he was so willing to help them. He never forgot Howard's advice; and when any boy asked the secret of his great ability, he used with an arch look, to whisper in his ear, Try again.

Adapted from MISS EDGEWORTH.

WHEN TO HOLD OUR TONGUES.

SOLOMON, the wisest of men, tells us that there is a time to speak, and a time to keep silence. Now we often meet with little boys, and still oftener with little girls, who do not seem to agree with Solomon; and who act as if they thought there never was a time to keep silence. Their tongue is never still, but they chatter on from morning to night wherever they are. If we were to tell them, as Solomon has told us, that there is a time to keep

silence, they would very likely ask us, when was the time to keep silence, and it would not be very difficult to answer their question.

One time to keep silence is, when our parents or teachers tell us to do so. If we constantly talk at home we are sure to disturb our parents; and to talk at all in school, except when the teacher asks or allows us to. do so, must occasion annoyance, and both prevent ourselves from making improvement, and keep our school-fellows from attending to their lessons.

Another time to be silent is, when we have got nothing to say, or nothing worth saying. We might fancy that those boys and girls who are always speaking, have a great deal to tell their neighbours; and they look as grave during their talk as if what they were saying were of immense importance. But if we listen to them for a few minutes we will soon find out our mistake; the boy or girl

might tell in two sentences all that they have got to say about the wonderful boat that he is rigging, or the beautiful doll that she is dressing; but they love to be talking, and so they gabble on, saying the same thing twenty times over, till every one is tired listening to them.

Another time to be silent is, when other people are speaking, or wish to speak. Nobody has any business to keep all the speaking to himself; and it is always considered a piece of very bad manners in any boy or girl to speak when others are speaking. Those who are in the habit of speaking without ceasing seem never to consider that others have as good a right to talk, and amuse the company, as they have; and that it is not only rude to keep others from joining in the conversation, but that they prevent others from speaking to whom people would much rather listen than to them. How very much annoyed we should feel, if, when any clever

man was sitting beside us, or any lady who has travelled in many countries, and we were listening with great delight to their conversation, some conceited boy or some chattering girl were to break in, and spoil everything with foolish talk! Those who are constantly talking are seldom very wise; for it is by listening, and not by speaking, that we learn ; and it is very bad that we should be kept from getting knowledge because they cannot keep silence.

There are, besides, two very good reasons. for not indulging too much in talk. Both of these reasons are mentioned by the same Solomon who has said, there is a time to keep silent. The first is, that those who speak a great deal are sure only to make their own folly more apparent to everybody; for, as Solomon says, "A fool's voice is known by the multitude of words." So long as people remain quiet, they may conceal their ignorance; but when they begin to talk, then

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every one will see it, and laugh at their conceit and folly. The other reason is, that those who talk much often say what they ought not to say they give offence to others, and hurt their feelings by rash words; or they say what is untrue or improper; or they talk mischievously, and injure the character of others. This is what Solomon means when he says, "In the multitude of words their wanteth not sin." It is so difficult to speak much without saying something foolish, or something wrong, that all wise people will think often of the Wise Man's words, "There is a time to keep silent."

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH,

UNDER a spreading chesnut tree

The village smithy stands;
The smith, a mighty man is he,

With large and sinewy hands;

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