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النشر الإلكتروني

XL.

KINDNESS TO PET ANIMALS, &c.
It is very

Be kind to all dumb animals. shocking to be accused of cruelty to any creature; but to be unkind to those pretty helpless birds or animals, of which you have made prisoners, is barbarous; to tease, torment, or annoy them in any way is wicked, and shows a viscious disposition in a child: remember that you have constituted yourself guardian of those little captives, and that their happiness and lives depend upon your keeping them supplied with daily food, &c. It is very distressing to discover them to have been without food or water for a short time; what, then, can I say of the culpable neglect of that child who lets one of those pretty pets perish for want? That you may never have to reproach yourself for doing this, supply them regularly every morning with what they require, and do not risk their lives to the chance of your remembering them some time in the course of the day. Do not trouble your mother or others of the household by continually running or asking at every hour of the day with, or for something for them. Provide a daily or weekly store of those things which are

necessary, and be careful that nothing is wasted, for that would be to abuse the privilege your kind parents grant you, in permitting you to keep them. Remember that this is an expensive luxury, which few parents can afford their dear children, whose childish fancies they delight to gratify, and do not make them repent having done so.

XLI.

MODE OF ACCEPTING OR DECLINING

If

INVITATIONS.

you receive an invitation by note, reply by note the same or following day.

If you accept an invitation, consider it a point of honour to keep your engagement.

In accepting an invitation by note, say-Master William Martin presents his compli ments to Master William Henderson, and accepts, with pleasure, Master William Henderson's kind invitation for the evening of Wednesday, the 26th instant.

3d January,

25 Tavistock Square.

In declining an invitation by note, say— Master William Martin presents his compli ments to Master William Henderson, and regrets that a pre-engagement prevents him having the

pleasure of accepting Master William Henderson's kind invitation for the evening of Wednesday, the 26th instant.

3d January,

25 Tavistock Square.

If your young friend invite you personally, accept or decline his invitation at once. It is very rude to say, "I'll see," "I'll come if I can," &c., as it leaves him doubtful whether his invitation is agreeable to you, and implies that you have little pleasure in his society. If you are disengaged, and are not aware of any preventing cause, say at once that you accept with pleasure his kind invitation. If you have a previous engagement, or know any cause why you cannot accept it, say you would have been happy to do so, but a previous engagement, &c., prevents you having that pleasure.

XLII.

DINING OUT.

In keeping a dinner appointment, ascertain the hour at which your friend expects you, and arrive punctually at the hour. Leave your hat in the hall or cloak-room, adjust your hair and gloves; and, on being shown into the drawing-room, pay

your respects first to the hostess, next to the host, and afterwards to your young friend or friends. Be cheerful, and endeavour to make yourself agreeable. In taking a young lady to the dining-room, give your left arm or hand, and wait till your places are intimated to you before taking your seats. Take your gloves off during dinner. After dinner, take an early opportunity of leaving the table and joining the ladies in the drawing-room, where your shewing that you enjoy yourself will please your entertainers; and your endeavouring to make others do so, will cause you to be thought agreeable. Remember, that the greatest disrespect you can show to the lady of the house, is to come into her drawing-room with dirty boots; never do so, or it may be the last time you will be invited to her house. Take leave shortly after tea.

XLIII.

SPENDING THE DAY OUT.

Upon your arrival, pay your respects to the family. Assent readily to any plan your young friend proposes for your amusement, and be interested in any little scheme by which he

strives to entertain you. If he seem to be at a loss how to make the time pass pleasantly, have something ready to propose which will please him, and relieve him of his difficulty, without letting him perceive your motive. Should he propose that you accompany him to a place of public amusement, and you think your parents would not object to you going, assent cheerfully; but if you do not feel inclined, there is no rudeness in saying, that you are much obliged, but you are so pleasantly amused that you would rather not. Take leave shortly after tea.

If invited to a friend's at a distance, and consequently, to stay over night, do not allow yourself to be persuaded to remain the following day-which is not only doing more than agreed to-but is taking advantage of your friend's politeness, and often puts the family to inconvenience. Leave shortly after breakfast.

XLIII.

CONDUCT AT AN EVENING PARTY.

In attending an evening or juvenile Christmas party, it is not necessary that you be punctual to the hour of invitation, unless so

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