that Sunday-schools were all a hoax, and only intended to rob young people of their Sunday holidays?"

"He who could say so must be very silly."

"I agree with you. And if another took the other side of the question, declaring that Sunday-schools were such good things that they were absolutely without fault, and that they had done as much good as the Bible; what should you think of him?"

"That he was saying what was not right." "I am glad that you see these things so plainly. It is hardly possible that such remarks could do anything else than evil: and if, in addition to these, one observed, with a wink, that he should 'tip Sunday schools and Sunday scholars the go-by,' for that they were both humbugs,' you would, at once, put him down for a low, vulgar fellow."

"That I should; there could be no doubt about the matter."

"And I dare say, if any one of them declared that superintendents and teachers had no other object in view than that of taking the lead, and lording it over those below them, would consider the remark both ill-natured and unjust."

you

"I should, certainly; for a more spiteful remark than that could hardly be made."

"And lastly, should one openly declare that Sunday-schools were doing no good-that

they never did good, and never would do any good-you would, without hesitation, put down his assertion as a falsehood."

"Yes, I could put it down for nothing else; for there would not be a word of truth in such a remark."

"You see then, by these instances, how useless, or worse than useless, conversation becomes when it consists of fine and difficult words, thoughtless and foolish remarks, highly coloured facts, vulgar language, ill-natured, unjust opinions, or wilful falsehoods."

"That is very plain."

"When we consider how easily many young people are led astray, we may, in some degree, imagine the effect such conversation would have on their minds, and the mischief it would be likely to cause. Sunday-schools would either be despised by them, or too highly estimated."

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That, no doubt, would be the case."

"Whereas, if one sober-minded, well-informed young man, in an agreeable manner, were to speak well and wisely on the same subject, in a voice neither too high nor too low, too quick nor too slow, showing that though Sunday-schools were not always conducted as they ought to be, and though Sundayschool teachers were sometimes deficient in their duties, yet still that great good had been done by them, in teaching thousands of thoughtless young people to read the Holy

Scriptures, in leading them to the house of God, in disposing them to keep holy the sabbath day, and in drawing their attention to Divine things; such conversation might leave a profitable impression that would never be destroyed."

"You are certainly right, uncle; and I wish very much to be able to converse well." "Having said thus much on the folly and bad effects of conversing ill, and the wisdom and good effects of conversing well, we will for the present stop. We will resume our conversation another time."

Books for young people are often not simple and plain enough -Remarks about books for them-Value of truth-Correct description-Wild beasts misrepresented-Bears and buffaloes-Tigers and tapirs-The habit of truthfully describing will reward the trouble of attaining it-Underdoing and overdoing a description.

"I CAN give you half an hour now, Edmund, so we will talk a little more on the subject of conversation: should I say anything that you do not fully understand, let me know it."

"Thank you, uncle, I will; but I have understood everything very well that you have told me yet."

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Why, it would be a sad error in me, in helping you to learn to converse, if I were to

talk so that you did not understand me. It is said that the writers of books for youth are very apt to forget that they are speaking to children, treating them more like little philosophers and youthful greybeards than simple-minded young people. This is an error, and I must try not to fall into it."

"You always speak quite plainly to me; but I have a few books that puzzle me.'

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They may not be the worse on that account, as they may set you thinking. Two or three things should be thought of in forming an opinion of children's books. It should be remembered, that children being of different ages, the same book, which may not very well suit one, may yet be very well adapted to another."

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Yes, that is often the case."

"Again, it should be considered that the contents of a book remain the same, while the young reader goes on improving in intellect and knowledge; so that, if his book be a little above him at first, he is soon enabled to come up with it."

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Very true. I never thought of that."

"You young people have this advantage also, that being usually surrounded by those who are older and wiser than yourselves, you can, at any time, ask them the meaning of what you do not comprehend. The more attention you pay to your books, the easier will you find them, and the more will they