"Yes; these talkers were bad enough, with regard to the manner of conversation: but what did I say to show you that bad matter in talking was still worse than a bad manner?”

"You first spoke of one who used such fine words when he talked-'tuition,' and 'seminaries,' and ' derogatory;' that it was plain he wanted to show himself off, and nothing else. Then you mentioned one who talked without thought, and made himself very silly; and another, who coloured what he said so highly that he could not be depended on."

"But you had some instances much worse than these. Have you forgotten the one who talked vulgarly?"

"Oh no; nor the one who was ill-natured and bitter, nor he who told untruths—these were a great deal worse than the others. You told me, also, of one who conversed well, both in manner and matter.

"And what did I say was the most important quality in conversation?"

"Truth and you repeated the text, 'The lip of truth shall be established for ever; but a lying tongue is but for a moment.' The account you gave of the person who had been at the Zoological Gardens, and made such blunders about the white bear, the buffalo, the tapir, and the tiger, was a famous one. He made such a jumble of his camels and kangaroos, wild bears and wolves, opossums and porcupines, that he quite puzzled you."

"He did so. There was something said, too, about a squirrel in a cage which turned round, was there not?"

"Oh yes. You said that, like a squirrel running up the side of his cage without moving forward an inch, many people ran on talking without saying anything to the purpose; and so they do. And you told me an amusing tale of an old gentleman and a high

wayman.

"You may perhaps think, Edmund, that I have repeated my remarks too often; but, in learning anything, it is necessary to go again and again over the same ground. How frequently you tumbled before you could walk; how many times you repeated the alphabet before you knew your letters; and how often you spelt, even the shortest words, before you could read a single line! Again, I say, there is nothing like preparing the ground well to receive the seed: the oftener the field is ploughed, the more fruitful it becomes."

"I am glad you tell me these things again, uncle, for they will make me remember the subject all the better."

66

Supposing that the points on which I have spoken are now understood by you, and also impressed on your memory, when we have time to converse on this subject again we shall proceed in our course with more confidence. When we have no principle of action, we walk

as it were on boggy ground, and are obliged to tread cautiously; but when we have more knowledge, and feel the ground firm beneath our feet, we proceed with double spirit and resolution. Those who can converse well, have the power to do much good. They can amuse and instruct others; they can reprove what is wrong, and encourage what is right, in a way most likely to be useful; they can reply to the arguments of those who would deceive; they can plead with power the cause of the distressed; and they can set forth the truths of God's holy word in a clearer light than others who have not the advantage they possess. A good motive is the very soul of every undertaking; let your motive, then, in learning to converse, be to increase your power of doing good and of glorifying God. And now, as you have listened with attention, I will close my remarks with a short and cheerful story.'

"I shall be glad to hear it, uncle."

"Now, then, you shall have another instance of the practice in which some indulge of often telling the same tale. A learned doctor was so frequently in the habit of relating to his friends a circumstance which occurred to him at Beverley, in Yorkshire, that they, being weary of hearing it, determined, if they could, to put an end to his custom at once. A plan was then laid down. As it was known that on a certain day he would pay a

visit, it was arranged to give him an opportunity of relating his favourite story. Not long after the doctor's arrival, some one of the company made a remark about Yorkshire, when the doctor immediately began, 'When I was at Beverley in Yorkshire;' but, before he could say any more, a friend walked into the room. Oh, doctor! I am glad to see you!' This, of course, prevented the tale from proceeding; but soon after the doctor began it again, 'When I was at Beverley in Yorkshire;' here again the door opened, and another friend came in, equally overjoyed with the former one to see the doctor. After shaking hands. and the customary civilities had taken place, once more the doctor commenced, 'When I was at Beverley in Yorkshire;' but again he was interrupted by a new arrival: another friend came in, who, not having seen the doctor for some time, paid him more attention than the others. Whether it was that the worthy doctor began to see through the joke, or whether he despaired of being listened to, I cannot tell; but giving the matter up, he thus addressed those around him: 'My good friends, three times have I set off on my travels; but I find it impossible for me to proceed further than Beverley in Yorkshire.""

"Poor doctor! He had given his friends enough about Beverley in Yorkshire: and I should think that he, at last, had quite enough of it himself."

The best lessons and the best language are in the Holy Scriptures-Examples of gentleness, power, simplicity, plainness, kindness, affection, majesty, sublimity-The squire and his bookcase, and Roger Holmes and his family Bible.

"I HAVE not forgotten, uncle, the account you gave me about the learned doctor getting no further than Beverley in Yorkshire: it was a droll story."

"It was, Edmund; but I hope that, while you remember my droll stories, you will not