Mimicry, the favourite amusement of little minds, has ever been held in contempt by the learned and accomplished. Never practice it in conversation yourself, nor encourage it in others; it is the most illiberal of all buffoonery, and is an insult to the person you mimic, which is seldom forgotten or forgiven.

Carefully avoid talking either of your own. or of the concerns of others. By doing the one you will be thought vain; by meddling with the other you will be considered officious. Talking of yourself is an impertinence to the company, whose affairs do not concern them; besides, they cannot be kept too secret. As to the affairs of others, what are they to you? In talking of matters that do not concern you you are liable to commit blunders; and should you touch roughly a delicate subject, you may lose your friend's esteem. Let your conversation be general.

It is impolite to interrupt one who relates a story, whether or not you have heard it before. Some are fond of telling a story, because they think they tell it well; others pride themselves upon being the first to tell it; and again, others are pleased at being

thought worthy to be entrusted with it. You would displease all these persons by interruption; therefore, as it is delightful to make those around you happy, never deprive any one of so great a satisfaction, when you can so easily gratify him by your attention.

XXXVII.

SUNDRY IMPROPRIETIES.

Opening and tossing about books, either at home or abroad, is rude. If at home, it appears as if you were tired of your company, and wish them gone; if abroad, that the hours drag heavily, and you wish you were gone yourself.

Pulling out a letter, and reading it in company, or appearing restless and fidgety, is impolite, and implies that you are weary of the conversation, and are very much in want of something to do to pass away the time.

Humming or whistling, drumming with yonr fingers on the table, making a noise with your feet, and the like, are all breaches of good manners, and indicate your contempt for the

persons present; therefore, they should not be indulged in.

Staring at any person you meet full in the face looks as if you saw something singular in his appearance, and is therefore a tacit reprehension.

Ugly tricks, such as thrusting out your tongue, continually snapping your fingers, rubbing your hands, sighing aloud, gaping with a noise like a country fellow who has been sleeping in a hay loft, and many others which I have mentioned before, distinguish the manners of the mob, and are degrading to a boy of refinement.

A well-bred boy shows his politeness strikingly in instances in which it would be endless to particularise, viz.: by not yawning, singing, whistling, warming his back at the fire, lounging, putting his legs upon the chairs, and other familiarities, which every one's good sense must condemn, and the well-bred abhor. Strive to appear easy and composed in company, although it be irksome, and you will eventually become so by respecting the tastes and feelings of others.

XXXVIII.

SEVEN IMPORTANT CAUTIONS. 1. TAKING GOD'S NAME IN VAIN.

This is a heinous sin, to which some children are addicted. To say, "O Lord," &c., upon any frivolous occasion, besides being a low vulgar habit, is expressly forbidden in the third commandment, the words of which are, "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain."

2.-VAIN, IDLE, AND WICKED WORDS.

This is a sin to which many children are addicted, and against which I solemnly warn them. "Every idle word that men shall speak, they must give an account thereof in the day of judgment." Do you believe this, children, and yet speak idle, vain, wicked words? Oh, give up this evil habit.

3. THE SIN OF LYING.

This is a detestable sin to which some children are shamefully given, and must be warned against. A lie is the willingly speaking an untruth with a purpose to deceive, at the time knowing it to be a falsehood.

All lies are exceeding sinful. A lying tongue is one of the things which is an abomination to God, and meets, even in this world, with severe punishment. A liar is a child of the devil, who is the father of lies. The Bible says, "Ye are of your father the devil. He abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own; for he is a liar, and the father of it."

In the Scriptures, liars are reckoned amongst the worst of sinners. They say, The unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone."

A liar is abhorred of God and good men. Tennedo was so strict in judgment, that he caused an axe to be held over witnesses' heads, ready to execute them immediately, should they utter a falsehood.

If you accustom yourself to lying, you cannot expect to be believed when you speak the truth. Love and speak the truth at all times. Do not exaggerate.