low-beings, rather than to hurl captious complaints against them. Make the best use of what you have, and do the best you can in the discharge of all your duties, and trust the rest to the care of the wise Disposer of all events.

CHAPTER IV.

CONVERSATION.

Language is one of the most important gifts bestowed upon man, by a bountiful Providence. It holds a high rank among the peculiar faculties by which the human race are pre-eminently distinguished from other classes of beings on earth. By the aid of language we communicate to each other our thoughts, our inclinations, wishes, hopes and fears—by language we interchange all the sentiments of the heart—soul mingles with soul, and the dearest and sweetest connexions in life are formed. But as every blessing the goodness of God has bestowed upon man, can be perverted from its original design, and made the source of evil, so language often becomes the medium by which great wretchedness is occasioned. "The tongue," says St. James, though

a little member, is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison." This is said in reference to an unguarded tongue. When the tongue is made the instrument of calumny, falsehood, licentiousness 161

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and profanity—when it is made to give utterance to the vile and sinful thoughts of a corrupt heart --it truly becomes "an unruly evil, full of deadly poison!" But a strictly guarded and welldisciplined tongue, is an instrument capable of accomplishing great good! A few remarks) therefore, upon the subject of conversation, can not be inappropriate to the consideration of the young.

The first important requisite in conversation, is discretion. The old proverb says, "a wise man thinks all that he says, and a fool says all that he thinks." The meaning of this maxim is, that the wise man selects his thoughts for conversation, from the mass that is floating in his mind. Wise men have many improper thoughts as well as other people; but one trait of their wisdom is, to keep such thoughts to themselves, and give utterance only to such as are proper and useful. But every thing that enters the minds of the foolish--whether proper or improper, wise or simple—runs off from the ends of their tongues; and in this consists one portion of their folly. A safe rule to adopt is, to be cautious to whom you speak, what you speak, and in whose presence you speak. A strict scrutiny in these respects, will become a safeguard that will always keep you within the bounds of propriety am prudence.

As conversation is a means, under proper management by which the most important knowledge

can be obtained, it should be your endeavor to seek out the company of the experienced and the Well-informed. The conversation of a wise man, like the gentle showers of the Summer, falls upon youthful hearts with an inspiring and fructifying influence—it sows the seeds of useful knowledge, and lays the foundation of virtues which in after life, expand into a character rich in every valuable qualification. In conversing with such people, mark the language they use, the manner of their expression, and their general demeanor, that you may acquire a correct and intelligent method of conveying your own thoughts. I would not have you servilely imitate the whole manner and expression of others; but you well know that thoughts can be uttered either in an obscure, broken, unintelligent, and vulgar manner, or in a way that is clear, perspicuous, and genteel. To secure this latter method, great assistance can be gained by observing the manner of those who possess it, and adopting a general course similar to theirs.

To obtain information, your conversation should be varied in accordance with the condition and occupation of those with whom you speak. To converse with the merchant or professional man, upon the mechanic arts--or with the mechanic, on agriculture—or with the farmer, on the rise and fall of stocks, or on the minutiae of commerce, or on literary criticisms—as a general result, your stock of information would receive

but little addition. With every individual, I repeat, you should endeavor to lead the conversation to those topics whereon they are at home" —subjects relating to their particular calling, and in regard to which they are supposed to be well informed. In this manner, from every person, however limited his general knowledge, you can gain information which can be turned to good

account.

Confine not your conversation to people of one opinion, or of the same class, sect, or party, either in regard to religion, politics, or any other subject. By hearing different opinions and sentiments advanced and advocated upon the same topic, you have a much more favorable opportunity of deciding where truth resides, and of increasing your general stock of knowledge, than you possibly could, were you to restrict your intercourse exclusively to one party or class. And here let me caution you, to permit not the truth or value of any sentiment you may hear uttered by an individual, to be decided by your prepossessions for or against the party or sect to which he may belong; but solely by the consistency and reasonableness of the sentiment itself—by its agreement or opposition to the dictates of wisdom, and to known and well established facts. From every party and sect, much information that is useful can be obtained, if they are listened to with candor and discrimination.

In company, conversation should not be allow