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mind while you were watching James? or while you were scratching with your pencil on the window-seat? or whistling to my Canary bird?

Charles. No, indeed.

Mother. Yet, during the three quarters) of an hour you have sat at the window, with a book in your hand, these have been your principal employments, Once or twice you began to read the lesson over to yourself, but something would attract) your attention, and your thoughts were gone from it in an (instant); the slight impression it had made was (effaced); and when you returned to your task, you were just where you had been ten minutes before. Yet, at nine o'clock, you would jump up in dismay, exclaiming,

There, I have been studying this lesson more than an hour, and I cannot say it yet. Is it not enough to discourage one, mother?"

Charles. The plain truth of the matter is, mother, I do get discouraged. I do not see any use in study

ing so hard.

Mother. But you would not have to study so hard, or, at least, not near so long, if you would take the right method.

Charles. But it is the studying at all that I object to, mother. I do not know but I might study better if I could see any use in it. I can read and write, and what need is there of my studying more?

Mother. You cannot conceive) of any pleasure in acquiring knowledge, then?

Charles. O yes; I like to know all I can by reading interesting books; I like to read some histories,

and (biographies, and travels. That all comes very easy; that is amusement.

Mother. Are you sure that, while reading books for amusement, you are really laying up much knowledge that will be useful? Do you ever stop to reflect) upon what you read? or is it all jumbled together in your mind? Have you never made strange blunders in talking about the very books you have read ?

Charles. Yes, I must own that I have; and I have sometimes felt sadly mortified at it.

Mother. That is only one of the evils to which you will be exposed by being superficial. Be assured, you cannot get along even respectably, in wellinformed society, without disciplining your mind to habits of attention and reflection; and one great advantage of youthful study is, that it does so discipline the mind.

Charles. You and father talk about "disciplining the mind," and tell me to leave off this habit of thinking and that habit of not thinking, just as you would tell me to leave off twirling this button on my jacket!

Mother. And do you not understand what we mean?

Charles. O yes, I see the sense of it.

Mother. And do you not think that, with perseverance, you can accomplish what we wish? You do not mean to tell us that you cannot manage your own mind?

Charles. No, mother; but it is so hard! And to go back to this matter of study; when I talked to

sister Ellen about it, yesterday, she said that if I did not study, I could never succeed in any trade or profession when I became a man. Now, why need I have a trade or profession?

Mother. What would you like to be?
Charles. A gentleman.

Mother. An idle gentleman?

Charles. No, not an idle one. I should like to pass my time in reading and accomplishments. Mother. What accomplishments do you mean? Charles. Music and drawing. Is not that what people mean by accomplishments?

Mother. But are you not aware that it requires study and close attention to master these little matters of music and drawing, particularly for those who have not an uncommon taste for them ?

Charles. Does it? Well, then I would let the music and drawing alone. I dare say I should find some way of passing my time.

Mother. My son, I fear you would indeed, if we would cruelly permit you to enter on life devoid of some of its best resources against the temptations that beset the idle. A young man, in the situation which you have just described, would be almost certain to seek occupation and excitement in dissipation and vice. The strongest religious principles might save him, but the conflict would be terriblethe result doubtful; and I cannot think of the danger without tears.

LESSON XXXII.

CONSONANT SOUNDS IN COMBINATION.

zd as in blaz'd, gaz'd, prais'd, rais'd. zl as in dazzle, drizzle, muzzle, puzzle. zld as in dazzl'd, drizzl'd, muzzl'd, puzzl'd. zlz as in dazzles, drizzles, muzzles, puzzles,

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust him for his grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.

The same, concluded.

Charles. DEAR mother, you do not think I shall ever be a wicked man, do you?

Mother. I cannot tell. I cannot bear to think of it. We will talk of another part of the subject; for it is very necessary that I should. All this while, you have said nothing of the way in which you are to be supported in the easy life you propose.

Charles. Supported? Why, my fortune will support me.

Mother. Your fortune?

Where is it?

Charles. Ah, I have none now; but then there is father so rich, and only Ellen and myself. Of course, he will not leave his money to any body else; will he?

Mother. How can you be sure that he will have any to leave? You should not forget the passage of Scripture-"Riches take to themselves wings." Ought you not to be prepared with some way of supporting yourself, supposing that text should be verified in your case?

Charles. But, somehow or other, I do not believe it will be.

Mother. That is a blind, boyish belief to rest upon. How do you know that your father is now rich?

Charles. Why, all the boys in school say he is one of the richest men in the city. And then, mother, have we not always lived like rich people?

Mother. That may be a sign that we always have been rich, but not that we shall be, - not that we are so now, Charles.

Charles. I do not understand you, mother.

Mother. I must make you comprehend) me, my dear boy. Your father told me I must talk with you to-day, and I intended to wait till you returned, at night; but this is a better opportunity. Have you not seen that your father has been more taken up with his business than usual, for some weeks past? Have you not observed that he was very thoughtful?

Charles. Yes, mother; at least I did after Ellen mentioned it to me, for she observes more than I do. What is the matter?

Mother. Your father will fail to-morrow, Charles. Charles. Fail! and what is failing, mother? I hear people talk about failing, and say, "Such a

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