Give Attention to Music.

phere along the Atlantic coast in the East, shall reverberate along the Gulf of Mexico, and the echo be heard in California."

Then I would say, give some attention, daily, to vocal music. This may be done without any detriment to other branches. Indeed, I believe it will prove a pleasant auxiliary in all the work of the school-room. If your pupils are sad, or dull, or uneasy, or too playful, call upon them to sing one or two sweet songs, and the result will be highly salutary. All angry and dull feelings will at once be dispelled, and a spirit of cheerfulness will be produced throughout the school. You may safely introduce music, and devote some time to it daily, without any fear of encroaching upon other branches, for it will prove a help, and not an injury. Such, at least, is the belief of

Your sincere friend,

C.

LETTER XIX.

DECLAMATION. - STUDY OF NATURE.-STUDY OF WORDS.-MISCELLANEOUS KNOWLEDGE.

MY DEAR FRIEND:

In this letter I purpose to speak of two or three other exercises which should receive occasional attention in school.

DECLAMATION.In a large number of schools the speaking of pieces receives some attention, but only in a few does it occupy the time and care which its importance demands. If a half-day semimonthly should be devoted to declamation, and the several performances should be made subjects of faithful criticism, much good would result from the exercise. It is, however, of the utmost importance that whatever is done be well done. Improper positions, disagreeable tones, indistinct enunciation, or bad habits of any kind, should receive prompt attention, and be corrected if possible. While, therefore, I would urge you to require exercises in declamation, I would earnestly advise that you guard against the practice, quite too common, of

Declamation.

A

allowing the repetition of words and sentences to be considered as satisfactory declamations. Lead your pupils to study their pieces with a particular view of ascertaining the writer's ideas, thoughts, and feelings, and then encourage them to give correct and forcible utterance to the same. mere formal and monotonous style of speaking, performed simply as a required exercise, will be of but little service. Strive to awaken an interest in the subject, which will induce your pupils to engage in it with an earnestness which cannot fail of leading to right study and correct expression and delivery.

The plan, adopted, in some schools, of devoting every alternate Wednesday afternoon to exercises in declamation and composition, is a very good one, and if judiciously managed will do much to awaken a desirable amount of interest both on the part of pupils and their parents. Many of the latter will feel inclined to spend an hour or two in the schoolroom to listen to such exercises as I have alluded to, and an interest once awakened in this way will become expansive and permanent. The introduction of such exercises may increase your labors, but the results will be highly gratifying in themselves, and their influence upon the daily studies of school will be favorable. On the afternoons devoted to these miscellaneous exercises the girls can take part in dialogues, in reading original essays, or in giving select readings.

Study of Nature.

POLITICAL ECONOMY.- In a country like ours, all should have some knowledge of the constitution and of the laws. Much valuable and interesting information on these points may be given in the form of brief and familiar lectures, if it is found inconvenient to make use of a regular text-book,- though the latter is preferable. It would certainly be well if our youth could all be made familiar with the matter contained in such a work as Shepard's Constitutional Text-Book, or some work covering the same ground. Such knowledge would tend to make them intelligent and independent citizens and voters.

ears,

STUDY OF NATURE.-You may do much to awaken in your pupils a love for the study of Nature. How many "live and move" in the midst of the most beautiful and sublime works of Nature, works full of instruction, and yet see nothing, learn nothing. Let it be your aim to lead your pupils to move about with observing eyes and listening eyes and ears trained to draw from Nature whatever is lovely and instructive. Our Heavenly Father has thrown before us the great book of Nature wide open, and so plain are its great lessons that he "who runs may read," and learn, if he will. Can you not learn and teach a lesson from the following pretty lines, from the pen of S. G. Goodrich, so extensively and favorably known as Peter Parley?