"WHEN the heart is the abode of good affections, it is peaceful, and cheerful, and joyous; but when it is the dwelling-place of evil passions, it is troubled, and discontented, and unhappy. Those who learn in their early

B

years to think, to feel, and to act aright, avoid many evils, and secure very many advantages."

These words were spoken by Mr. Railton to his son William, a youth of about twelve years old, as they set together at one end of a table, around which were gathered Mrs. Railton and several children. Mr. Railton was a prosperous London merchant, whose country house was about four or five miles from the city. He was a pious man, and was blessed with an excellent wife. Having a strong affection for his family, it is no wonder that he endeavoured to bring them up in the fear of God, and in love one towards another. It was his custom to spend the afternoon of every Wednesday at home, in the company of Mrs. Railton, surrounded by his children; and on these occasions a kind of holiday conversation was usually enjoyed: the children making what remarks, and asking what questions they thought proper. At the time Mr. Railton made the observation already given, William, the eldest, with Mary, George, and Susan, were at the table, and little Fanny, about three years old, was playing with the tabby kitten on the floor; while Mrs. Railton, with an infant in her arms, appeared heartily to enjoy the domestic scene.

"What do you mean, papa?" said Mary, who had been listening to every word which had been spoken; "What do you mean by any one

learning to feel? I have learned to read and to write, to sew and to net, because these things have been taught me; but can I learn to feel as I ought to feel? Can any one teach me that?"

"Yes, my dear," replied Mr. Railton; "proper feelings may be taught and learned, as well as good habits and useful attainments. I speak not of the sense of feeling possessed by the body, but of the faculty of feeling in the mind. If you remember, when you began to read the pieces on Learning to Think,' you were much surprised; but now that you have read all the chapters, you are satisfied that it is very possible, and also very profitable, to learn to think."

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"Well, that is true," said Mary, with a very slight blush on her cheek; "it did seem very odd to me at first, that any one should learn to think. Suppose, papa, you undertake to teach us to feel, and we undertake to learn; that will be capital: but we shall never know how to begin to learn, unless you teach us."

"You are only speaking for yourself, love," said Mrs. Railton. "How do you know that your brothers and sisters are willing to learn? Let me ask the question. Who is willing to learn to feel?"

"I am," said William; and "I am," cried out Mary, George, and Susan, holding up their hands all together, to show that they were in real earnest; and "I am," called out

little Fanny, looking up from the kitten, and crying out simply because her brothers and sisters did so, though she did not know exactly what it was about.

Mr. Railton then told them that he hoped they had already made some progress in learning to feel, though they might not be aware of it themselves. "But," said he, "to make quick progress in any attainment or study, it is necessary first to fall in love with it. The old copy says,

He that in writing would improve,
Must first with writing fall in love.'

Now, as it is in learning to write, so it is in learning to feel."

"But how can we fall in love with feeling, papa?" inquired George. "How can we begin?"

"Our feelings," replied Mr. Railton, by way of explanation, "are usually called forth by our knowledge. If you see a man passing by of whom you know nothing, you feel nothing towards him; but if I say, 'Here, children, children! do you see that man there? well, he is the man who plunged into the river, and saved the lives of two drowning children—or, That man forced his way into a house on fire, and rescued from the flames a poor bed-ridden woman, who would otherwise have been burned to death—you immediately begin to feel admiration for his courage and philanthropy."