ticular time, when they are not sure of their ability to do so, or know positively that they are not able.

2. Many persons also, either from heedlessness or design, say what they think will create surprise, without supposing that they are doing any harm. Perhaps there is some truth in what they say, but it is so much magnified or exaggerated, with the view of exciting wonder, that it has the character and effect of falsehood. Such people are in the habit of using the words “vast, immense, grand, splendid, magnificent, superb, tremendous," and others of that nature, when words of a more simple meaning should be employed.

3. "Father," said a boy, one day, "I saw an immense number of dogs -five hundred, I am sure— in our street, last night." Surely not so many?" said his father.. "Well, there were one hundred, I'm quite sure.”— "It could not be," said the father; "I don't think there are a hundred dogs in the village." "Well, sir, it could not be less than ten this I am quite certain of." "I will not believe you saw even ten," said the father; "for you spoke as confidently of seeing five hundred as of seeing this smaller number. You have contradicted yourself twice already, and now I cannot believe you.". Well, sir," said the disconcerted boy, "I saw at least our Dash and another one."

4. This is an example of erroneous reporting through eager. ness to make out a wonderful case. For the same reason, ar uneducated man, who had been in the West Indies, hearing some one speak of the sun rising at midsummer about four in the morning, said, "O, that is nothing to what he does in Jamaica, I have seen him rise there between two and three." This man did not know that that was impossible, and that we must go towards the poles, and not towards the tropics, in order to see the sun rise very early.

5. It is common, too, to hear people say that they have not been so warm all their lives; that some one's gown is the prettiest they ever saw; or that they never were so happy as at Mrs. Smith's party; when it is obvious that they are alleging what it is utterly impossible for them to be quite sure of

A little real respect for truth, and desire to follow it at all times, aided by a little reflection on the meaning of the words we are about to utter, would save us from falsehoods of this kind.

6. There is yet another species of falsehood, which consists in saying one thing but meaning another; this ought to be at all times avoided, the same as positive lying. Persons who resort to this mean practice think that, because they do not lie in the words which they use, they do not commit any actual sin or crime. But this is a mere delusion. The lie is committed by the attempt to convey a false or wrong meaning, for the purpose of misleading; and such a mode of speaking is therefore both deceitful and sinful.

7. In the whole business of the world, truth is of great importance. We should not only observe it in everything relating to ourselves and our neighbors, but we should seek to ascertain it, and hold fast by it, in all things. If we study history, we should endeavor to get the books of best authority. If we cultivate science, we should make sure that we receive nothing which is not satisfactorily proved. Nothing but good testimony can prove the truth of an event; and nothing but experiment, and a careful observation of facts, can prove the truth of anything in science.

8. We should allow no opinion to rest in our minds unless w▸ are certain, and have taken pains to make ourselves conscientiously certain, that it is right, and not founded in error. Every wrong opinion, or supposition of what is false, tends to do harm in the world; while everything we know for truth, and every opinion and sentiment that we know to be rightly founded, tends to the good of mankind. Chambers.

LXXIII.

SHORT POETICAL EXTRACTS.

1. TIME NOT TO BE RECALLED.

MARK that swift arrow, how it cuts the air,
How it out-runs the following eye!
Use all persuasions now, and try

If thou canst call it back, or stay it there.

That way it went, but thou shalt find
No track is left behind.

Fool! 't is thy life, and the fond archer thou!
Of all the time thou 'st shot away

I'll bid thee fetch but yesterday,
And it shall be too hard a task to do.
Besides repentance, what canst find
That it hath left behind?

2. REASONS FOR HUMILITY. - Beattre. One part, one little part, we dimly scan, Through the dark medium of life's feverish dream, Yet dare arraign the whole stupendous plan, If but that little part incongruous seem; Nor is that part, perhaps, what mortals deem. Oft from apparent ill our blessings rise: O! then renounce that impious self-esteem That aims to trace the secrets of the skies; For thou art but of dust, — be humble and be wise.

3. THE PENALTY OF EMINENCE.

Byron.

He who ascends to mountain-tops shall find

The loftiest peaks most wrapt in clouds and snow;

He who surpasses or subdues mankind

Must look down on the hate of those below.

Though high above the sun of glory glow,
And far beneath the earth and ocean spread,
Round him are icy rocks, and loudly blow
Contending tempests on his naked head,

And thus reward the toils that to those summits led.

From the low prayer of Want and plaint of Woe,

O never, never turn away thine ear!

Forlorn, in this bleak wilderness below,

Ah! what were man, should Heaven refuse to hear! To others do (the law is not severe,)

What to thyself thou wishest to be done;

Forgive thy foes; and love thy parents dear, And friends and native land; -nor these alone; All human weal and woe learn thou to make thine own.

5. SOLITUDE.—Byron.

There is a pleasure in the pathless woods,
There is a rapture on the lonely shore,
There is society where none intrudes
By the deep sea, and music in its roar;
I love not man the less, but nature more,
From these our interviews, in which I steal
From all I may be, or have been before,
To mingle with the universe, and feel

What I can ne'er express, yet cannot all conceal.

6 HUMBLE AND UNNOTICED VIRTUE. Hannah More.

O my son!

The ostentatious virtues which still press

For notice and for praise; the brilliant deeds
Which live but in the eye of observation –
These have their meed at once; but there's a joy
To the fond võtaries of fame unknown, -

To hear the still small voice of conscience speak
In whispering plaudit to the silent soul.
Heaven notes the sigh afflicted goodness heaves,
Hears the low plaint by human ear unheard,
And from the cheek of patient Sorrow wipes
The tear, by mortal eye unseen, or scorned.

Nay, shrink not from the word "Farewell,"
As if 't were friendship's final knell !
Such fears may prove but vain;
So changeful is life's fleeting day,
Where'er we sever, Hope may say
We part to meet again!

mensity of his desires, but still leave him something to long for?

4. All other creatures seem happy, after their nature, in their situation. The beasts of the field ruminate without envying the destiny of man, who inhabits cities and sumptuous palaces. The birds rejoice amid the branches and in the air, without thinking if there are creatures better off than they on the earth.

5. Throughout the domain of nature all are happy, all in their element, save only man; and he, in his best estate, is a stranger to absolute content; he only is a prey to his desires, is the sport of his anxieties, finds his punishment in his hopes, becomes sad and wearied in the midst of his pleasures, and finds nothing here below on which his heart can steadily repose.

Massillon.

LXXVI.

CONQUERING WITH KINDNESS.

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1. I ONCE had a neighbor—a clever man-who came to me, one day, and said, "Esquire White, I want you to come and get your geese away.". Why," said I, "what are my geese doing?""They pick my pigs' ears when they are eating, and drive them away; and I will not have it." "What can I do?" said I.- "You must yoke them.' "That I have not time to do now," said I. "I do not see but they must run.' If you do not take care of them, I shall," said the shoemaker, in anger. "What do you say, Esquire White?"—"I cannot take care of them now, but will pay you for all damages." he, "you will find that a hard thing, I guess."

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"Well," said

2. So off he went, and I heard a terrible squalling among the geese. The next news was, that three of them were missing. My children went, and found them terribly mangled, and dead, and thrown into the bushes. " "Now," said I, "all keep still, and let me punish him." In a few days the shoemaker's hogs broke into my corn. I saw them, but let them remain a long time. At last I drove them all out, and picked up the corn which they had torn down, and fed them with it in the road. By this time the shoemaker came up, in great haste, after them.