make you great and extraordinary' professions, do not give much credit to him. Probably you will find that he aims at something besides kindness to you, and that when he has served his turn, or been disappointed, his regard for you will grow cool. Beware, also, of him who flatters you, and commends you to your face, or to one who he thinks wiil tell you of it; most probably he has either deceived and abused you, or means to do so. Remember the fable of the fox commending the singing of the crow, that had something in her mouth which the fox wanted.

9. Be careful that you do not commend yourselves. It is a sign that your reputation is small and sinking, if your own tongue must praise you; and it is fulsome' and unpleasing to others to hear such commendations. Speak well of the absent whenever you have a suitable opportunity. Never speak ill of them, or of anybody, unless you are sure they deserve it, and unless it is necessary for their amendment, or for the safety and benefit of others.

10. Avoid, in your ordinary communications, not only oaths, but all imprecations and earnest protesta'tions. Forbear scoffing and jesting at the condition or natural defects of any perSuch offenses leave a deep impression; and they often

son.

cost a man dear.

11. Be very careful that you give no reproachful, menacing," or spiteful words to any person. Good words make friends: bad words make enemies. It is great prudence to gain as many friends as we honestly can, especially when it may be done at so easy a rate as a good word; and it is great folly to make an enemy by ill words, which are of no advantage to the party who uses them. When faults are committed, they may, and by a superior they must, be reproved; but let it be done without reproach or bitterness: otherwise it will lose its due end and use, and, instead of reforming the offense, it will exasperate the offender, and lay the reprover justly open to reproof.

12. If a person be passionate, and give you ill language, rather pity him than be moved to anger. You will find that silence,

1 Extraordinary, (eks trár' di na- ing by over-fullness, or too much; ry), out of the common course; more

than common.

nauseous.

3 Mění a cing, expressing a deter• Ful' some, offending or disgust- mination to injure; threatening.

or very gentle words, are the most ex'quisite' revenge for reproaches; they will either cure the distemper in the angry man, and make him sorry for his passion, or they will be a severe reproof and punishment to him. But, at any rate, they will preserve your innocence, give you the deserved reputation of wisdom and moderation, and keep up the serenity' and composure of your mind. Passion and anger make a man unfit for every thing that becomes him as a man or as a Christian.

13. Never utter any profane speeches, nor make a jest of any Scripture expressions. When you pronounce the name of God or of Christ, or repeat any passages or words of Holy Scripture, do it with reverence and seriousnèss, and not lightly, for that is 'taking the name of God in vain." If you hear of any unseemly expressions used in religious exercises, do not publish them endeavor to forget them; or, if you mention them at all, let it be with pity and sorrow, not with derision or reproach. SIR MATHEW HALE.

:

II.

28. DR. FRANKLIN'S CONVERSATIONAL POWERS.

EVER have I known such a fireside companion as Dr.

N Franklin.

Franklin. Great as he was, both as a statesman and a philosopher, he never shōne in a light more winning than when he was seen in a domestic circle.

3

2. It was once my good fortune to pass two or three weeks with him, at the house of a private gentleman, in the back part of Pennsylvania; and we were confined to the house during the whole of that time, by the unintermitting constancy' and depth of the snow. But confinement could never be felt where Franklin was an inmate. His cheerfulness and his colloquial' powers spread around him a perpetual spring. There was no ambition of eloquence, no effort to shine in any thing that came

1

Exquisite, (èks' kwi zit), carefully selected or sought out; hence, very nice; very great; giving rare satisfaction.

'Se ren'i ty, clearness and calmness; quietness; coolness.

3 Un' in ter mit' ting, ceaseless; without interruption.

* Con' stan cy, permanent state, unalterable continuance.

Col lo' qui al, conversational; relating to conversation.

from him. There was nothing which made any demand either upon your allegiance' or your admiration.

2

3. His manner was as unaffected as infancy. It was nature's self. He talked like an old patriarch; and his plainnèss and simplicity put you, at once, at your ease, and gave you the full and free possession and use of all your faculties.

4. His thoughts were of a character to shine by their own light, without any adventitious' aid. They required only a medium* of vision' like his pure and simple style, to exhibit to the highest advantage their native radiance and beauty.

6

5. His cheerfulness was unremitting.' It seemed to be as much the effect of the systematic and salutary' exercise of the mind, as of its superior organization." His wit was of the first order. It did not show itself merely in occasional coruscations; but, without any effort or force on his part, it shed a constant stream of the purest light over the whōle of his dis

course.

11

6. Whether in the company of commons or nobles, he was always the same plain man; always most perfectly at his ease, his faculties in full play, and the full orbit" of his genius forever clear and unclouded. And then the stores of his mind were inexhaustible. He had commenced life with an attention so vigilant, that nothing had escaped his observation, and a judgment so solid, that every incident was turned to advantage.

7. His youth had not been wasted in idleness, nor overcast by intemperance. He had been all his life a close and deep reader, as well as thinker; and by the force of his own powers,

1 Allegiance, (al lè'jans), the ob ligation or tie, declared or understood, which a subject owes to his government, prince, or superior.

'Pa' tri arch, the father and ruler of a family.

3 Adventitious, (åd` ven tish ́ us), coming from abroad; added; casual or accidental.

'Mē' di um, necessary means of motion or action; that through or by which any thing is done, conveyed, or carried on.

6 Vision, (viz in), sight.

Rādi ance, vivid light; brilliancy; brightness.

'Un`re mit' ting, not abating; ceaseless; constant.

"System ǎt' ic, orderly; regu. lar; according to a fixed plan.

'Săl'u ta ry, useful; wholesome; healthful.

10 Organ i za' tion, structure; the parts of which a thing is formed. 11 Cor us ca' tions, shinings; quick flashings of light.

12 Orbit, circle in which some thing moves.

had wrought up the raw materials, which he had gathered from books, with such ex'quisite skill and felicity,' that he had added a hundred-fold to their original value, and justly made them his own.

WILLIAM WIRT.

III.

29. ANECDOTE OF CHIEF-JUSTICE MARSHALL.

2

T is not long since ǎ gentleman was traveling in one of the counties of Virginia, and, about the close of the day, stopped at a public house, to obtain refreshment and spend the night. He had been there but a short time, before an old man alighted from his gig, with the apparent' intention of becoming his fellow-guest at the same house.

5

2. As the old man drove up, he observed that both of the shafts of his gig were broken, and that they were held together. by withes' formed from the bark of a hickory sapling. Our traveler observed further, that he was plainly clad, that his knee-buckles were loosened, and that something like negligence pervaded his dress. Conceiving him to be one of the honest yeomanry' of our land, the courtesies of strangers passed between them, and they entered the tavern.

8

3. It was about the same time, that an addition of three or four young gentlemèn was made to their number-most, if not all of them, of the legal profession. As soon as they became comfortably accommodated, the conversation was turned by one of the latter upon a display of eloquence' which he had that day heard at the bar. It was replied by the other, that he had witnessed, the same day, a degree of eloquence no doubt equal, but that it was from the pulpit.

Felicity, the state of being happy; blessedness; a skillful or happy turn.

2 Long, see Note 5, p. 16.

3

Apparent, (ap parent), perceivable to the eye; that may be seen. seeming.

4 Withes, willow twigs; bands of twigs or bark of any green tree. 6 3ǎpling, a young tree.

"Per vad' ed, passed through; appeared in all parts.

'Yeō'man ry, the common people. Courtesies, (ker te sez), acts of civility or politeness.

'El' o quence, such an utterance of one's thoughts, feelings, or desires, as awakens a perfect sympa thy, or corresponding emotions in a listener.

4. Something like a sarcastic' rejoinder' was made to the eloquence of the pulpit; and a warm and able altercation' ensued, in which the merits of the Christian religion became the subject of discussion. From six o'clock until eleven, the young champions' wielded the sword of argumènt, adducing, with ingenuity and ability, every thing that could be said, pro and con."

5. During this protracted' period, the old gentleman listened with all the meekness and modesty of a child, as if he was adding new information to the stōres of his own mind; or, perhaps, he was observing, with philosophic eye, the faculties of the youthful mind, and how energies are evolved' by repeated action; or, perhaps, with patriotic emotion, he was reflecting upon the future destinies of his country, and on the rising generation on whom these future destinies must devolve; or, mōst probably, with a sentiment of moral and religious feeling, he was collecting an argument, which (characteristic of himself) no art would be "able to elude, and no fōrce to resist." Our traveler remained a spectator, and took no part in what was said.

6. At last, one of the young men, remarking that it was impossible to combat with long and established prejudices,' wheeled ǎround, and with some familiarity exclaimed, “Well, my old gentleman, what think you of these things?" If, said the traveler, a streak of vivid lightning had at that moment crossed the room, their ămăzemènt could not have been greater than it was with what followed.

7. The most eloquent and unanswerable appeal was made by the old gentleman, for nearly an hour, that he ever heard or read. So perfect was his recollection, that every argument urged against the Christian religion was met in the order in which it was advanced.

1 Sar căs' tic, severely taunting; tending to ridicule or disgrace.

'Rejoin'der, a reply to an answer. 'Al` ter cā′ tion, an angry dispute between two parties, in which each uses severe language.

'Discussion, (dis kůsh' un), debate; the act of reasoning; the thorough examination of a subject in all of its parts.

'Chăm' pi ons, those who fight. contend, or dispute.

"Prō and con, for and against. "Pro trǎct'ed, extended; lengthy. 8 E võlved', unfolded or unrolled; opened and enlarged; emitted or thrown out.

'Prěj' u dic es, opinions formed before knowledge; judgments with

out reason.