to recall the exact words of any passage even of the most popular writer. Those, however, who have learnt by heart a good deal of the choicest of our poetry, feel that they have, in doing so, accumulated sources of interest and pleasure for many a weary hour of sickness or of mechanical employment. Indeed, it is so great a pleasure to be able to recall at will the gems of our literature, that I am persuaded no one who thought about the matter would neglect voluntarily such a source of happiness. Poetry, indeed, can be learned in odd minutes,-from an open book while working, or whilst brushing the hair at night, or at many other periods that are too often wasted. « But I have no memory," I think I hear some one say. Translated, the phrase usually means, "I do not think it worth while to try to remember;" for we may remark we all have sufficient memory for anything that closely concerns our interests. Undoubtedly, some women naturally blessed with a stronger memory than others; but it is always in our own power to improve it, and if we are conscious of a defi

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through a book without learning something from it, we have thrown away our time. How then are we to ascertain that we have read to a purpose? I would earnestly advise every young lady leaving school to resolve to read no work without entering its name, and some particulars respecting it, in a book to be kept for that purpose. I say every book, for the most trivial ought to teach us some lesson of morals or manners; to confirm or alter some opinion ; or it must be indeed a useless book. I do not suggest an elaborate analysis of everything we read, but merely a resumé, or a sort of catalogue raisonée, of novels, plays, and light reading generally, with extracts of any sentiment or speech which may particularly strike us. But all history should be read with great care, and an abstract, however short, made of it daily. We should avail ourselves of the comparatively leisure years of early womanhood to read the sterling histories of our own and other nations. Whenever we can do so, we should obtain contemporaneous histories, by writ opposite principles; and, bv

avoid the folly of arguing from a one-sided view of facts. This is not merely desirable for the sake of acquiring a correct knowledge of events; it will also prevent our indulging in those bitter feelings and violent invectives which arise from ignorance of what may be said of the other side of a question. For every question, like every coin, has two sides, and much ill feeling would be avoided if all parties would fairly examine them. For instance: our Protestant histories of England speak strongly of the cruelties exercised by Queen Mary on her reformed subjects, but they totally overlook the equal atrocities perpetrated by her sister Elizabeth, on the Roman Catholics. This is not very fair, perhaps, but it is natural. If we only read one of those histories, it is, of course, the one which is on the side of our own faith, and we think we have an excellent proof of the crimes of the opposite party. But when we see both sides of the question, we find out how little real religion had to do with the crimes for which it was made "loak, and we arrive at such a knowledge of

ruth as may not only teach us the history

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of past ages, but furnish us with a hint for our future guidance in many a difficulty.

Whenever a book of history or travels is opened, a geography and atlas should also find a place on our study table. The places mentioned should be found, and every addition to our geographical knowledge noted. In our abstract of what we read, all discrepancies between the various authors should be remarked, and we should endeavour to see how far the variation arises from the peculiar character of the writers themselves, and how far they have authority for their opinion.

Biographies of eminent individuals also form a particularly useful study; and, if possible, they should always be taken in conjunction with the works of such as are authors. No life should ever be read without a summary of the character being written, not at the moment of completing the book, but after an interval of at least a day, and a period of careful consideration. For instance, after completing a biography, avail yourself of a solitary walk, or a task of needlework, to deliberately recall all the leading incidents and traits of character; think where the individual in question erred, and why, -and what result the error produced; examine in the same way all the good points, and draw as just a balance as you can. Commit your judgment to writing, either elaborately, or as a brief abstract; and you will have the satisfaction of finding you have been exercising at the same time all the best faculties of your mind, -reason, judgment, memory,-as well as improving yourself in composition, and materially adding to your knowledge. For it is not what we read, but how we read, that makes us learned, or leaves us ignorant. In reading, more than in anything else, quality is of more consequence than quantity.

Works of fiction form, very naturally, the favourite part of the library of the young;

for at the age when imagination is the most active and powerful faculty of the mind, they possess charms which we should seek in vain in Rollin or Hume. But this appetite, like that of a child for cakes, must be restrained within due bounds, or it will be injurious. No pastry will