3 uger members of
+ 20 here it sightly
三 Jess a dose vie jare hvad
ET I FOSSIIT meeting them.
- BASE skowy, secomplished
S T I attes, simired, fattered,

sing except. Telowed. She
Sags. The several sensors, the belle of

the pride of all the picnics –

8

155

earnestly sought as a partner in a waltz or a
polka, and fêted and admired to her heart's
content. And yet, in all that time, among all
her many flatterers, she has, perhaps, not one
friend. How is this? Her young companions
do not seek to make her their confidante; the
dimmed eye of the aged does not brighten at
her approach. No one seems to be the happier
or the better for her presence; she is not neces-
sary to any human being.

Another girl, on the contrary, has perhaps far
fewer natural advantages; she is neither so
handsome nor so accomplished; and yet children
cling to her the moment she enters the room,
and a smile gleams on the pallid face of age,
and parents, and brothers, and sisters feel as if
a sunbeam had made its appearance in the depth
of a winter's gloom. It is difficult to define in
what her charm consists.

“But take her altogether,” as some people say,

“She has got”—what ?—“such a winning way!”
It will not be difficult, however, for the close ob-
server to discover that the absence of selfishness
is the foundation of that varied grace which so en-

chants her formation

our conduct

friends. The fact is, that in the of manners, as in every other part of

to our fellow-creatures, the Golden

cation, the sole safe foundation for any superstructure, “to love our neighbour as thoughts and

Rule is the versal applí

only one that will be found of uni

ourselves.”

What a comprehensive guide to our to try our Conduct !

our actions! What a test by which

No wonder that it is said to be “m

Te

than whole burnt-offerings and

2

sacrifices."

But whe

society? and simpl mammers otherwise have inter to loud.

has all this to do with manners and Literally everything. This rule, short

as it is, will, if followed, refine the

2«the mind so that we can never be than loved by those with whom we urse.

Let us see to what it is likely Ve are in the society of a person und infirmities make them objects for

are and attention. We place the

the feet, and the pillow to support Trnme; and we attend respectfully to

the twhile

times long passed, and minister

Incly to threr wants of our aged friend. And

all this is done quietly, unostentatiously, as a matter of duty; because we are commanded to “ honour the face of the old man,” and we feel that so we should like them to act to us in similar circumstances. We are doing only our dutyno more; but how rich is the reward ! How many a tale or anecdote full of interest, how many a lesson of wisdom, is learnt by a duteous grandchild thus attending a feeble parent! For whilst the body decays the mind often increases in

power and strength, and acquires an extraordinary beauty.

“ The soul's dark cottage, battered and decayed,

Lets in new lights through chinks that time has made.”

Stronger by weakness wiser men become
As they draw near to their eternal home;
Leaving the old- both worlds at once they view,
That stand upon the threshold of the new.”

But supposing that the duties we pay to the aged are not in themselves sources of pleasure —that querulousness and infirmity make the sufferer impatient even of attention-will the girl who is imbued with the spirit of Christian courtesy therefore shrink from them? That

P

158

beautiful

Aud so, in

pun diteness,

strangers.

SOCIETY AT HOME AND ABROAD.

golden rule still exhorts her to "do as DESE of fulfIng her duty, she finds a rich reward.

done by;” and in the conscious

every situation in life, courtesy or pralised fra principle, and not merely to please

it is commonly termed), will be a

V here the former is the case, the absence of Slfishness cannot fail to be observed, even by

anders. Where cinlitt is exercised angers, and our own Dearest and Tot under its influence, we are very

ing acquired real politeness. Indeed, >W per accurately describes this state

een he says

only to st dearest are

far from han the poet a of things

"Our

And

<><>lished manners are a mask we wear,

at the bottom, barbarous still and rude, Łre restrained, indeed, but not subdued."

We

Perhaps complaini

nuch of the evil of which I am now

arises from an undue appreciation of the claims of society in comparison with those of four own family. Courtesy, like charity, ought

our home, though neither should end beit

too many young ladies keep their liest manners

and dresses together, only to be