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family festivals and the giving of family presents, in which the humblest domestic has her share. In the German and Swiss schools, too, the same kindly feeling is maintained; and assuredly nothing can be more gratifying to any teacher who really devotes her energies to her pupils, than a spontaneous and united acknowledgment of their regard for her. To each individual in a large school or family it costs little, but the gratification to all is no trifle. How often will the teacher's eye dwell on such a token of regard with affection and kindly feeling! How may it not cheer her in her arduous toil! How much goodwill may it not cherish between the teacher and the taught, not only at that time but for the rest of their lives !

I remember once being perfectly startled on paying a visit to a Parisian friend, who had long retired from business, at seeing the mantelpiece, and every available table, covered with bouquets, pots of flowers, and knicknackeries o every sort. It was her fête, and the presents came from some of her former workwomen. A lovely shawl was her husband's gift, a lace

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collar a sister's, and so on. I expressed my

. surprise and admiration to one of the young people who came in later in the day, with a kiss à la Française, and a bouquet. “Ah, madame, que voulez-vous ? C'est si peu de chose, mais madame etait si bonne ! si bonne ! Ce serait impossible de l'oublier."

This is one, but not by any means the only lesson our Gallic neighbours could teach us. They certainly understand the art of living happily better than we do; and they know how much the small courtesies of society contribute to happiness.

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An error which any girl who values her own happiness or that of others will avoid, is that of whispering to a companion, or appearing too absorbed in private conversation to attend to that of the general circle. The “loud laugh which speaks the vacant mind” is also one of the habits which a gentlewoman will shun. Do not, even in jest, repeat a vulgar speech or mimic grammatical inaccuracies; you will acquire unconsciously the very errors which you detect in others. Study to speak well, and to the

purpose; the accent of the voice proclaims the gentlewoman, even more than her toilette.

Try to break yourself of any inelegancies of movement, or tricks that may annoy others. Fidgeting with scissors or a key, balancing yourself backwards and forwards in a chair, grimacing, and many other things, are not only silly in themselves, but frequently the source of great annoyance to others. Imagine a lady in delicate health, suffering perhaps from some nervous complaint, being compelled, during a long journey, to sit opposite a girl who is tapping her toe on the floor all the time! Such suffering might even permanently affect her reason. We cannot doubt this, when we reflect that the most terrible torture of the Inquisition consisted of letting water fall, drop by drop, on the victim's head.

All noisy habits, such as walking heavily, banging doors, letting lids of trunks fall, and similar acts of carelessness, are wholly inconsistent with the character of a gentle-woman,

a word far more significant than that of lady. Quietness and repose of manner, free from affectation and self-seeking, are the elements of true politeness. “ Love thyself last,” says the poet, who knew more the beauties of the female character than any other human being; and a similar injunction is found in Holy Writ: “in honour preferring one another.”

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CHAP. X.

MORAL HONESTY.

“ This is, I suppose, a benevolent place enough; all your great miserable towns are."

“ Benevolent, but not just: very willing to give in charity ; very unwilling to pay an honest price for honest labour. No one would applaud the master if he paid those poor wretches of his enough to live on: whereas, when he gives £500 in one subscription, the air is deafened with shouts."

THE MELVILLES.

SHALL I offend for ever some of my young friends by repeating to them a caution I once heard an excellent old lady give to a beloved and only daughter? « Above all, my child, be always honest; remember that to do justice'

; is a command which comes before that other, and more favourite one, to‘love mercy.'

I dare say my countenance showed some of the astonishment I felt at hearing the mother of a most excellent and admirable girl caution