daily practice of prayer. "Bene precasse est bene studuisse," according to a great master in study In the morning ask the blessing of God upon your studies, that he who created the mind, and has his finger upon it every moment, would keep it sound and clear, and instruct it; that he would give you a disposition to spend all your time in his fear, and to improve it for him. In the evening, recall the day, and the hours, and see wherein you have come short of duty, and what you have this day done, or omitted doing, which the conscience, quickened by prayer, tells you should have been done. Alas! how many have squandered this precious gift, and then, when they came to lie on the bed of death, have reproached themselves with a keenness of rebuke, which language was too poor to convey! A mighty queen, on her dying bed, is said to have cried out, "Millions of money for one inch of time!" How many such inches had she thrown away? The piercing cry came too late. Oh," said one, as he lay dying, "call back time again: if you can call back time again, then there may be hope for me; but time is gone!"

CHAPTER VI.

ON CONVERSATION.

"WHAT a delightful evening we have spent!" said a student to his companion, as they were returning home from a visit during vacation.

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'Yes, I do not know that I ever spent one more agreeably; and yet I cannot tell exactly what it was that rendered it so agreeable. The circle all seemed to be happy, and parted so; but, for myself, I was so taken up with the conversation of that stranger, that I took little notice of what the rest were doing."

"That was precisely my own case. Without seeming to know it, he possesses uncommon powers of conversation."

And this was the whole secret of the pleasures of the evening, that there was one in the circle, who, by his qualities of mind and heart, was fitted to instruct and please by his conversation.

There are few things more neglected than the cultivation of what we denominate conversational powers; and yet few which can be more subservient to affording pleasure and advantage. The man who knows precisely how to converse, has an instrument in his possession with which he can do great good, and which will make him welcome in all circles.

Take notice, as you are introduced to a

stranger. In a short time, you find he is interesting. You are in a coach; you hear him, and forget the time, and are surprised at the rapidity with which you approach the place at which you must part. What makes him so interesting? It is his powers of conversation.

The advantages of this mode of communicating ideas need not be dwelt upon here. It is the method devised by the infinite Creator for the happiness of man, in all circumstances. It is the most perfect way of giving and receiving instruction. It is simple, as are all his works. Speech, between man and man, is the universal medium of transmitting thought, and it is, by far, the best that can be devised. We now wish to know how we may best cultivate and use this faculty. Every one feels the importance of this knowledge. If you have a friend whom you wish to warn, or upon whose mind you wish to make a deep impression, you know the most perfect way of doing it, is with your tongue. You first think over his situation, his prospects and dangers; you think over all his temptations, what apologies can reasonably be offered, and what he will probably offer for him self; you then think of the motives with which to impress him. You then go to him; you try, by tones and voice, to convince him that you are his friend; you tell him your fears in language chosen and tender, and then you pour out your heart upon him, just as you had planned beforehand. You are perfectly aware that you have used the best and most appropriate means in your power, when you have exhausted your powers of persuasion in conversation. If you cannot reach his heart and conscience in this way, you despair of doing it.

If you wish for information on a particular subject, and there is a book which has it all drawn out on paper, and there is also a friend who perfectly understands it, why do you go to that friend and hear him converse, rather than to the book? Because you know that the latter method is not the most interesting and easy way of obtaining information. You can ask for light on particular points; you can state your objections; you can compare what he says with what you already know; you can soon know all that your informer knows.

Make it a matter of study, then, to understand this subject, and not merely try to free yourself from faults, but to make it an accomplishment, a part of your education. There is scarcely any way by which you can gain a stronger hold upon the circles in which you may move, or in which you may do more good. In conversation, all are entitled to carry away and appropriate to themselves as much as they can; and there is a vast quantity of thought and information afloat upon the great mass of intelligent mind, which never has been, and never will be committed to paper.

This constant, direct contact of mind with mind, tends to soften and refine the feelings; so that, when you hear it said of a man, that he keeps the best company, you presume that he is a man of refinement and politeness. The language which he has been accustomed to use bas, at least, the appearance of conveying refined thought and feeling, and we insensibly conform our feelings to the dress in which we clothe them. There are two dangers to which people in cities, and others who are similarly situated, may be exposed: the one is, that of using the language of kindness and refinement till it be

comes a habit, when they do not feel it; and thus make dupes of others, and soon make dupes of themselves. Hypocrisy may be practised till it no longer seems a borrowed character. At any rate, there is danger that, when the forms are greatly studied, the heart, under those forms, is seldom exercised. The other danger is, that the information gathered from conversation alone, may be incorrect, and yet be esteemed of good authority. No information thus acquired can be relied upon. Books are the only correct reporters of facts; and even they will sometimes invent facts, and imagine history. A man who relies solely upon conversation and society for stocking his mind, will be a very ready man, but a very inaccurate man. He can amuse you, he can interest you, he can give you new views of things; but you cannot rely upon the soundness of his judgment.

The student has an immense advantage over all other classes of the community; for he can unite the two most perfect and desirable methods of gaining information-the accuracy and pro found thoughts which can be found only in books, and the general information concerning men and things, which conversation and society will bestow. Consequently, under certain restrictions, it becomes as really his duty to improve by conversation as by books. But as conversation is a kind of commerce, towards which every person ought to pay his share, you act against all honourable rules of commerce, if you are not prepared to furnish your quota. If you would draw out facts and information, and elicit mental effort from others, which may be useful to you, it is certainly your duty to cultivate your talents and powers, so that they may, in turn,