To summon smiles, or mould a tear
To pray, rebuke, or preach,-

Thus life and death within the spell
Of living words reside,

And blest are they, who wield them well,
Remembering Him who "sighed !"

-ROBERT MONTGOMERY.

Speak gently-it is better far
To rule by love than fear;

Speak gently-let not harsh words mar
The good we might do here.

Speak gently-love should whisper low,
To friends, when faults we find;
Gently let truthful accents flow,
Affection's voice is kind,

Will have enough to bear;

Pass through this life as best they may,

"Tis full of anxious care.

Speak gently to the aged one,

Grieve not the care-worn heart;
The sands of life are nearly run ;
Let such in peace depart.

Speak gently, kindly to the poor
Let no harsh tone be heard;

They have enough they must endure,
Without an unkind word.

Speak gently to the erring-know

That thou art also man;

Perchance unkindness drove them so

O win them back again.

Speak gently-for 'tis like the Lord,
Whose accents, meek and mild,
Bespoke Him as the Son of God,
The gracious, holy child.

"TEMPERANCE RECITER. "

SILENCE.

Remember that valuable as is the gift of speech,

the gift of silence is often more valuable.

How shall the praise of silence best be told?
To speak is silver, to hold peace is gold.

-TRENCH.

Keep your mouth shut, and your eyes open.

-OLD ITALIAN PROVERB.

Things unsaid have sometimes a greater effect than said.

Better that silence be kept than that a word be spoken which is untrue.

Silence is the happiest course a man can take who

is diffident of himself.

-ROCHEFOUCAuld.

The tree of silence bears the fruit of peace.

-ARABIC PROVERB.

Zeno, of all virtues, made his choice of silence.

Upon the whole matter if people would observe the obvious occasions of silence, if they would subdue the inclination to tale-bearing, and that eager desire to engage attention, which is an original disease in some minds, they would be in little danger of offending with their tongue, and would in a moral and religious sense have due government over it.

-BISHOP BUTLER.

What can you not name without breaking it?

Ans.

Silence.

REPLY OF THE PERSIAN PRIME MINISTER.

A body of Indian sages were once discussing the excellencies of Buzurjmihr (Prime Minister of a King of Persia), and after all could speak of no fault but this, to wit, that he was slow of speech, that is, delayed long, and his hearers had to wait a long time before he brought out his words. Buzurjmihr heard (this) and said, "It is better to reflect on what I shall say than to suffer remorse for what I have said." -SADI'S GULISTAN.*

• Translated by Platts.

THE GRECIAN PHILOSOPHER AND THE

AMBASSADOR. 4

When many Grecian philosophers had a solemn meeting before the ambassador of a foreign prince, each endeavoured to show his parts by the brilliancy of his conversation, that the ambassador might have something to relate of the Grecian wisdom. One of them, offended no doubt, at the loquacity of his companions, observed a profound silence; when the ambassador, turning to him, asked, "But what have you to say, that I may report it?" He made this laconic, but very pointed reply, "Tell your King that you have found one among the Greeks who knew how to be silent."

152. THE TRAVELLER (foolish).

THE FOOLISH TRAVELLER.

There was a prince of high degree,

As great and good as prince could be;

Much power and wealth were in his hand,

With lands and lordships at command.

One son, a favourite son, he had,
An idle, thoughtless kind of lad;
Whom, spite of all his follies passed,
He meant to make his heir at last.

The son escaped to foreign lands,
And broke his gracious sire's commands;
Far, as he fancied, from his sight,
In each low joy he took delight.

The youth, detesting peace and quiet,
Indulged in vice, expense, and riot;
Of each wild pleasure rashly tasted,
Till health declined and substance wasted.

The tender sire, to pity prone,
Promised to pardon what was done;
And, would he certain terms fulfil,
He should receive a kingdom still.

The youth the pardon little minded,
So much his sottish soul was blinded;

But though he mourned no past transgression,
He liked the future rich possession.