by one who saw it, I could hardly have believed that a dog would have done such a thing; but you shall be told all about it.

Little Tommy is five years old, and is not so strong on his feet as some children of his age are. Well, he was playing half an hour ago with Pompey, who, though

a large dog, is not at all rough with him, but treats him as if it knew that a little thing would knock him down.

Tommy, after playing for some time with Pompey, in a merry mood had climbed up three steps of the horse-block at the door, when Pompey, who had leaped on the top of the horse block, happened to push against him; down fell poor little Tommy,

sadly dirtying his clothes, and, what was still worse, making his nose bleed.

No sooner did Tommy fall, than Pompey, as if sorry for what he had done, laid hold of his sleeve gently, and helped to pull him up from the ground. As Tommy walked to the door, crying, Pompey walked with him every step of the road, holding him up by the sleeve. It was very kind of Pompey, and I certainly do like him a great deal better than I did before.

This may appear a strange story, but, strange as it is, it is true; and as I love dumb animals to be treated kindly, I relate it, that you may think well of them, and act well to them. We should be kind to God's creatures, and I am determined to be so to Pompey.

LEARNING TO CONVERSE.

CHAPTER VIII.

"LET me see, Edmund! I think we spoke of languages the last time we were together."

"We did, uncle; and you made me wiser than I was before. You tell me something fresh every time we talk together."

A thought strikes me, that, perhaps, may be made useful.

When a workman

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begins an undertaking, he considers it proper to see that his tools are in order. The mower whets his scythe, the reaper his sickle, the woodman sharpens his ахе, the carpenter his saw; and if you had only to write a page in your copy book, and wished to do it well, most likely you would mend your pen before you set about it."

Yes, that I should; and take care that it was nicely mended too."

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'Well, then, if in other undertakings it is necessary to make preparation, and to pay attention to your tools, it seems only reasonable that in learning to converse you should do the same.'

"But there are no tools used in learning to converse."

"No tools! No instruments of any kind! Think again."

"What can you mean, uncle? Oh, perhaps you call a book, a tool or an instrument. Is it a book that you mean?"

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Certainly not."

"Then I cannot tell what it is, I am sure. People can never use scythes and sickles, axes and saws, in learning to con verse. If I had brought an axe or a saw in my hand, you would, I dare say, have asked me whether I was going to cut down a tree, or to saw a piece of timber."

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Very likely; for I agree with you, in

thinking that such instruments are not the most fitting to help you in your understanding. There is, however, an instrument, and a very important one too, without whose assistance you cannot succeed; and it is of the utmost consequence to keep it in order. This instrument is the tongue, of which I have hardly yet spoken."

"The tongue! I quite forgot that. But tell me, uncle, how must I keep my tongue in order? I cannot sharpen it, nor alter it any how; for you know it is always the same."

"But if you cannot do any thing else to it, by looking up for Divine assistance you may be able to restrain it. The tongue, in conversing, may be likened to a horse when you go a journey. If the animal is properly broken in, if he be under management and control, he is of great service to you; but if the contrary, he is likely to do you great mischief. The other day, I heard of a horse which was so unruly, that he set off at full gallop, throwing his rider to the ground, and breaking three of his bones. Now, there is more mischief done by one unruly tongue, than by a dozen unruly horses. I hope you will not forget the psalmist's resolution, I will keep my

mouth with a bridle,' Psa. xxxix. 1; nor the admonition of the apostle James, 'If any man among you seem to be religious,

and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain,' James i. 26."

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I must know a little more about the tongue, I see."

The other day, in reading a book, I came to a piece called 'The Taming of Wild Creatures,' in which were the following remarks:-But though the tongue is untameable by man, it can easily be tamed by God. How wild, how fierce, how bitter, and how implacable an evil tongue is, may be gathered from the following texts: Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully,' Psa. lii. 2. Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit,' Psa. 1. 19. My soul is among lions and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword,' Psa. lvii. 4."

:

"I could fancy that you were talking of the most wicked thing in the world; but please to go on."

"What shall be done unto thee, thou false tongue?' Psa. cxx. 3. The froward tongue shall be cut out,' Prov. x. 31. The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things,' Psa. xii. 3. And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among