and biographies, and travels. That all comes very easy; that is amusement. Mother. Are you sure that, while reading books for amusement, you are really laying up much knowledge that will be useful? Do you ever stop to reflect upon what you read? or is it all jumbled together in your mind? Have you never made strange blunders in talking about the very books you have read? Charles. Yes, I must own that I have; and I have sometimes felt sadly mortified at it. Mother. That is only one of the evils to which you will be exposed by being superficial. Be assured, you cannot get along even respectably, in wellinformed society, without disciplining your mind to habits of attention and reflection; and one great advantage of youthful study is, that it does so discipline the mind. Charles. You and father talk about "disciplining the mind," and tell me to leave off this habit of thinking and that habit of not thinking, just as you would tell me to leave off twirling this button on my jacket! Mother. And do you not understand what we mean? Charles. O yes, I see the sense of it. Mother. And do you not think that, with perseverance, you can accomplish what we wish? You do not mean to tell us that you cannot manage your own mind? Charles. No, mother; but it is so hard! And to go back to this matter of study; when I talked to sister Ellen about it, yesterday, she said that if I did not study, I could never succeed in any trade or profession when I became a man. Now, why need I have a trade or profession? Mother. What would you like to be? Mother. An idle gentleman? Charles. No, not an idle one. I should like to pass my time in reading and accomplishments. Mother. What accomplishments do you mean? Charles. Music and drawing. Is not that what people mean by accomplishments? Mother. But are you not aware that it requires study and close attention to master these little matters of music and drawing, particularly for those who have not an uncommon taste for them? Charles. Does it? Well, then I would let the music and drawing alone. I dare say I should find some way of passing my time. Mother. My son, I fear you would indeed, if we would cruelly permit you to enter on life devoid of some of its best resources against the temptations that beset the idle. A young man, in the situation which you have just described, would be almost certain to seek occupation and excitement in dissipation and vice. The strongest religious principles might save him, but the conflict would be terriblethe result doubtful; and I cannot think of the danger without tears. LESSON XXXII. CONSONANT SOUNDS IN COMBINATION. zd as in blaz'd, gaz'd, prais'd, rais'd. zl as in dazzle, drizzle, muzzle, puzzle. zld as in dazzl'd, drizzl'd, muzzl'd, puzzl'd. zlz as in dazzles, drizzles, muzzles, puzzles. Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, The same, concluded. Charles. DEAR mother, you do not think I shall ever be a wicked man, do you? Mother. I cannot tell. I cannot bear to think of it. We will talk of another part of the subject; for it is very necessary that I should. All this while, you have said nothing of the way in which you are to be supported in the easy life you propose. Charles. Supported? Why, my fortune will support me. Mother. Your fortune? Where is it? Charles. Ah, I have none now; but then there is father so rich, and only Ellen and myself. Of course, he will not leave his money to any body else; will he? Mother. How can you be sure that he will have any to leave? You should not forget the passage of Scripture"Riches take to themselves wings." Ought you not to be prepared with some way of supporting yourself, supposing that text should be verified in your case? Charles. But, somehow or other, I do not believe it will be. Mother. That is a blind, boyish belief to rest upon. How do you know that your father is now rich ? Charles. Why, all the boys in school say he is one of the richest men in the city. And then, mother, have we not always lived like rich people? Mother. That may be a sign that we always have been rich, but not that we shall be, not that we are so now, Charles. Charles. I do not understand you, mother. Mother. I must make you comprehend me, my dear boy. Your father told me I must talk with you to-day, and I intended to wait till you returned, at night; but this is a better opportunity. Have you not seen that your father has been more taken up with his business than usual, for some weeks past? Have you not observed that he was very thoughtful? Charles. Yes, mother; at least I did after Ellen mentioned it to me, for she observes more than I do. What is the matter? Mother. Your father will fail to-morrow, Charles. Charles. Fail! and what is failing, mother? hear people talk about failing, and say, "Such a man has failed," and I know it is something bad; but what is it? Mother. It is when a man owes more money than he can pay, and gives up all his property to be divided among his creditors. Charles. And is that what has happened to father? And will he give up every thing he has in the world? That is very bad. Mother. Certainly. He would not willingly have any man lose a cent of money on his account. Would you wish that he should wrong those who have trusted him? Charles. O no! I should rather study from morning till night; if that would do any good. Mother. You perceive, Charles, that it will be necessary for you to discipline your mind into right habits of attention, for you will have to support yourself, at least. It is even possible that your parents, in their old age, may require some assistance from you. Your father can hardly hope to acquire even a moderate fortune again, before he will be an old man. Charles. O mother! it makes my heart ache to think of all this; for I do not seem to understand yet that it is really so, though I try with all my might And Charles. Yes, that is the word I was after. what did you do, when father told you about it, mother? Did you not cry? Mother. I did, when I was alone, Charles; for I have lived in this house ever since I was married, and |