hound's mouth;" or, "It's the life o' an auld hat to be weel cocket;" or, "Silence is a fine jewel for a woman, but it's little worn."

Among uncultivated people popular maxims or sayings stand in the stead of education. By "little hoards of maxims" the cottier governs the realm under his humble roof-tree, as he was governed, and generations before him, stretching far away into the past. He has a proverbial philosophy, in which he believes as firmly as the shepherd in the superstitions that have been handed down to him with his crook. From the changes in the heavens, the instincts and habits of the animal world, the storm and calm of the mighty deep; from the splendours of Nature in the east, and from her melancholy grandeur in the north; from the days of the shepherd kings, observant, imaginative man has drawn purple robes for truths, and throned them in the hearts of his children. The proverbs of the Persians glow with the light of the east, and the Arabs are perfumed with the sweet of odours of Araby the Blessed. We find one truth, one axiom, one lesson of worldly prudence, with a fresh, becoming garb, in every part of the world. The Englishman's philosophy is not to stretch his arm out of his sleeve; the Persian's, not to put his feet beyond his carpet.

Prudence, hospitality, early rising, discretion in taking a wife, duty to parents, industry, sobriety, truth, thrift, reverence for old age, courage, and forethought, and the worship of God, are commended in every national prover

bial philosophy. Home is everywhere the place of honour and of safety. Far from home is near to harm" is the proverb that has currency in Friezland. The Scot says, "East or west, hame is best."

A household governed by accepted maxims would not be ill-governed. They should be all over the house, framed in conspicuous places. In the bed-rooms: "Go to bed with the lamb, and rise with the lark;" "Make the night night, and the day day, and you will live happily;" "Rise early, live soberly, and apply thyself with industry;

"He who lies long in bed, his estate feels it." In the morningroom should be maxims recommending early work, as "The morning has gold in its mouth; "A foul morn may turn to a fair day;" "He lives longest that is awake most hours; ""Plough or not plough, you must pay the rent;" and "Prayer should be the key of the day, and the lock of the night." There are maxims enough to fill the largest morning-room in the kingdom, from which the head of the house can choose for himself, but many will puzzle the wisest. For instance, "The first thing a poor gentleman calls for in the morning is a needle and thread."

Of proverbial philosophy for the kitchen there is a rich store. "All is soon ready in an orderly house," should be over the entrance. Within-"Butter to butter's nae kitchen;" "A fat kitchen makes a lean will;" "Have a place for everything, and everything in its place;" "That which will not make a pot may make a pot-lid." And thus, for the dining-room or par