If you chance to be slighted, or ungratefully treated by a friend, do not take it to heart. Consider that amidst the hurry and bustle of life, (intersected with so many pursuits, crossings and rival interests,) such incidents are to be expected.

Be

prepared to encounter them without passion or violence, as evils that are the common attendants on human life.

It is only the little mind that loses its own possession on every trifling provocation. A firm and proper spirit keeps within bounds, and preserves its serenity unmoved by the common disturbances of life.

Of what trivial consideration to your real happiness are many of those insignificant injuries which might hastily provoke your resentment.

Remember, though it is the lot of human nature to err, it is also the attribute of heaven to forgive.

You should never let a trifling affront deprive you of that blessing, a peaceful mind; the satisfaction of having acted justly, or the pleasing idea of being esteemed by your friends. Recollect how much comfort might be destroyed by those jealousies, feuds, and animosities, that so

often disturb the tranquillity of families.

The government and improvement of temper is not so difficult, as it is commonly imagined to be. There is a general opinion of most persons, that a good temper is a partial gift from nature, which no one can possess unless they are born with it.

It must be allowed, that some people seem formed from their birth to be the delight of human kind, whilst others appear to have brought into the world with them a disposition so unhappy, as to be incapable of amendment.

Endeavour to ascertain what particular defect in your temper you are most liable to give way to, and make it your constant study to avoid the

error.

You must be incessantly vigilant, or suffer every domestic enjoyment to be torn from your possession.

Avoid every occasion that is likely to excite the unruly defect in your temper, which is ever ready to shew itself.

Having duly discovered each other's particular imperfection, you will like

wise have observed what occurrences contribute most to produce them.

Whatever is most likely to provoke the irritability of your partner must be sedulously avoided, because it is your duty to give no offence to each other.

No small portion of the uneasiness which has too frequently embittered the married state, has arisen from mere trifles. Contemptible occurrences that are every day produced (more or less) must be watched and guarded against, to avoid the mischiefs they might produce. There are many things