Mrs. G.-Upon my word, Dr. Abbot, you have a very delicate and winning way of telling my son he is an honest boy.

Dr. A.-But so are all these young hearts, till taught to be otherwise. It was only recognizing a great principle that no one can be successful in deceit till he is practised in it: and even then, he must feel the conviction at length, that simple honesty would have answered his turn a great deal better. Simplicity is like the delicate flower, whose freshness, once lost, is lost for

ever.

Dr. B.-Aye, and how careful should we be to guard against every thing in the training of youth that would, in the least, tend to destroy it! "God made man upright; but he has sought out many inventions."

Wm. G.-A thought has struck me

Miss Julia.—Well, William, don't hesitate: let it strike the rest of us: I am sure it will not hurt any body. [This she said in a low voice.]

Wm. G.-You remember, father, when we were at the South, about Pompey, Colonel Brown's waiter. He went by the name of Colonel Pomp; because he represented the colonel so fully, in every look and action, in language and tone of voice. Now we know Col. Brown is a perfect model of a Southern gentleman: and when we saw him completely copied out in Pompey, do you remember what a laugh we all set up? it was so perfectly ludicrous.

Mr. G.-Yes, my son, and I see the argument to be drawn from it: but go on.

Wm. G.-Well, Sir, Pompey was but a poor simple

negro with him, it was all imitation: he was the shade of his master and such, I am inclined to think, is the case ever, where there is not a soul within to give character to the signs without; whether we imitate persons or pictures.

Dr. A.-Hence we trace the mock-oratory we so often meet with. Every distinguished speaker has his imitators. If he is the President of a college, attend a commencement: see how his copies are multiplied. If he has defects, see how they are magnified, as special beauties and, as for his excellencies, you may look in vain to find them: still you may see the President in all who speak; except a few distinguished ones, whose genius and self-respect never suffer them to yield up their personal identity for any thing. Conform, if you so mind, to strict etiquette in dress and address, in pronunciation and style of language; but be natural: be yourself—yourself, the only safe model in the whole world. You look different; you laugh, cry, speak, and move in a manner different from all others; and so you should still you may be sensible, easy and graceful, without any marked peculiarity, or close conformity to a known pattern. Nature abhors monotony no less than she does a vacuum: she delights in ever-changing variety and so she spreads out to our admiring gaze a world of beauty.

Dr. B.—I would not say, Dr. Abbot, "Much learning hath made thee mad"; but, on the contrary, much study of nature hath made thee truly eloquent in her

cause.

Dr. A.-And what is that but the cause of truth?

yours is the text-book to make men wise: and though we all draw from it as the fountain of light, to you is assigned the special office to expound and to enforce it, as God's ambassador. With one hand on the volume of inspiration, and with the other pointing to the volume of nature, what can hinder from becoming eloquent and wise, even unto salvation"?

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Mrs. G.-Yes, truly; and you, in the school-room, draw from both the sources of which you now speak: and this is the mighty secret of your power as a successful educator.

Dr. A.-Such, no doubt, is the fact, so far as I may flatter myself that I am one.-I would ask Master Gordon something more about the Chironomia.

Wm. G.-Indeed, Sir, you have settled for me that, and every thing else about diagrams. I go for nature, as my father says of common sense; and I begin to suspect it is not the very best way to study her through means furnished by the scale and dividers, or the pencil and brush, when her broad field lies outspread before us. Dr. A.-Just the result I anticipated: but that work is full of important matter.

Wm. G.-Yes, Sir, but the principles had become familiar from your easier and more practical mode of imparting them. I was struck with the similarity of the directions you had repeatedly given us: he says the gracefulness of motion consists in the facility and security with which it is executed; and the grace of any position consists in the facility with which it can be varied. In the standing figure, the position is graceful when the weight of the body is principally supported on

one leg, while the other is so placed as to be ready to relieve it promptly, and without effort. The foot which sustains the principal weight must be so placed, that a perpendicular line let fall from the pit of the neck, shall pass through the heel of that foot. Of course, the centre of gravity of the body is, for the time, in that line ; whilst the other foot assists merely for the purpose of keeping the body balanced in the position, and of preventing it from tottering. In every position of the feet, we must take care that the grace at which we aim, shall be attended with simplicity. But I am becoming prolix.

Dr. B.-No, no; Master William, go on, if you please, we are much interested.

treme.

Wm. G.-The position of the orator is equally removed from the awkwardness of the rustic, with toes turned in, and knees bent, and the affectation of the dancing-master, whose position runs to the opposite exThe toes are to be moderately turned outward, but not constrained; the limbs so disposed as to support the body with ease, and admit of flowing and graceful movement. The sustaining foot is to be planted firmly; the leg braced, but not contracted; the other foot and limb pressed lightly, and held relaxed, so as to be ready for immediate change and action. In changing the positions of the feet, the motions are to be made with the utmost simplicity, and free from the parade and sweep of dancing. The speaker must advance, retire or change almost imperceptibly; and it is particularly remarked that changes should not be too frequent. Frequent changes show anxiety or instability, and always produce unfavorable impressions.

Dr. A.-All this is very good; and you have read it to good purpose: but what would you think of descriptions like these from the "Art of Speaking," which I treasured up as real oracles? "Mirth or laughter

opens the mouth, crisps the nose, lessens the aperture of the eyes, and shakes the whole frame."—"Love lights up a smile upon the countenance; the forehead is smoothed, the eyebrows arched, the mouth a little open. and smiling, the eyes languishing, the countenance assumes an eager, wishful look, mixed with an air of satisfaction."

Now how much more easily and naturally, do you think, one could laugh or express love, after than before such instructions? When either emotion is felt, nature is always faithful to give it expression; when it is not, who wants to be taught to practise the disguise, any more than to tell an untruth, or to practise with success any other deception ?

Mrs. G.—I have often wished to get your opinion upon the education of our daughters; what course in elocution would you recommend to them?

Dr. A.-Excuse me there, if you please; I lack the experience to give a sound opinion. My little kingdom, you know, embraces only male subjects. What course does Miss Julia pursue?

Mrs. G.-Julia, tell the Doctor.

Julia.—I think ours is very similar to the course William is upon. We use the same book. We used to have the "Female Reader" and "Young Ladies' Companion"; but Mrs. Smith says there is no gender to intellect. We go through with one reading lesson