self-possession that should have been theirs by birthright.

[Illustration: SUNSHINE AT HOME.]

Children are naturally imitative, hence the value of example over
precept. The children of courteous parents will imbibe courtesy as
naturally and unconsciously as the growing plant absorbs oxygen from
the air and sunlight that bathes its leaves and petals.

Softly modulated tones should mark the words spoken to a child, and
reproof carries an added weight when lowered tones convey the rebuke.
Even a baby before it can speak recognizes shades of meaning in the
tones the mother utters, and is soothed by the one and startled by the
other.

Kindliness, politeness of the parents one towards another, are the
first steps toward training children in the acquirement of good
manners. Gentleness and sweetness of manner can be taught at the
cradle far more surely than from the school-room desk, and when baby
has learned to preface its little wants with "please," and Master Four
Years-old to run and open the door for mamma, or mamma's visitors, or
to give up the easiest chair without being asked, the firm foundation
has been laid for courteous behavior in after life.

And so on, all through the school years, boys and girls may be so
taught to respect one another's possessions, letters, feelings, and to
discriminate closely between _meum_ and _tuum_ after such wise that
they will be made better husbands, better wives, better citizens, for
all their days.

Slang and Exaggerations.

By our own speech it is that we are sure to be judged, for,--

"'Tis only man can words create,
And cut the air to sounds articulate
By nature's special charter. Nay, speech can
Make a shrewd discrepance 'twixt man and man.
It doth the gentleman from the clown discover;
And from a fool the great philosopher.
As Solon said to one in judgment weak:--
'I thought thee wise until I heard thee speak.'"

And if we talk with flippancy and exaggeration, load our sentences
with slang phrases, and preface and punctuate them with oft-repeated
expressions of "Say!" "Well!" "You know," "Do tell," and so on, _ad
infinitum_, all wisdom, or propriety of speech will be lost.

It is difficult to believe in the refinement of a girl who permits her
fresh young lips to utter the slang of the bar-room hanger-on, the
gambler and the street gamin.

Equally difficult is it to believe in the absolute truthfulness of one
who declares to yo