ithout keeping her faculties always on the stretch to say _good
things_. Nay, if reputation alone be her object, she will gain a more
solid one by her forbearance, as the wiser part of her acquaintance will
ascribe it to the right motive, which is, not that she has less wit, but
that she has more judgment.

THE fatal fondness for indulging a spirit of ridicule, and the injurious
and irreparable consequences which sometimes attend the _too prompt
reply_, can never be too seriously or too severely condemned. Not to
offend, is the first step towards pleasing. To give pain is as much an
offence against humanity, as against good breeding; and surely it is as
well to abstain from an action because it is sinful, as because it is
impolite. In company, young ladies would do well before they speak, to
reflect, if what they are going to say may not distress some worthy
person present, by wounding them in their persons, families, connexions,
or religious opinions. If they find it will touch them in either of
these, I should advise them to suspect, that what they were going to say
is not so _very_ good a thing as they at first imagined. Nay, if even it
was one of those bright ideas, which _Venus has imbued with a fifth part
of her nectar_, so much greater will be their merit in suppressing it,
if there was a probability it might offend. Indeed, if they have the
temper and prudence to make such a previous reflection, they will be
more richly rewarded by their own inward triumph, at having suppressed
a lively but severe remark, than they could have been with the
dissembled applauses of the whole company, who, with that complaisant
deceit, which good breeding too much authorises, affect openly to admire
what they secretly resolve never to forgive.

I HAVE always been delighted with the story of the little girl's
eloquence, in one of the Children's Tales, who received from a friendly
fairy the gift, that at every word she uttered, pinks, roses, diamonds,
and pearls, should drop from her mouth. The hidden moral appears to be
this, that it was the sweetness of her temper which produced this pretty
fanciful effect: for when her malicious sister desired the same gift
from the good-natured tiny Intelligence, the venom of her own heart
converted it into poisonous and loathsome reptiles.

A MAN of sense and breeding will sometimes join in the laugh, which has
been raised at his expence by an ill-natured repartee; but if it was
very cutting,