son is a man of talent and education, but as I turned to look
at him, in the course of conversation, I observed a habit which so
disgusted me, that it was with an effort I could finish my tea.

This circumstance impressed on my mind the importance of forming
correct habits in boyhood. "The child is father of the man,"
Wordsworth says in one of his poems. The habits and character you form
now will, in all probability, be the habits and character you will
retain when you are a man. I suppose the individual to whom I have
alluded was entirely unconscious of doing any thing disagreeable. If
not, perhaps he did not consider it of much consequence. He may have
grown up with the opinion that little things are of small importance.
Now, that this is not always so, you may easily see if you drop a
spark of fire in a pile of shavings: the whole will be immediately in
flames, and will do as much injury as if it had been kindled by a
large coal.

Our happiness depends quite as much on little things as on great.
Small trials are as difficult to bear as any. People often lose their
patience when a dress is torn, or a pitcher broken, who would be quiet
and calm if some serious misfortune had befallen them.

I hope, boys, you intend to be gentlemen. I do not mean fops and
dandies, but true gentlemen. You have perhaps seen the remark made,
that "dress does not make the man, but after he is made, he looks
better dressed up." Neither do gentlemanly habits and manners make the
man, but they certainly improve him after he is made, and render him
agreeable and prepossessing.

A farmer, or a cabinet-maker, or a blacksmith, are no less gentlemen
because they are engaged in these useful and honourable employments,
than are judges, or merchants, or ministers. To be a gentleman is to
be a man of gentle manners; and who would not desire to be
distinguished for such a trait?

If you intend to be gentlemen, you must begin now, by always
conducting, under all circumstances, just as well as you know how.
Some of you, I suppose, have better advantages of society, and more
careful instruction at home, than others; but no boy of intelligence
need fail to be a gentleman if he tries.

A true gentleman is always courteous. He answers respectfully when
spoken to--no matter by whom. Do you remember the anecdote of General
Washington, who raised his hat and bowed politely to a coloured man he
met, who had previously saluted him with the usual civility of