all courtesies and kindnesses which all
together make up what the world agrees to call good manners.

Regulate your hours of rising and retiring by the customs of the house.
Do not keep your friends sitting up until later than usual, and do not
be roaming about the house an hour or two before breakfast. If you
choose to rise at an early hour, remain in your own room until near
breakfast-time, unless you are very sure that your presence in the
parlor will not be unwelcome. Write in large letters, in a prominent
place in your mind, "BE PUNCTUAL." A visitor has no excuse for keeping a
whole family waiting, and it is unpardonable negligence not to be prompt
at the table. Here is a place to test good manners, and any
manifestation of ill-breeding here will be noticed and remembered. Do
not be too ready to express your likes and dislikes for the various
dishes before you. The wife of a certain United States Senator once
visiting acquaintances at some distance from her native wilds, made a
lasting impression upon the family by remarking at the breakfast-table
that "she should starve before she would eat mush," and that she "never
heard of cooking mutton before she came East."

If you are tempted to go to the other extreme, and sacrifice truth to
politeness, read Mrs. Opie's "Tale of Potted Sprats," and you will not
be likely to be insincere again.

It is well to remember that some things which seem of very little
importance to you may make an unpleasant impression upon others, in
consequence of a difference in early training. The other day two young
ladies were heard discussing a gentleman who had a great many pleasant
qualities. "Yes," said one, "he _is_ very handsome, but he _does_ eat
pie with his knife." Take care that no trifle of that kind is recalled
when people are speaking of you.

Keep your own room in order, and do not scatter your belongings all over
the house. If your friends are orderly, it will annoy them to see your
things out of place; and if they are not, their own disorder will be
enough without adding yours.

Make up your mind to be entertained with what is designed to entertain
you. If your friends invite you to join them in an excursion, express
your pleasure and readiness to go, and do not act as though you were
conferring a favor instead of receiving one. No visitors are so
wearisome as those who do not meet half way whatever proposals are made
for their pleasure. Be contented to amuse yourself qui