June 3

“In speaking of the duty of pleasing others, it will not be necessary to dwell on the ordinary courtesies and lesser kindnesses of our daily living, any further than to observe that none of these things, however trifling, is beneath the notice of a good man, . . . but I mention one thing, because I think that we are most of us apt to be rather deficient in it, and that is in the trying to suit ourselves to the tastes and views of people whose professions or inclinations, or situation in life, differ widely from our own. . . . As a general rule, no man can fall into conversation with another without being able to learn something valuable from him. But in order to get at this benefit there must be something of an accommodating spirit on both sides; each must be ready to hear candidly and to answer fairly; each must try to please the other. We all suffer from the want of acquaintance with the habits and opinions and feelings of different classes of society.”

Dr. ARNOLD

“The wish to speak to the want of another mind assists to clear your own.”

EMERSON

June 2

“Not only to say the right thing in the right place, but, far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.”

SALA

“The ordinary recreation of ordinary persons very much resolves itself into conversation with friends or casual acquaintance; and there can be no doubt that, by taking a little pains with it, directing it into interesting channels, and by unselfish efforts to make it vivacious, conversation may be made to brighten the mind very considerably, and to relieve the pressure of the burden of life.”

GOULBURN

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be always acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.”

Ps. xix. 14, 15

June 1

“I am not one who much or oft delight
To season my fireside with personal talk, -
Of friends who live within an easy walk,
Or neighbours daily, weekly, in my sight:
. . . . . .
Better than such discourse doth silence, long,
Long, barren silence, square with my desire;
. . . . and books we know,
Are a substantial world both pure and good;
Round these, with tendrils strong as flesh and blood,
Our pastime and our happiness will grow.
There do I find a never-failing store
Of personal themes, and such as I love best;
. . . . for thus I live remote
From evil-speaking; rancour, never sought,
Comes to me not; malignant truth, or lie.
Hence have I genial seasons, hence have I
Smooth passions, smooth discourse, and joyous thought.”

WORDSWORTH

"When with dear friends sweet talk I hold,
And all the flowers of life unfold;
Let not my heart within me burn,
Except in all I Thee discern.”

KEBLE

May 31

“Do not flatter yourself that your thoughts are under due control, your desires properly regulated, or your dispositions subject as they should be to Christian principle, if your intercourse with others consists mainly of frivolous gossip, impertinent anecdotes, speculations on the character of your neighbours, the repetition of former conversations, or a discussion of the current petty scandal of society; much less, if you allow yourself in careless exaggeration on all these points, and that grievous inattention to exact truth, which is apt to attend the statements of those whose conversation is made up of those materials.”

H. WARE, Junr.

“Let us all resolve: - First, to attain the grace of silence; Second, to deem all fault-finding that does no good a sin, and to resolve, when we are happy ourselves, not to poison the atmosphere for our neighbours, by calling on them to remark every painful and disagreeable feature of their daily life; Third, to practise the grace and virtue of praise.”

Mrs H. B. STOWE