CONSCIENCE.

CONSCIENCE! Mother,-what

do people mean by that?" said Kate, who had just heard the word mentioned.

Her mother waited a short time before she replied, as she was not quite sure that Kate cared much about her answer; for she was like many others of her age, who frequently ask questions for the sake of asking them, and when

that is the case, the less notice is taken the better; for it is tiresome and useless to employ time and thought in explaining that which people do not wish to understand. Her mother could generally tell by Kate's manner, whether she asked a question idly, or otherwise; and usually framed her answer accordingly; but occasionally, even in these idle, listless moods, she would put a question, the proper answer to which was of too much importance to be withheld, if there appeared any chance of gaining her attention.

"My dear Kate," said her mo

ther, at length, "I am afraid if I answer you, you will not attend to me."

66 yes, indeed I will, mother,"

said Kate.

"If so," said her mother, "I have no objection to talk to you :— but surely, Kate, as you are not a very little girl, you must know what conscience is."

"Sometimes I think that I do, mother; but then I hear things said about it that make me think it is some wonderful thing."

"It is indeed a wonderful thing; for it is something that talks to people when they are alone."

"Dear, mother! how can that be? that is almost like one of the tales in the fairy book, that you told me not to read."

"It is not at all like it, Kate, for it is quite true."

"But what does it talk about, mother?"

"About what people have done, and what they are going to do; about what they ought, and what they ought not to do.”

"Dear! I wish it would talk to me?"

"Very few people like much to hear it talk," said her mother, "for it tells them what they do

not wish to hear, and reminds them of things they would like to forget. Besides, it talks to people when they are in company, as well as when they are alone: it often speaks at the same time they are speaking, which in general is not pleasant; and what is worse still, it very often flatly contradicts them; and when a person says, I am sure I did not do that,' it frequently says, 'Ah! but you did :'-which is very disagreeable and troublesome; for though it speaks so that nobody else can. hear, it often turns the face of a particular colour, so that other