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V. Try to speak distinctly. To do this you must cultivate the habit of opening your mouth so that the words may come out freely. Avoid very carefully the bad habit of mumbling, as if you had something in your mouth. Carefully practise and read over every word, so that you may pronounce it clearly and distinctly, and not in the sing-song style so often to be noticed in those who have not given proper attention to these points.

VI. Mind the letter H. If you have any doubt about the necessity of doing this, read over now and then the following: The Horse-The Ass-The House-The Hour-The Harp-The Herb-The Home-The Ape-The Heart-The Art-The Happy -The Easy. Only fancy what a mistake it is to hear anyone saying that he "left 'is master's 'ouse to go 'ome and found it very 'ard work to get the 'orse to go."

VII. Mind your stops. Wherever you see a (,) it means that you should stop while you can count one; wherever you see (;) while you count two-and where (:) while you count three-a full stop () counts four. Nor is this all. You will frequently find, when you enter fully into the meaning of the words, that great effect can be produced by a pause in certain parts. To gabble on without paying attention to the stops is like playing music without giving proper care to the kind of notes. If you neglect these stops you may give altogether another meaning to the words you are reciting, or, perhaps, what is worse, take away the meaning altogether.

VIII. Study the tone of your voice. If you have to give a serious piece like that on p. 31

"Thou art gone to the grave, but we will not deplore thee, Though sorrow and darkness encompass the tomb," &c.,

you will see that it ought to be delivered in a very different tone to the lively piece, like that on p. 65

"There was one little Jem,

'Twas reported of him," &c.

And so again of the bold piece, on p. 73

"The curling waves, with awful roar,
A gallant bark assailed," &c.

And so of all the other pieces. If you try to fully understand what you wish to say, you will of necessity feel that, to be in harmony with the words, the tone of your voice must vary with the subject.

IX. Avoid a rapid delivery. As a rule you may be quite sure that if you are to be understood this will be absolutely

xii

needful. By far the greater portion of an audience can only take in what you say very slowly, and if you do not give them time to do so, they will neither understand what you say nor admire your efforts. Some portions, of course, will require energy and quickness, but even these need not be gabbled over as if you were trying to keep pace with an express train.

X. Before appearing in public, read or recite over your piece to some judicious friend in private. Ask him to be candid, and tell you where you either make a mistake in the way you pronounce the word, or place the emphasis on the wrong sentence, and do not be offended if he tells you frankly your faults; but go and practise until you overcome them.

XI. Be careful about your position. As a regular habit, you should study to stand erect; to keep the head up, the shoulders well back, the arms in an easy position, and your hands out of pockets; and avoid anything which looks like shuffling about either with your feet or hands.

XII. Notice the remarks at the head of each piece. These will give a general idea whether it should be with "vigour,” “bold," "serious," "cheerful," or 66 pathetic." Also note that if a passage in the piece is to be given SOFTLY, it is printed with italic letters; if with FORCE, or LOUDER, CAPITAL letters are given. Where no special alteration in the type is made, you must be guided by the character of the piece and the intention of the writer. If these things be done, and the rules above also carefully considered, you will be able to become efficient and useful, and find you have not laboured in vain.

JOHN W. KIRTON.

P.S.-I tender my hearty thanks for the kindness with which my applications to use copyright pieces have been so uniformly responded to. If in any case I have overlooked any, through culling from American sources, I trust it will be dealt with leniently, inasmuch as it is not easy to avoid overlooking some in this way. I hope the book will be useful to our Sunday School workers, and if it is so I shall feel rewarded.

THE BIBLE.

THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE.

[With very great care-boldly.]

In Genesis the world is made by God's creative hand;
In Exodus the Hebrews march to gain the promised land;
Leviticus contains the Law, holy, and just, and good;
Numbers records the tribes enrolled, all sons of Abraham's blood.
Moses, in Deuteronomy, records God's mighty deeds;
Brave Joshua into Canaan's land the hosts of Israel leads;
In Judges their rebellion oft provokes the Lord to smite;
But Ruth records the faith of one well pleasing in His sight.
In First and Second Samuel of Jesse's son we read;
Ten tribes in First and Second Kings revolted from his seed;
The First and Second Chronicles see Judah captive made;
But Ezra leads a remnant back by princely Cyrus' aid.
The city walls of Zion Nehemiah builds again,

While Esther saves her people from the plots of wicked men.
In Job we read how faith will live beneath affliction's rod;
And David's Psalms are precious songs to every child of God.
The Proverbs like a goodly string of choicest pearls appear;
Ecclesiastes teaches men how vain are all things here;
The mystic Song of Solomon exhalts sweet Sharon's Rose,
While Christ the Saviour and the King "rapt Isaiah" shows.
The warning Jeremiah, apostate Israel scorns,

His plaintive Lamentations their awful downfall mourns;
Ezekiel tells in wondrous words of dazzling mysteries,
Whilst kings and empires yet to come, Daniel in visions sees.
Of judgment and of mercy Hosea loves to tell;

Joel describes the blessed day when God with man shall dwell.
Among Tekoa's herdsmen Amos received his call;
Whilst Obadiah prophecies of Edom's final fall.

Jonah enshrines a wondrous type of Christ our risen Lord.
Micah pronounces Judah lost; lost, but again restored.
Nahum declares on Nineveh just judgment shall be poured.
A view of Chaldea's coming down Habakkuk's visions give;
Next Zephaniah warns the Jews to turn, repent, and live.
Haggai wrote to those who saw the temple built again;
And Zachariah prophecies of Christ's triumphant reign.
Malachi was the last who touched the high prophetic chord,
Its final notes sublimely show the coming of the Lord.

Matthew and Mark, and Luke and John, the holy Gospels wrote, Describing how the Saviour died, His life, and all He taught. Acts prove how God the Apostles owned with signs in every place;

St. Paul, in Romans, teaches us how man is saved by grace. The Apostle in Corinthians instructs, exhorts, reproves; Galatians shows that faith in Christ alone the Father loves. Ephesians and Philippians tell what Christians ought to be; Colossians bids us live to God and for eternity.

In Thessalonians we are taught the Lord will come from heaven;

In Timothy and Titus a Bishop's rule is given.

Philemon marks a Christian's love which only Christian's know; Hebrews reveals the Gospel prefigured by the Law;

James teaches without holiness faith is but vain and dead; St. Peter points the narrow way in which the saints are led. John, in his three epistles, on love delights to dwell;

St. Jude gives awful warning of judgment, wrath, and hell; The Revelation prophecies of that tremendous day,

When Christ and Christ alone shall be the trembling sinner's stay.

ON THE BIBLE.

[Earnestly and boldly.]

HOLY BIBLE, BOOK DIVINE,

Precious treasure, thou art MINE!
Mine to tell me whence I came ;
Mine to teach me what I am;
Mine to chide me when I rove;
Mine to show a SAVIOUR'S love;
Mine art thou to guide my feet;
Mine to judge, condemn, acquit ;
Mine to comfort in distress;
Mine to lead to promises;
Mine to warn of sinners' doom;
Mine to show that doom, I shun;
Mine to show the living faith;
MINE TO TRIUMPH OVER DEATH;
Mine to tell of joys to come;
Mine to bring an earnest home;
Mine to point me out the road;
Mine to lead my heart to GOD.
O thou precious book divine!
PRECIOUS TREASURE, THOU ART MINE!

WE WON'T GIVE UP THE BIBLE,
[Bold and earnest.]

WE WON'T GIVE UP THE BIBLE,
God's holy book of truth;
The blessed staff of hoary age,
The guide of early youth;
The lamp that sheds a glorious
On-else a dreary road!

light

The voice that speaks the Saviour's love,
And leads us home to God.

WE WON'T GIVE UP THE BIBLE;
For it alone can tell

The way to save our ruined souls
From being sent to Hell;
And it alone can tell us how

We can have hope of Heaven,
That through a Saviour's precious blood
Our sins may be forgiven.

WE WON'T GIVE UP THE BIBLE,

Nor heed the crafty tongue

That would this treasure take away-
Ye evil ones, begone;

For you would fain condemn our minds
To gloom of mortal night;
But we defy your baneful power,

And "GOD DEFEND THE RIGHT."

WE WON'T GIVE UP THE BIBLE;

But could you force away

That which as our life-blood's dear,

Yet hear us joyful say,

"The news which we have learnt while young,

We'll follow all our days;

And these engraven on our hearts,

Ye never can erase.

WE WON'T GIVE UP THE BIBLE;

WE'LL SHOUT IT FAR AND WIDE,

Until the echo shall be heard,

Beyond the rolling tide;

Till all shall know that we, though young,
Withstand your treacherous art;
And that from God's own sacred word

WE'LL NEVER, NEVER PART.