the land, the land wouldn't so much matter, only my husband 'ull be like mad at your having it." Something like a new thought flashed across Mr. Wakem's face as he said, "Who told you I meant to buy it?" 66 "Why, sir, it's none o' my inventing, and I should never ha' thought of it; for my husband, as ought to know about the law, he allays used to say as lawyers had never no call to buy anything, — either lands or houses, for they allays got 'em into their hands other ways. An' I should think that 'ud be the way with you, sir; and I niver said as you'd be the man to do contrairy to that.” "Ah, well, who was it that did say so?" said Wakem, opening his desk, and moving things about, with the accompaniment of an almost inaudible whistle. "Why, sir, it was Mr. Glegg and Mr. Deane, as have all the management, and Mr. Deane thinks as Guest & Co. 'ud buy the mill and let Mr. Tulliver work it for 'em, if you didn't bid for it and raise the price. And it 'ud be such a thing for my husband to stay where he is, if he could get his living; for it was his father's before him, the mill was, and his grandfather built it, though I wasn't fond o' the noise of it, when first I was married, for there was no mills in our family, not the Dodsons', — and if I'd known as the mills had so much to do with the law, it wouldn't have been me as 'ud have been the first Dodson to marry one; but I went into it blindfold, that I did, erigation and everything." "What! Guest & Co. would keep the mill in their own hands, I suppose, and pay your husband wages?" "Oh, dear, sir, it's hard to think of,” said poor Mrs. Tulliver, a little tear making its way, 66 as my husband should take wage. But it 'ud look more like what used to be, to stay at the mill than to go anywhere else; and if you'll only think—if you was to bid for the mill and buy it, my husband might be struck worse than he was before, and niver get better again as he's getting now." "Well, but if I bought the mill and allowed your husband to act as my manager in the same way, how then?" said Mr. Wakem. "Oh, sir, I doubt he could niver be got to do it, not if the very mill stood still to beg and pray of him. For your name's like poison to him, it's so as never was; and he looks upon it as you've been the ruin of him all along, ever since you set the law on him about the road through the meadow, that's eight year ago, and he's been going on ever since as I've allays told him he was wrong—" "He's a pig-headed, foul-mouthed fool!" burst out Mr. Wakem, forgetting himself. "Oh, dear, sir!" said Mrs. Tulliver, frightened at a result so different from the one she had fixed her mind on; 66 I wouldn't wish to contradict you, but it's like enough he's changed his mind with this illness, he's forgot a many things he used to talk about. And you wouldn't like to have a corpse on your mind, if he was to die; and they do say as it's allays unlucky when Dorlcote Mill changes hands, and the water might all run away, and then — not as I'm wishing you any ill-luck, sir, for I forgot to tell you as I remember your wedding as if it was yesterday; Mrs. Wakem was a Miss Clint, I know that; and my boy, as there isn't a nicer, handsomer, straighter boy nowhere, went to school with your son Mr. Wakem rose, opened the door, and called to one of his clerks. "You must excuse me for interrupting you, Mrs. Tulliver; I have business that must be attended to; and I think there is nothing more necessary to be said." "But if you would bear it in mind, sir," said Mrs. Tulliver, rising, "and not run against me and my children; and I'm not denying Mr. Tulliver's been in the wrong, but he's been punished enough, and there's worse men, for it's been giving to other folks has been his fault. He's done nobody any harm but himself and his family, the more's the pity, and I go and look at the bare shelves every day, and think where, all my things used to stand." "Yes, yes, I'll bear it in mind,” said Mr. Wakem, hastily, looking towards the open door. "And if you'd please not to say as I've been to speak to you, for my son 'ud be very angry with me for demeaning myself, I know he would, and I've trouble enough without being scolded by my children." Poor Mrs. Tulliver's voice trembled a little, and she could make no answer to the attorney's "good morning," but curtsied and walked out in silence. "Which day is it that Dorlcote Mill is to be sold? Where's the bill?" said Mr. Wakem to his clerk when they were alone. "Next Friday is the day, — Friday at six o'clock." "Oh, just run to Winship's the auctioneer, and see if he's at home. I have business for him; ask him to come up." Although, when Mr. Wakem entered his office that morning, he had had no intention of purchasing Dorlcote Mill, his mind was already made up. Mrs. Tulliver had suggested to him several determining motives, and his mental glance was very rapid; he was one of those men who can be prompt without being rash, because their motives run in fixed tracks, and they have no need to reconcile conflicting aims. Success in Conversation. - The Mill on the Floss, GEORGE ELIOT. The person who wishes to make a success of his share in a conversation, whether business or social, must at once do one of two things: (1) he must get the trend of a conversation which has already been started, or (2) he must give trend to conversation which he starts himself. This done, he must see to it: (1) that he uses details which will make his point; (2) that what he says is always an advance toward the point of the conversation; (3) that it fits into the conversation at the place where he puts it; (4) that he expresses himself in language so accurate and so clear that he cannot fail to be understood. For example, in the conversation in the following narrative notice that Mr. Jefferson in his reply to the French Minister made his point, Franklin's worth, by means of two wellchosen details expressed in accurate and simple language: "You replace Dr. Franklin, I hear," said the French Minister, Count de Vergennes, to Mr. Jefferson, who had been sent to Paris to relieve our most popular representative. "I succeed him; no man can replace him," was the felicitous reply of the man who became highly esteemed in the most polite court of Europe. - Pushing to the Front, O. S. MARDEN. The Anecdote. As a whole, the preceding narrative is an anecdote; i.e., a short, pithy, pointed narration of a real happening. It develops briefly and pointedly one of the characteristics for which Mr. Jefferson was noted social tact. It may, therefore, be used to give point to a discussion of Mr. Jefferson's character, or it may serve in a conversation or an address to illustrate the effective use of graceful, courteous speech. Because of the double significance of the anecdote, this form of narrative is often used to give point to a conversation or a public speech. In the following anecdote, notice the directness and the courtesy with which Mr. Jefferson at the same time gave a reprimand and a lesson in politeness to his grandson: President Jefferson was one day riding with his grandson, when they met a slave, who took off his hat and bowed. The President returned the salutation by raising his hat, but the grandson ignored the civility of the negro. "Thomas," said the grandfather, "do you permit a slave to be more of a gentleman than yourself ? ” - Pushing to the Front, O. S. MARDEN. Read the following anecdote, noticing the brevity and the definiteness with which the double point is made: 66 A young man went to Socrates to learn oratory. On being introduced, he talked so incessantly that Socrates asked for double fees. Why charge me double ?" asked the young fellow. "Because," said the orator, "I must teach you two sciences: the one to hold your tongue, the other how to speak."— Architects of Fate, O. S. MARDEN. In the following anecdote, notice the quickness of wit with which Henry Clay turned the ridiculousness of the accident against the institution: Many years ago Henry Clay visited Princeton and was asked by President McLean (Johnnie, as he was familiarly and popularly called) to sit down in the president's study. The furniture was not elaborate in those days, nor did it consist of the most solid material. Mr. Clay sat down, and the rickety old chair which was proffered him sank beneath his weight. The statesman, rising from the floor, said solemnly, "Dr. McLean, I hope that the other chairs of this institution are on a more permanent foundation." - COOPER (The Century Magazine). EXERCISE I 1. Repeat an interesting conversation that you have heard recently. 2. Tell an anecdote about a well-known author, a famous statesman, a noted musician, a brilliant general, a successful business man. In each of your talks : a. Did the class get the point? b. Did the class get the impression that you meant to give? Answering Questions. The person who is answering questions must give close attention to each question and be sure to take in its meaning; then (1) he must consider the question to see what is required; (2) he must mass his knowledge on that point; (3) he must frame his answer in accurate English, so clear that it cannot be misunderstood. EXERCISE II State to your class answers to the following questions: 1. What are the political parties in the United States at present, and what is the platform of each ? 2. In what ways do the business occupations in your locality depend upon the natural resources of your part of the country? 3. Why is the United States Government preserving the forests ? 4. What steps are being taken in your community to create or to pre serve public parks and playgrounds? 5. What are the advantages of public parks and playgrounds? 6. What are the objections to public parks and playgrounds? 7. What have strikes done for the laboring man? 8. How do you play hockey? 9. What are the attractions in the favorite sport of your locality? 10. What important discoveries have been made in the last five years? What is the practical advantage of each discovery? 11. What is the equipment for wireless telegraphy? 12. How has wireless telegraphy affected business and social life? 13. What was your last scheme for entertaining your friends and how did it work out? 14. What is the most effective labor-saving device used in your locality, and what are its advantages? 15. What is the practical value of the public library in your town or locality? |