kfast. It hurt her so
much that she could scarcely help crying; and even when the first
smart was over, it continued so sore that whenever she spoke it pained
her considerably. Finding this to be the case, she said very pitifully
to her mother, "Mamma, you can't think how it hurts me when I speak!"
"Does it?" replied her mother; "then I'll tell you what I would advise
you to do. Resolve all this day to say nothing but what is either
necessary or useful; this will give your tongue a fine holiday, and
may answer more purposes than one."

Fanny, knowing that she had the character of being somewhat
loquacious, could not help laughing at this, and said, "Well, I will
try for once; so, mum! I am going to begin now, mamma."

_Mother_. Do so; and whenever you are beginning to speak, be sure you
ask yourself whether what you were going to say was likely to be of
any use, or whether it was necessary.

_Fanny_. Yes, yes, I will! but don't talk to me, mamma, for fear. So
saying, she screwed up her lips, and taking her work, sat for about
five minutes as still as a mouse. She then looked up, smiled and
nodded at her mother, as much as to say, "See how well I can hold my
tongue," still screwing her lips very tight for fear she should speak.
Soon, however, she began to feel a great inclination to say something;
and was glad to recollect that if she could but think of anything
either useful or necessary, she might speak. Whereupon she endeavored
to find something to say that would come "within the act." To aid her
invention, she looked all round the room.

_Fanny_. Mamma, don't you think the fire wants stirring? (This
question, she thought, savored of both qualifications.)

_Mother_. Not at present, my dear.

Then followed another long silence; for Fanny found it vastly more
difficult than she had any previous idea of, to think of anything
useful to talk about; and she knew her mamma would laugh at her if she
said what was obviously idle or silly, just now. She was beginning to
repent having made such an agreement, when her three elder sisters
entered the room. She now thought it quite reasonable, if not
absolutely necessary, to tell them of her misfortune; which she did at
considerable length, and with many needless digressions (the usual
custom with great talkers); upon which they all laughed, prophesying
that her resolution would not last half an hour, and rallying her for
telling such a long story with a sore tongue.

Soon