GRADUAL REFORM.

When lord Muskerry sailed to Newfoundland, George Rooke went with him a

volunteer: George was greatly addicted to lying; and my lord, being very

sensible of it, and very familiar with George, said to him one day, “I

wonder you will not leave off this abominable custom of lying, George.”

“I can’t help it,” said the other. “Puh!” says my lord, “it may be done

by degrees; suppose you were to begin with uttering one truth a day.”