110.
One evening a number of friends met together at a little party. First
they all had tea, and after tea was over they sat round the fire to
talk, for some of them had not seen each other for a long time. But
there was one lady there who had so much to say that scarcely any one
else could get a chance to speak. She talked and talked nearly all the
evening. Sometimes we =expect= one person to speak all the time, as when
we go to hear a lecture, or to listen to a sermon in church, but when
people meet together for conversation, it is much pleasanter to hear
=more= than one speak.
Another time three children were having dinner with some grown-up
people, and a lady who was there told me that one of the children, a
little girl about eight years of age, talked continually, so that even
the grown-up people had scarcely an opportunity of speaking.
So you see it is quite possible for people to be made uncomfortable by a
child speaking too much, as well as by a child that refuses to speak at
all (Dorothy in Story Lesson 106).
Perhaps you have been in a railway carriage where a little boy has never
ceased asking questions and talking during the whole journey. Years ago
children used to be told that "they must be seen and not heard". We do
not often say that now, but we must remember that it is rude to take up
all the conversation, or even more than our share. I believe it is more
than rude--it is selfish. We must learn to listen to other people as
well as to talk ourselves.
(Blackboard.)
Do not be too Fond of Hearing Yourself Talk;
Learn to Listen as well.