"And do you not think there is some other reason for learning, besides being amused?"
"Yes; I think we learn that we may grow wise; but I don't want to leave off learning, papa; I only want to learn something else, instead of grammar?"
Mr. Barber laughed, and told Charles, that no other kind of knowledge would be of much use to him without grammar, since nothing else would teach him to speak or write like a gentleman.
"Don't I speak like a gentleman now, papa?"
"You speak pretty well for a little boy, my dear; but you often make mistakes, which we think nothing of now, because we know that when you have learnt a little more grammar, you will know better; but if you were to make such mistakes when you are a man, you would be thought an ignorant person, and not be treated with respect."
"Can you tell me of any mistakes I make now papa?"
"Oh yes, I think I could very soon tell you of a great many. Just now, when you were standing at the window, I heard you say,—'There goes two white horses!' now that was a very great blunder, Charles."
"Was it, papa;—why?"