Anxious Maria.—Because you may be full of faults, and weak in times of temptation, feeble in faith and too lukewarm in love and zeal, you would not be thereby justified in adding a fresh act of disobedience by drawing back from the Lord's Table and neglecting to obey one of His last commands. If you were to wait till really worthy in reference to sanctification, you would “draw back to perdition,” it is to be feared. Remember that, however faulty you may justly feel yourself to be, you can go to your divine Redeemer, “washed, sanctified, and justified” in His Name.

“All the fitness he requireth
Is to feel your need of Him,”

and with that feeling to pray for His grace, and to “strive to enter in by the straight gate.” A battle has to be fought. Do not forget that.

Carnation inquires, “Are tomatoes healthy?” We fancy but very few of them are diseased. Those that lie long on the ground during wet weather do not remain so long. That, as an article of food, they conduce to our health is absolutely proved. Few vegetables are more wholesome. Ladies do not rise, if seated, when men address them.

Dot.—You should say, “It is I” (not “me”). The former is used in the nominative case, and the latter the accusative. But you should not say, “between you and I,” but “between you and me.” If you wish to speak correctly, be careful how you employ adjectives. You misapply the word “beautiful” when you say “beautiful butter,” or jam, or fat; but you may use it very correctly as regards a landscape, a flower, a rainbow, or any work of art. Also the word “delicious” is often unsuitably employed, such as when applied to a joint of meat, or a book. To apply it to fruit would be more suitable. The words which should often be employed as a substitute for “delicious” are “excellent,” “nice,” or “good.” The word “beautiful” is correctly used with reference to form, and colouring, and combinations of the latter. Another very commonly misused word is “expect,” “I expect she is,” etc. The word “expect” has reference to the future, and the speaker's anticipations in connection with it; “she is,” denotes the present and already existing condition, and the two cannot be used together. This misapplication of the term has come from over the Atlantic. You will find much to assist you as to right and wrong employment of words in that useful book Enquire Within. See pages 163-174.

Ignoramus.—All invitations are given by the mistress of the house, though she should include her husband's name in giving them; and all replies should be directed to her, although, inside, you thank for their united invitation. The house is the woman's domain, and she “guides” it.

Joan.—The beneficial influence, or the reverse, of allowing ivy to grow over the walls of a house has been a question of difference of opinion. Formerly it was condemned as harbouring moisture, and liable to injure the health of the occupants. Now it is said that the overlapping leaves preserve the walls from the rain, and they are found to be quite dry beneath them. It is also said that it renders a house cool in summer, and warm in winter. But there is a drawback, and that is that it brings insects of all kinds into the rooms—spiders, flies, earwigs, and woodlice. Whatever you may prefer to do in reference to its growth on your house, it is an unmitigated evil on trees, and it should always be sawn through, and then rooted up.

Mora.—Much depends on the species of palm, as to the watering they require. Also, they must not be exposed to a draught. Perhaps yours is not one that would grow tall under any circumstances. As we know nothing about it (for you give no particulars), we cannot help you.

Brownie.—We cannot do better than refer you to the articles on the care of the hands by “Medicus.” See vol. xiii., page 358. Doubtless you have been out without gloves, and the sun has tanned them. The very narrow rim of insensible skin that surrounds the nail preserves the true skin from being torn and made sore at its termination at the quick. Of course it will not bear rough usage, for if cut or cracked, the tender skin behind it, which it is designed to protect, will naturally become sore. Wear gloves until quite healed.