command, should form an inseparable part of the earliest education. It seems inexplicable that parents should neglect to impress on their children the solemn injunction, "Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God." The command derives force from the situation in which it is placed, guarded by the majesty of Him from whom it emanates, and linked with the duty which man owes to his Maker and his Judge.

There is one feature in the training of our children that should have much weight with us, as mothers, if we wish to see them happy in themselves, and beloved by others. It is, carefully to check the first rising of everything like MIMICRY, or laughing at the real or supposed faults of others, either in person or mind, accidental or natural. Who has not trembled at this sin, while they have read the account given of the children mocking good Elisha, in the second book of Kings? We read the word children in our version, but the probability is, that they were a band of profane youths, who, disbelieving the account of Elijah's ascension to heaven, were guilty of blasphemy, in ridiculing the marvellous miracle which the God of Israel had wrought, and thus despised and mocked his honoured servant, crying, "Go up, thou bald head-go up, thou bald head!" doubtless referring to the going up of his master, in a chariot of fire; the holy man, turning, pronounces on them the Divine curse, repeating the just sentence of the law, which declared that blasphemous and profane persons should be cut off from Israel and God, at once to show his displeasure, commands two she-bears out of the wood to execute his vengeance. They had, in all probability, been robbed of their whelps, and sought revenge more than food. These creatures are said to be the fiercest of all wild animals at such a time-and they came forth as God's executioners, to destroy those who had mocked his holy prophet. Who

can tell but these youths had been trained to mimicry by those mothers who would now weep bitterly over the mangled bodies of their ungodly children; and who, perhaps, were only reaping what they had sown? More next month.

"MOTHER! MOTHER!"

I was startled one afternoon by a loud knocking at my neighbour's door, and upon getting up to see what was the matter, I saw a little boy-a nice, quiet, orderly fellowstanding with the handle in his grasp, whilst with his foot he was kicking away; but, as if conscious the dear object of his search was not within, his curly head was turned in another direction, and he was calling at the top of his voice," Mother! Mother!" and presently a door opened, and the mother was seen going towards him. As she passed I heard her say, "Don't make so much noise, my child."

Now this mother must by no means be confounded with those who spend more time in the houses of their neighbours than in their own. She was a pattern to wives and mothers in general. Her husband was a journeyman tallow-chandler; a superior man, above rather than below his station; he was fond of reading, and had more books than are usually found in the house of a working man; several volumes of the old divines had a place on his shelves, with Sir Walter Raleigh's "History of the World," and many others. He was an Episcopalian, and regular in his attendance at his parish church, much respected by his excellent vicar, who was always pleased to notice him whenever he met him, and had been very kind

in a time of serious affliction.

Being neighbours, I sometimes called upon them, and always enjoyed a pleasant, intelligent chat, either on the politics of the day, or divinity; he was equally ready upon

MOTHER ! MOTHER!

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The house was

both, and had a clear, sound judgment. small, consisting only of two rooms, one below, and one above; yet all was perfect neatness; a place for every thing, and every thing in its place," was fully carried out with them. On one side of the room was an old-fashioned mahogany table, so bright, you might almost see your face in it; on it stood a tea-chest of the same date, and behind was the best tea-board. Around the walls hung some good maps, and a few prints; among the latter was one of William Tell on his knee, preparing to shoot the apple from the head of his son, by an arrow from a bow: on one side was the mother, fainting; on the other, the Governor, his hat on a pole, whilst he sat proudly on horseback. My friend was ahead of the opinions of the day with respect to liberty, both civil and religious; many a strong thought have I brought away with me from these visits. A round table stood in the centre of the room, and a few chairs pretty well completed the furniture.

On this occasion a chair was placed for me near the fire; and I could not help feeling that comfort and happiness were not confined to parlors and drawing-rooms. Here all was made up of little things, things within the reach of every family. The good man was just returned from his daily work, and, although in his working dress, was yet respectable. The wife was neatness itself; her clothes plain, but nicely and tidily put on,-not thrown about her. Here was the secret; she was not indebted for her appearance to expensive things, but to the way and manner they were put on. Alas! how many wives make a grand mistake here! They are no sooner married than away go all their tidy habits, if they really ever had any of their own. Let me tell such, they were right in supposing such habits necessary to gain the attention of him whom they wished for a husband; and let me also tell them, that having gained him by such habits, they are now doubly necessary

if they wish to retain his affection, and dwell securely in his love. Nothing sickens the heart of a man so much as to see his neat, tidy girl turned into a slovenly, dirty wife!

"Think not the object gained,—that all is done;

The prize of happiness must yet be won."

The duties of the household and the cares of a mother are no excuse; they may and they must combine. No doubt it will require an effort, and well will it repay an effort. The hearth here was swept clean, and the work of the house had evidently been all done before the good man returned; the wife was at her work, whilst the little boy who opened my narrative was seated upon a stool, conning his lessons for the morrow. In reply to a remark, my friend observed, "Sammy is a good boy, Sir, attentive to his learning, and a great comfort to his mother-indeed, I ought to say, to us both. May the Lord direct him, as he grows up, into some useful employment. Children are an heritage from the Lord, but they bring many cares."

What a contrast, thought I, is this house and family to many that I know. Some people are always in a bustle, always in confusion. This happens mainly from not doing one thing at a time, and not finishing it when once begun,— they cannot overtake their work, and then they become peevish and fretful, dread the coming home of their husbands, and very probably receive him with some hasty observation; whilst he, on his return through the wet and cold, had been pleasing himself with the thought of a cheerful fire, and comfortable, tidy home; but he can hardly see a spark in the grate, whilst some wet things are standing before it. The floor is unswept, every chair out of its place, and the wife up to her elbows in grime and dirt! He must wait for his tea, and get it when he can. Shall it be a matter of surprise that families so ordered are unhappy? Certainly not.

Oh, ye wives, in most cases ye have your destiny for

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115

good or for evil in your own hands; don't for a moment allow the thought to enter your heads that it can be indifferent to your husbands whether you are clean or dirty, tidy or slovenly. His happiness, and his affection too, rise and fall with one or the other; and if he be thus disappointed at home, you must not wonder if he repairs to the smiling fire of the beer-shop, and takes the chair set for him by the clean, smiling hostess. M. B.

THE PRODIGAL'S PROGRESS, AND THE
MOTHER'S REWARD.

NO. VI.

"Where will he be in the end?"

Two years passed away in dreadful suspense, when one morning Mr. Lane received the following letter from a fardistant county :

"My dear Sir, I am sorry to be the messenger of evil tidings, but a sense of duty must be my apology. In the course of my professional duties I was called, a few weeks since, to visit a young man, who seems to be suffering from incipient consumption. I found him utterly destitute of every comfort, and it was after long and earnest solicitation that he gave me your address, as that of his father. It is desirable that you should see him speedily, as a short time, in his present wretched abode, may bring him to the grave. His address is, No. 6, Green Lane, M- -, county Yours truly, "CHARLES MEYES, Surgeon. "P.S. I would add, he appears very contrite, and deeply deplores his past conduct."

of

"What shall we do?" asked the frantic mother, clasping her hands in an agony of grief; "Oh! pray let us go to see him before he dies, my own dear, deluded, ruined