THOUGHTS ON FEMALE SCRIPTURE CHARACTERS. 137

t does exist? Why are we startled by hearing occaally of a division of interests arising in the working sses, from the wife having means of earning money ependently of her husband. How bitter the pang of ng deceived! Yes; and wives are too often called to fer also in this way, and, by one little deception, they haps lose their confidence for ever! Is this right? is s being one?

Thus far have we seen Eve, adorned with grace and iness, dwelling in perfect happiness with her gifted and like spouse. Her life passed in those easy duties ich God had ordained for her to perform, and surunded by the blissful bowers of Eden. Would that this r picture had not been spoiled by sin and sorrow! The rd chapter finds Eve engaged in her usual employments, t separated from Adam, and close to the forbidden e! May we not learn a lesson here? It is not safe, it not seemly, for a wife to act independently of her husnd in forming engagements, in seeking friends, in enterg society. To do this, is to cast aside the protecting m, the sheltering care, which is the wife's best human feguard against temptation.

Eve looked at, desired, ate the forbidden fruit! She fell, thousands of her daughters have done, step by step; e eye being the first sense which let in the evil! "Oh, a mere trifle," we hear sometimes; “it cannot do me arm this once, only this once." Ah, who shall say that

is

e once will not bring the twice in the train! Wives and mothers, keep your own eyes-keep the eyes of your aughters-from what may lead you or them into temptaion. Give the tempter one inch in your heart, and he will soon claim the whole possession. Eve fell, and threw own, in her fall, the noblest work of God! Adam weakly ielded to his love for her, and forsook the Creator for the Ereature.

Is

any

wife who reads this conscious of leading a hus

138 THOUGHTS ON FEMALE SCRIPTURE CHARACTERS.

band into breaking the laws of God? or, by example, neglect, or a foolish desire for supremacy over his heart, of making him draw back from early paths of holiness, and walking with God? or, it may be, of having thrown obstacles in his path of duty? Ah, this is indeed following Eve in her guilt! It is an awful perversion of woman's original destiny, when she becomes the betrayer, instead of the helper of man.

As we follow Eve in her downward path of sin, the heart is appalled with the increase of the power of evil, over this once fair portion of God's perfect works! Instead of confessing her sin with a contrite heart, she throws the blame upon the tempter, forgetting that she had the power to resist, and flee from him. God swept away her refuge of lies, as He does that of sinners now, and pronounced upon her the curse, under which her daughters will suffer, until the earth shall once more be purged from sin, and man, restored to holiness and happiness, shall walk with God. That curse, which comes home to the heart of every mother, was-so great is the mercy of God -mixed with blessings! Fallen though she was-degraded -driven from Eden-to the sorrow-stricken heart of Eve that voice of love whispered, that as by woman came sin and death, so by woman should come salvation and life everlasting! It bade the guilty mother of mankind look forward in faith to the Son of Mary according to the flesh, as the atoning sacrifice for her sins.

Is there among our readers one who is bowed down under a sense of sin-yea, it may be, of aggravated sinlook to Jesus! He who spoke pardon to the sinner washing His feet with her tears-He who rewarded the love of Magdalene with the first glimpse of His risen body-He will pardon, heal, and save you, and bruise Satan under your feet shortly.

L. S. T.

FRAGMENTS FOR SPARE MOMENTS.

139

OD HINTS FOR MOTHERS AND FATHERS.

To the Editor of "The Mothers' Friend.”

AR MADAM,-Is the following hint worth insertion in Little publication? I have found it a good plan amongst tle ones to require them to bring each morning to the fast table a text of Scripture,-the elder ones having a er selected for them, which they go through verse by

The younger children repeat the same verse for a few ngs till it is perfected, when a fresh text is given them; on Sundays the verses of the preceding week are looked and repeated by those who are old enough for the exercise. hildren thus acquire a habit of referring to their Bibles or books daily, and the verses and chapters thus treasured up serve to refresh and strengthen the mind in after-days.

e parents join their little ones in this pleasant exercise, and thus often given them a motto for their guidance and ■ragement through the day.

e texts selected are simple and comprehensive, such asildren, obey your parents,” &c. "Even a child may be n by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it ght." "I love them that love me, and those that seek me shall find me." "For God so loved the world," &c. lieve in the Lord," &c. "The wages of sin is death," &c. God so loved us, we ought also," &c. "Let us love one her," &c. "God is love." "Be ye kind one to another," &c. essed are the peacemakers," &c. "A soft answer," &c. Du, God, seest me." "The eyes of the Lord," &c. "The of the Lord is a strong tower," &c. And "Better is a with the fear of the Lord than great riches and trouble :with." Yours, dear Madam,

A CONSTANT READER OF "THE MOTHERS' FRIEND."

RAGMENTS FOR SPARE MOMENTS.

CRUMBS.

to produce a right state of feeling as well as outward lience.

lever give a command you do not intend should be 7ed.

Be distinct and firm, but never allow your child to

parley with you.

"Father of mercies, in thy word

What endless glory shines!
For ever be thy name adored,

For these celestial lines.

"Here may the wretched sons of want
Exhaustless riches find;

Riches above what earth can grart,
And lasting as the mind.

"Divine Instructor, gracious Lord,

Be thou for ever near:

Teach me to love thy sacred word,
And view my Saviour there."

A poor woman was asked if she was brought up in the
fear of God? She replied, "No, I was brought up in the
LOVE of God!"
Turn this "crumb" over, mother, and

look at it!

The past-where is it? It has fled!
The future?-It may never come.
Our friends departed?--With the dead.
Ourselves?-Fast hastening to the tomb.
What are earth's joys?-The dews of morn.
Its hours?-Ocean's wreathing foam.
Where's peace?—In trials meekly borne.
And joys?-In heaven, the Christian's home.
Christian Treasury.

NOTICES OF BOOKS.

London: Ward & Co.

Decision: Memoir of Mrs. P. E. Richards.

An instructive and delightful little volume. It has one fault-it is too short.

“They that sow in tears shall reap in joy." A German tale of faith and its reward. like it.

Goshen. London: Ward & Co.

London: Ward & Co. Our young friends will

A cheap little manual for mothers and children.

Home Thoughts. May number. London: Kent, Paternoster Row. A family magazine, cheap and amusing.

A PAGE FOR FATHERS.

THE TWO EVENINGS.-NO. II.

IN Thomas Waymark's neat cottage sat a young lady by a bed, on which lay a dying child. The sun was setting gloriously, just opposite the little casement window, and as she gazed on the parting rays she repeated that pretty hymn of the good Doctor,

"How fine has the day been, how bright was the sun,
How lovely and joyful the course that he run,
Though he rose in a mist when his race he begun,
And there followed some droppings of rain.
But now the fair traveller's come to the west,
His rays are all gold, and his beauties are best,
He paints the sky gay as he sinks to his rest,
And foretells a bright rising again.

"Just such is the Christian-his course he begins
Like the sun in a mist, while he mourns for his sins,
And melts into tears, then he breaks out and shines,
And travels his heavenly way.

But when he gets nearer to finish his race,
Like a fine setting sun he looks richer in grace,
And gives a sure hope, at the end of his days,
Of rising in brighter array."

"Oh, teacher!" said a faint voice, "are you there again? How glad I am! You will talk to me about heaven, won't you? and you will comfort mother again, won't you? She will feel lonely at evenings, I know, when I am gone; and I think I shall soon be up in that beautiful place He is gone to prepare, like we sing about in school. I can't put up my head now, teacher, and my heart does beat so, and then it stops; I can't breathe hardly; but if it was not for leaving dear mother, I should be glad to go to Jesus. Oh, I wish she could go with me at the same time,-I don't mean for my sake, but because she would be away from