FOR THE READERS OF "THE MOTHERS' friend.' 177

We have always found it a good plan to allow the dear e children to have one place where they can play without g disturbed, or disturbing any of the home circle; but ore they leave, we always like to accustom these little ones return all the play-things to the box, or cupboard, given m for this purpose. Thus they early acquire habits of neats which are very important in after life.—ED.]

FOR THE READERS OF "THE MOTHERS'
FRIEND."

THE WAY TO GET GOOD AND DO GOOD.

IF any one would tell us an easy way to become rich, d have sufficient to impart to our children and relations, e should grudge neither time nor trouble in the attainent of such knowledge; but if we want something that ill make us more happy than money, that is, wisdom and nowledge—if we want to know the best way to make our hildren obedient, kind, and affectionate, to secure our usband's love and company, and to make our homes appy, spend one penny a month, and take The Mothers' Friend, and when you have well treasured its contents in our memory, and acted in accordance with the advice here given (for it is in accordance with the Word of God), and so reaping a rich harvest yourselves, put some covers on them, and distribute them weekly in the locality in which you live; and if it should be a mile or two out of town, beyond the reach of tract distributors, and where religious advantages are few, how gladly will The Mothers' Friend be welcomed!

Then, when they have been their round, gather them all in, fresh cover them, give them to the town tract-distributors, or the town missionary, and so will you sow seed beside all waters, and reap an abundant harvest in the production of much good, and the prevention of crime and misery. I have tried this plan; Christian friends, will not you? Be persuaded to answer the question agreeably with the dictates of your own conscience. CLEMATIS.

A VOICE FROM THE WORK-ROOM.

“Thou art in an evil case, it were cruel to deny to thee compassion; Thou dost labour for the gay and the unthinking,

Year after year, unto death-yea, what a weariness is it."

so?"

"CHARLOTTE," said Miss Mary Clifford, entering the room where her sister was quietly conversing with a friend, to whom she gave a hurried morning salute, "Charlotte, do pity me; it is of no use asking Miss Stanley, but do you pity me. You know I am to go to the dinner party at D- in a fortnight, and Mrs. Sutton was to have made my dress." "Well, Mary, has she refused to do 'Oh, no; she had begun it, and I believe sat up late last night to work at it, because she knew that I would not have it done by any of her workwomen-and this morning she is confined; so there is an end of my poor dress, for she will have her baby to nurse now." "I hope she is doing well," said Miss Clifford, calmly. “Oh, yes, I dare say she is; but I never asked: I thought only of my own trouble. But," she continued, "you do not pity me; and there is Miss Stanley positively looking pleased!" "I am pleased, my dear young friend; and you must not be angry with me for it." Miss Stanley paused, and looking sorrowful, continued," I am pleased that poor Mrs. Sutton has at length a respite from the incessant toil which is carrying her to an early grave. I hope it does not come too late!"

Mary Clifford was one of those fashionable, thoughtless girls who, looking at every one and every thing with a reference to self, was exceedingly annoyed and irritated when those who ministered to her luxuries and comforts experienced such a degree of personal infirmity, whether of body or mind, as interfered with her pursuing the round of dissipation and folly in which she delighted. Yet a pang of self-reproach shot through her as Miss Stanley closed the door. It was speedily lost in the strains of a new piece of music.

FRAGMENTS FOR SPARE MOMENTS.

179

Stanley meanwhile pursued her way thoughtfully arrow street in which was situated the dwelling of ng dress-maker, whose exquisite natural taste and 1 raised her to the rank of the most fashionable n the town of D. Knocking gently at the was opened by a neat old woman, whose face wore f deep anxiety. "How is Emma, Mrs. Sutton?” 11, Miss-very ill; you see she sat up last night e, working at Miss Mary Clifford's dress; for she n forbidden to leave it to any one else, and she has arcely fit for work for some time. She nearly as Edward helped her up stairs; and now, the says, she is in a high fever.” "And the baby?" I will die, I fear," and tears poured down the s cheeks. 'Oh, if the ladies knew," resumed the how they over-work her!" Miss Stanley bade to her for anything that was needed, and left the with painful and mingled feelings.

ONE OF THE STANLEY FAMILY.

AGMENTS FOR SPARE MOMENTS.

LOSSES.

a great gain to suffer the loss of all things, that we arn to depend on Christ alone.-Paley.

DEATH.

h pays respect neither to youth nor usefulness, but down together the tender herb, the fragrant flower, e noxious weed.-J. A. James.

THE LORD'S DAY.

streams of religion run deeper or shallower as the of the Sabbath are kept up or neglected.—Calcott.

YOUTH AND AGE.

th is not like a new garment, which we can keep and fair by wearing sparingly. Youth, while we have

it, we must wear daily, and it will fast wear away. The retrospect on youth is too often like looking back on what was a fair and promising country, but is now desolate by an overwhelming torrent, from which we have just escaped. Or it is like visiting the grave of a friend whom we had injured, and are precluded by his death from the possibility of making him an atonement. Time is the greatest of all tyrants. As we go on towards age, he taxes our healthour limbs—our faculties—our strength, and our features.

COMFORT.

It will afford sweeter happiness in the hour of death to have wiped one tear from the cheek of sorrow, than to have ruled an empire or enslaved a world.

FAULTS.

To hide one fault by another is both unwise and wicked. Sin is overcome only when by God's grace we repent of it, abhor it, and forsake it.

almost bare top. Analogy :-Youthful follies growing on

old age!

ADVERSITY.

Adversity, thou thistle of life! thou too art crowned; first with a flower, then with down.

NOTICES OF BOOKS.

Scripture Teacher's Assistant. By HENRY ALTHANS. London: Butt.

We strongly recommend this very excellent help to teachers and mothers.

Home Thoughts. July. London: Kent.

This miscellany continues to be a favourite.

MY MOTHER'S PORTRAIT.

I was quite young when my mother died-a mere child, but I loved her dearly, and felt, when I saw her laid in the grave, that I had lost a friend whose place in my little heart no one else could fill. I had many kind relatives, but for a long time I could not be comforted, but cried for the return of her who lay in the silent grave. I missed the touch of her soft hand upon my head-for oh! whose touch is like a mother's?—and the sweet sound of her voice as she pronounced my name. It was the mother I missed, and the whole world could have given me nothing like her, nor equal to her.

But childhood is too happy and buoyant a season to be always sad. The dark clouds of grief cleared away at last from my sky, and the sunshine came back to dry my tears, and waken again my spirit to life and joy. The mother was not forgotten, but the boy who had lost her had ceased to pine for her presence. Three years rolled away, and the third from the period of my mother's death brought my tenth birth-day. I returned from school one afternoon weary, and in a fretful humour, for I had not recited my lesson well; as I entered the yard, behold! there stood my little cousin Alfred, with my new and beautiful kite nearly torn to pieces-his hands were full of fragments of it, which he was scattering upon the grass. Enraged at the sight, and blinded by anger and passion, I flung down my books and struck the little fellow a blow, which sent him reeling from me. He screamed violently, for the blow hurt him, but I was too angry to care. into the parlour, and throwing myself upon the carpet, gave way to the tide of wrathful sorrow that flooded my soul.

I ran

By degrees I became a little calm-the parlour was cool and dark, for the shutters were nearly closed, to exclude the heat and light. After the hurricane of passion comes