A STORY FOR OUR JUVENILE FRIENDS. Beauty was on thy cheek, and thou didst seem That hath no ebb, kept on its cheerful way. Oh! what had Death to do with one like thee? Thou young and loving one, whose soul did cling, Even as the ivy clings unto the tree, To those who loved thee; thou, whose tears would spring To be where mortal traveller hath not been, Hope may not mock, nor grief the heart devour. Nor they with whom thou art thy loss deplore, 35 A STORY FOR OUR JUVENILE FRIENDS. THE LITTLE GIRL WHO WANTED TO KNOW EVERYTHING. "MAMMA, mamma!" said little Minny, with a countenance looking disappointed, "Hetty says I must not ask questions-nobody will tell me anything like you, dear mamma;" and the little girl hid her face in her mother's dress, as she was standing to finish the arrangement of her cap in the early morning. 36 A MOTHER'S RESPONSIBILITIES. "What have you there in your tiny basket, my Minny?" asked Mrs. Mild. "Only some leaves, ma—I have just gathered them on purpose to put into the nursery teapot, and Hetty will not put them in." "Indeed, my dear, I am very glad nurse would not agree to spoil all the tea by attending to your foolish request." "But, mamma, you told me the tea-tree was like a rose-tree, so I thought I should like to know if it tasted just the same." "It does not follow, Minny, that because the tree looked the same, the taste and the quality should correspond also; but, if you will run out into the garden, and gather a few blackcurrant leaves, I will put a little of my tea into your dolly's tea-pot with a few of them, and you will get a flavour very like green tea, when you pour it out." "Oh, how nice that will be; you are a kind, dear mamma, that you are— thank you, deary," said Minny, and she ran off with a smiling face. "I do like my new tea, ma," she remarked, at the breakfast table; "is this the way to get green tea always, ma?" "No, dear, you forget what I told you about it, some time ago. You ask a great many questions; but I fear do not often remember the answers you get to you them. The green tea is just the leaves which are first plucked while very young and tender; and after this, there are two gatherings of leaves which become the less expensive and commoner sorts." "Oh yes, ma, I remember; and the Chinese put the seeds in holes in the ground to get trees I tried that plan in my garden, but I did not get any tea-trees." A MOTHER'S RESPONSIBILITIES. PAUSE awhile, ye mothers, ere ye go one step further on the journey of life; and think seriously what God requires at your hands. He has given you children to bring up for him; what a responsibility is thus laid on you, by your Creator! As soon as the child begins to know you, it notices every look and action; then, as its understanding increases, it listens to each word spoken by its mother with greater interest than any other person; thus, you see, how watchful and cautious you should be in all your ways, when you consider that they will have such a powerful influence in forming the character of your child, who is ready to imitate everything it sees and hears. Remember, that a sinful word spoken by you in his presence, or a sinful act committed in his sight, may be his ruin, and cause you to shed many bitter tears, and even to spend a life of sadness. Resolve then, dear mothers, that from henceforth (with God's help and blessing) you will, by every means in your power, train your child for heaven. I know a mother who has brought great trouble on herself by her inconsistent and foolish ways; her children are now growing up, and reproach her for the example she has placed before them. God is not in all her ways, and therefore we need not wonder at her steps sliding. God alone can aid mothers in fulfilling the responsibilities he has placed upon them; look unto your Father in heaven, and ask for strength, or you must fail in training your children for heaven. E. R. Y. NEW YEAR'S DAY. NEw year's day is now past; but is it therefore less important to redeem the time, and put our good resolutions in practice, than it was on that day? It is rather more so, because the year is now shortened by one considerable division of it. Let us, then, conscious of the weakness and volatility of our hearts, and of the frailty of resolutions made in our own strength, look up to Him who, "to them who have no might," has promised to increase strength; who will, if implored, confirm our wavering minds, and establish our weak resolutions. 38 A FACT FROM A MOTHERS' MEETING. A new year is now commencing; let every one inquire how they have begun it. Is it with a resolution to make renewed efforts to overcome their bad habits, and to improve their manners and characters? and have they actually begun to make such efforts? Then I prophesy a happy new year to them; and that, if they persevere in their resolutions, it will be the happiest they have ever known. But if, on the contrary, they are beginning it in the old way-not more attentive to business, nor watchful of their tempers and conduct-not more concerned for their intellectual and religious improvement than heretofore-then, although they may very likely have had a merry Christmas, I cannot wish them a happy new year, because I know it would be in vain to do so; for the saying is as true as it is trite, that to be happy we must be good. The knowledge of this is, in fact, the grand secret of my art; and it is by consulting this simple rule, that every man may be his own fortune-teller. Q. Q. A FACT FROM A MOTHERS' MEETING. A GOOD woman, who is in the habit of going out as a sempstress, carried from the Maternal Meeting a paper, a Mothers' Friend, and some other little books. The contained the following advice : Do all the good you can— paper With this she purposed wisely, resolved firmly, and persevered with determination to spread religious knowledge. The will to do good opened the way, and she now takes NINE Mothers' Friends, a number of other periodicals and books, as well as many copies of the Scriptures. She continues her work with Christian zeal, and others are encouraged to follow her example. Mother!-Teacher !—can you not do something in this way? Try-try-try. FRAGMENTS FOR SPARE MOMENTS. N ENCOURAGING LETTER FROM A FATHER. To the Editor of "The Mothers' Friend." 39 EY DEAR MADAM,-I have often thought I should like to you a word of encouragement; but, being of so humble a as an agricultural labourer, I feel that I do not possess om or understanding sufficient to write to you. But, dear am, just after you commenced your valuable undertaking, dy sent one of your valuable magazines to my wife. We e so interested that we at once ordered it, and have coned it ever since; and feel more and more interested with its ents. It is so well suited for fathers as well as mothers-for I hink we fathers are too harsh at times with our children; and · valuable magazine shows us our mistake in such a light we are obliged at once to yield to the conviction, and say, am the man." And we always endeavour to recommend · magazine whenever opportunity presents itself; for we feel uaded, if every mother would but purchase it, and peruse contents thereof, there would be more comfort at home and bawling after the children in the streets. Wishing you much pleasure and large success in your valuundertaking, I am, dear Madam, Your humble servant, C. D., a Father. 'RAGMENTS FOR SPARE MOMENTS. A SOLEMN QUESTION. little child had been listening to her mother, while sang one of the songs of Zion. Shortly after, while little arms were twining about her father's neck, she —“ Mamma sings, Long as they live should Christians 7, for only while they pray they live.' Is papa dead? never prays!” When the little child went up to join angel choir the father began to pray! CHILDREN FROM HOME. was thinking that God's people, while they are in this Id, are like the children of some great rich man, who sent away from home to be educated very early in life, |