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COULD parents be inspired with the necessary courage to think for themselves, to use their powers, and personally to undertake the developement of their children, they would soon find that there is not a more exquisitely delightful office than that of an instructor and educator of youth Let them not imagine that this is a mere assertion, because this feeling is not acknowledged by many of those who call themselves by these names. Let parents become what these profess to be, and they cannot fail to experience in their own heart, the reality of the assertion. If we are to have any improvement in education, it must arise from parents undertaking the employment most worthy of man, that of cooperating with divine grace in unfolding the faculties of immortal beings. They would not then remain satisfied if they did not see education continued in the same spirit by those to whom they might afterwards be under the necessity of committing their children. HINTS TO PARENTS.

EVERY thing whatsoever that has relation to the human race, and particularly to the female part of it, becomes more and more interesting; and

when the spiritual force is rightly directed in the first instance to the females, and then by them, we shall see an increase of improvement, which will be as surprising as it is delightful. I cannot lose an opportunity of pressing strongly, the propriety of giving to females the full and entire benefit of education, as it is on them that we rely for the greatest good in regard to human improvement. They are, when qualified, the fittest instruments for the moral culture-the culture of the superior affections.

J.

A FATHER and mother have a duty to discharge, not only to their children, but to their children's children, to the furthest generation which they are permitted to see; and in faith and prayer, and the other offices of invisible affection, they have a duty to discharge to their utmost posterity: and a brother and sister have duties to discharge, not to their own children only, but to the children of their common father, and of their father's brethren, and of their father's name. And the more this gentle intercommunion of affection, and cheap interchange of mutual love, is fostered in private, in a family, the more will it be prepared for entering into the mystery of the church of Christ, and sympathizing with the manifold conditions, and helping the manifold wants of her various mem

bers.

Therefore it is called, the household of faith; and the members of it are called brethren; and Christ our elder brother, the first-born of the house, and heir of all. IRVING.

It is surprising how quick children are in discovering the motives and dispositions of those about them, and in detecting any inconsistency between their practice and their professions.— This acuteness and sensibility, however, while they make a bad example extremely dangerous, give a proportionate weight and efficacy to a good one. Let a father uniformly adhere to simplicity and godly sincerity; let him yield to no inducement to violate those beautiful and fundamental branches of the Christian character, by any appearance of present expediency, either in the management of his children, or in any other part of his conduct; and employing, as he will, at the same time other fit means to promote the spiritual welfare of his offspring, he may look forward with confidence to a happy result.

This example will be a daily lecture of the most impressive kind; but no soundness of doctrine, no industry in teaching, no ability in persuasion, will be sufficient to afford him a rational hope of success, if his own example is opposed to his instructions, and the child has reason to suspect that he is acting a part. BABINGTON.

NATURE itself cries to you to take care yourself of your child, and never to abandon it to the hands of strangers. Is there another creature who can replace a mother? PESTALOZZI.

WHAT dost thou need, my little one,

That I should ask and pray?

Scarce is thy tiny race begun

Along life's dangerous way.

Howe'er thy young ideas flow,
No words their purport tell :
Neither for good nor evil thou
Art yet responsible.

The feelings of thine infant heart
Shall speech at length unveil ;
And soon thy winning smiles impart
Fresh interest to the tale.

Yet then, alas! shall acts perverse,

Thy fatal lineage tell;

Thy wayward wishes choose the worse,
The better part expel.

Thro' every avenue of mind

Will sin an entrance gain,

And Satan with the world combined,
Strive o'er thy will to reign.

A brief, a momentary space,
Thy little bark is moored:
Now by the heaven-sent gales of grace,
Be its bright course ensured.

We will not earthly wealth prepare,
Its precious freight to form;
Its only store, effectual prayer,
To meet each coming storm.

Then onward o'er the dangerous sea;
For thou, its perils past,

Through heaven's unchanged fidelity,

Shalt anchor safe at last.

E.

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