in our being a state of preparation for our real and true existence. In seeking the highest good of our child, we must seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness."

"If we do not, Anna, our seeking for the good of our child will be in vain. But, after determining what are the best interests of our child, the next great question is, how shall we secure them? Thousands have decided as we have, but alas! how few have been able to secure the right means. A religious education, I know to be the only true education. All others must fail. But what is a religious education? It is in the wrong determination of this question that so many fail."

"Can you determine it James ?"

"Is it not already determined for us in God's Word? Religion is heavenly order, and involves in it the true relation of the creature and the Creator. It is not the abstract, formal thing of mere outward show that so many make it; but a spirit of love ruling the heart, and of obedience to the divine will influencing every action of our lives. This we cannot give; but while we employ the means with her, we must ask of Him, who can alone bestow it, the sanctifying seal of the Holy Spirit."

"Most true; yet have you determined how we are to educate our child in such religious principles."

"First of all we should, as I have already endeavoured to do, impress upon her mind the idea of a God, and that he loves her, watches over her, and protects her from harm. This is easily done. No idea is so readily conveyed to a child's mind as that of the existence of God as a good being. When I talk to Marien, young

as she is, about God and the angels who live in heaven, she will look me steadily in the eyes, and listen with the most fixed attention. She cannot yet speak her thoughts, but I know that she more than half comprehends me, and that in her tender and still most impressible young mind, I am fixing ideas that can never be eradicated. As she grows older, and her mind expands, I shall not only teach her to regard the good of others, but instruct her in the right means of promoting it. The whole Law and the Prophets hang upon the precept, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and thy neighbour as thyself.' Here is the starting point in all religion. With this fundamental doctrine must all other doctrines square. To love God is to live according to his commandments; and to love our neighbour is to seek his good-his highest good. But it is God, as he was manifested in the flesh, the divine Redeemer, to whom I desire to lead our child. He who said, 'Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not.' Oh! that I could do this as I desire."

CHAPTER II.-BEGINNING RIGHT.

THIS was the first serious conversation that had taken place between Mr and Mrs Hartley on the subject of the education of their child. As their thoughts became more and more steadily directed to the subject, they saw their duty clearer and clearer. At least such was the case with Mrs Hartley, for hers was the task of making the first

impression upon her child's mind-the first and most lasting impression. Upon the training of the mother depends, almost entirely, the future character and position of the child. No matter how wise and good the father may be, his influence will do but little if opposed to that of an injudicious mother. Take ten instances where men have risen from humble stations into eminence, and nine of these at least will be found the result of a mother's influence. Her love is a different one; it is more concentrated—and the more we love an object, the more accurate becomes our perception of the means of benefitting that object. The father is usually all absorbed in the pursuit of a business or profession by which to secure the temporal good of his family, and has little time, and too often less inclination, to devote himself to his children. When he retires into his family, his mind seeks rest from the over excitements of the day, and he is unprepared to give to his children judicious instruction, or to administer wise correction. He cannot adopt a system, and regularly carry it out, because he is with them only for a short time each day, and cannot know their characters thoroughly, nor the means that best re-act upon and keep their evils quiescent. Upon the mother devolves therefore, of necessity, the high and important duty of moulding the characters of her children—of impressing them for good or evil-of giving them true strength for their trials in after life.

Sensibly did Mrs Hartley feel this. The path of duty lay clearly defined before her, and she shrunk not from walking therein. Love for her child, and an elevated sense of the duties of a Christian parent, were her prompters.

Her first efforts with her child, as reason began to dawn, were the best a mother can use. She sought to impress upon the mind of her little Marien one idea. Among the first words she taught her to say was the name of "Jesus ;" and the child always uttered it with a quiet, earnest, thoughtful face, and pointed upwards. Soon the answer to "Who loves little Marien?" would be "Papa." Who else? "Mamma." Who else?" "Jesus in heaven. "

At every step she endeavoured to fix more deeply this impression. The lisped prayer on retiring to bed was never omitted.

The next effort she made was to counteract the selfish tendency of the child. She began with teaching her young mind to love God; the second step was to cause her to regard the good of others.

If her husband, from the very nature of his occupation, could not aid her much in the practical application of right means, he was ever ready to confer with her, and to aid her in discovering these means. They thought much, and conversed much together upon the subject.

The three great things to attain, as seeming of most importance to Mrs Hartley in the education of her child, were to impress fervently and truly upon her mind a just idea of God; to give her an unselfish regard for her neighbour, and to insure perfect obedience. To do all this was a great work, and hard, almost impossible she often felt, to accomplish. But she strove unweariedly, yet not always wisely, after the attainment of her end ; for she interfered with the freedom of her child-checked too often its innocent outbursts of exuberant feeling-saw

too much, and let be seen too fully by her child the bonds with which she sought to hold her. The effect was consequently bad, for the rebound of her young spirits when away from her mother, was too strong. Instead of being happiest with her mother, she began to feel it a relief to escape from her presence.

Mrs Hartley saw all this, and it grieved her deeply; but the cause she did not clearly perceive. Before, however, the evils of an over-rigid system had progressed too far, the birth of a second child divided her care and affection, and gave to Marien a real something that she could love understandingly.

CHAPTER III.-MEANS AND ENDS.

As month after month passed on, and Clarence, the latest born of Mrs Hartley, began to exhibit some signs of his real disposition, the parents perceived that it was very different from Marien's. The first born was quiet and easily controlled; but the boy was full of life, and shewed very early a resolute will and passionate temper. Before he had completed a year, he had caused his mother many an anxious hour, and drawn from her eyes many a tear. From his sister he was disposed to take every thing; and if his exacting spirit were not immediately gratified in its desires, he would scream violently, and sometimes throw himself passionately upon the floor. In the first year of her brother's life Marien had changed a good deal. Young as she was, her mother endeavoured to interest her in his favour-to lend him her play things