Sometimes I think our comparatively small library was a lucky thing for us. It threw our parents back into the right source of influence, which was their own characters. They had but one book to study in the administration of their affairs, and this was the Bible. To this, they untiringly devoted their efforts, not so much to teach us its precepts, as to have them living in their hearts and breathing in their practice. From this they deduced but one rule—“ what you would wish your children to become, that must you yourselves be." They directed their attention and energies first to the elevating and ennobling of their own spirit; for they felt that this would be a teacher to their children, and leave its impress there. They believed this to be the Alpha and Omega of what they could do, to fit them to be useful and good. I believe that the poor, uneducated mother, who is obliged to work incessantly for the comfort of her family, and who, therefore, can do but little for her children, in the way of preceptive instruction, may, nevertheless, by the cultivation of piety in her own heart, have every encouragement to hope that they will grow up also to love what is good and holy. This is the main point of strength, and while this well-spring of holiness within their own. heart is kept pure, I believe that green and fruitful will be the plants. which are watered therefrom. My father had a cousin whom he very highly esteemed. She was, for those times, a remarkably well-educated lady. She once published a small book on the education of children, and wrote often for literary magazines. Both herself and husband were christians, and they brought up their family on the system they recommended to others. They had three sons and two daughters. The daughters became valuable members of society, but the sons were, without an exception, idle and almost worthless. My mother once said in her gen tle way, "I cannot think how it is that Mrs. G., with all her intelligence, has failed so in bringing up her sons." Neither could I then; but I have since thought she must have fallen into the error which is prevalent at the present day, namely, that of their directing the attention and thoughts to the preceptive education of children, considering this of the most vital importance, while the improvement of their own hearts, as a means of the most direct, personal influence, is quite secondary. The most deep and healthy religious impressions must be commenced early and by the mother. Let her take her child alone, and, while sitting on her knee, as his little heart becomes softened by her gentle tones, tell him of that great Being whom she loves, and teach him that precept, which he will see is the daily practice of her life, namely, that "man's chief end is to glorify God and enjoy him forever." For the moral effect of such training we can depend with as much certainty as upon any thing in this world. TO SENECA LAKE. BY J. G. PERCIVAL. On thy fair bosom, silver lake, On thy fair bosom, waveless stream, The waves along thy pebbly shore, As blows the north wind, heave their foam, And curl around the dashing oar, As late the boatman hies him home. How sweet, at set of sun, to view Thy golden mirror spreading wide, And see the mist of mantling blue, Float round the distant mountain's side! At midnight hour, as shines the moon, And swift she cuts, at highest noon, Light clouds, like wreaths of purest snow. On thy fair bosom, silver lake, There can be no doubt of the general utility of any enterprise by which the cost of books can be diminished, and the difficulties in the way of the acquirement of knowledge made fewer; but that must be a movement of extraordinary excellence, which, while it accomplishes so desirable a purpose, does not, at the same time, bring a multitude of evils in its train. I have rejoiced to see of late, many valuable works issued from the press in a form so cheap, that the humblest and poorest may obtain them, and I cannot doubt that the increased intelligence of the masses will fully prove the desirableness of such a mode of publication for books upon subjects connected with history, the Sciences and Arts, and Travels, and all those matters in which all thinking people are more or less interested. But, at the same time, there is an evil, a most terrible and wide spread evil, already proceeding from this source. I refer to the deluge of bad books, which has burst forth over the whole land, and the corrupting tendency of which ought to cause their publishers to tremble. There are several presses in New York, and I regret to say that there is one or more in Boston, from which the abominably licentious works of Victor Hugo, Paul de Kock, George Sands and other French low novelists, have been sent forth by thousands, while the almost universally condemned novels of Fielding, Smollett and others of that English school who fed the degeneracy of former times, have been freely issued either at New York or Philadelphia. Beside these, an incredible amount of worse than trash, from both the English and American press, is every day urged upon a credulous and inquisitive public, until the evil has become positively alarming. In very many of the establishments for the sale of periodical publications, all these works are offered and at so cheap rates, that they inevitably fall into the hands of the young of both sexes, whose mind and morals become insensibly corrupted by them, and there is in consequence, a large class rising up among us, whose notions upon moral subjects are such as prevail in France, and amid the corruptions of the old world. 176 LETTER FROM A MOTHER. Nothing can check this influence, but an increased vigilance on the part of the parents and friends of the young-a vigilance which shall expend itself more in supplying good reading, than in direct efforts against the bad; for there are minds to be filled with knowledge, and they will be filled. It should be our work to get beforehand with Evil and preoccupy the ground. The friends of pureness of mind and pureness of life should unite to frown upon the publications to which I have alluded, and upon those who publish and sell them; and, at the same time, let them seek so to interest the minds of all under their influence in that which is good, that there shall be found no foothold for these pioneers of the worst of vices. Boston, July, 1843. LETTER FROM A MOTHER. To the Editor of the Mother's Assistant and Young Lady's Friend. DEAR SIR: It is with much pleasure I am able to state to you, that the Mother's Assistant and Young Lady's Friend is perused in all circles in this place, with much pleasure, and I hope with much profit. The appearance of the May number awakened considerable interest. The following will show the practical influence this work, and others of a similar character are calculated to exert on the minds of children, as well as mothers. A mother of my acquaintance has an only son, about eight years of age, to whom she reads the many interesting stories with which your work is well stored. When the May number came, she read to him the Prize Article, entitled "My Early Home." That evening, after having gone to bed, he called his mother, and said, "Mother, I would not steal for a hundred watermelons. I don't think that little boy ever stole again; do you, mother?" After a pause of half an hour, or more, when she supposed him to be asleep, he called her again. When she came to him, he apologised for having awaked her, and said, "I have been thinking of that story you read to me last night, about the little boy who was so kind to his sick mother (alluding to an extract from the Factory Boy.) He then observed to his mother, with a heart full of kindness and obedience, that he would do all her errands, and assist her in any THE IRRELIGIOUS HOME. 177 way in his power. Much more of this simple character was said. This incident is sufficient to convince us, that children do reflect and meditate in their hours of retirement upon what they read and hear. With this fact in view, every judicious mother will place in the hands of her children, such books as will furnish proper subjects for contemplation. The mother of whom I have been speaking, has had the happiness to witness the good practical results of reflection in the affections and temper of her only son. I hope you will persevere in your labors for the benefit of mothers. Your work is very highly appreciated by its readers in this place. I was informed by a lady, a few days since, that it was introduced into their sewing circle and met with a very cordial reception. The story entitled, "My Early Home" was read, which called forth the deepest emotions of the heart, and tears from the eyes of many present. Respectfully, Yours, G- Me., July, 1843. THE IRRELIGIOUS HOME. If there be one curse more bitter than another to man, it is to be the offspring of an irreligious home-of a home, where the voice of prayer and praise ascends not to God, and where the ties of human affection are not purified and elevated by the refining influences of religious feeling—of a home, to which, if the providence of God shall bring religion to the heart, one cannot turn without bitterness of feeling; without anguish and vexation of spirit. If there be a curse to any country where the truths of religion are known, the deepest and bitterest curse which can be inflicted on it, is a multitude of homes like that which I have supposed! Such homes send forth their sons unchecked in evil thoughts, unhallowed in their habits, and untaught in the love of God-the name and cross of Jesus Christ stamped perhaps on their foreheads, but not written in their hearts-and they send them forth to prey upon the land, and to become its curse and its destruc tion. But on the other hand, there is a blessing to the religious home, which no tongue can speak, no language can describe! The home, where in early years the heart is trained to a love of God, and to take pleasure in his worship and service, interweaves with the existence of man, holy affections, which die not with the circumstances which gave them birth; which last long, even though they may be forgotten and neglected-and w cise at least, some check on the evil of the human heart, and often, monly, recal it to hear again the voice of God, and to return to the paths of holiness and peace. |