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learn and form our own judgment, of the truth or falsehood, the strength or weakness, of what others speak or write. It is meditation, or study, that draws out long chains of argument, and searches and finds deep and difficult truths which before lay concealed in darkness.

Each of these five methods has its peculiar advantages, by which it materially assists the others; and its peculiar defects, which need to be supplied by the assistance of the rest.—Anon.

TO MY SON.

TWICE has the sun commenced his annual round,
Since first thy footsteps totter'd o'er the ground,
Since first thy tongue was tuned to bless mine ear
By faltering out the name to fathers dear.

O! Nature's language, with her looks combined,
More precious far than periods thrice refined!
O! sportive looks of love, devoid of guile,
I prize you more than Beauty's magic smile;
Yes, in that face, unconscious of its charm,
I gaze with bliss, unmingled with alarm.
Ah, no! full oft a boding horror flies
Athwart my fancy, uttering fateful cries.
Almighty Power! his harmless life defend,
And if we part, 'gainst me the mandate send.
And yet a wish will rise,-would I might live,
Till added years his memory firmness give!
For, O! it would a joy in death impart,
To think I still survived within his heart;
To think he'll cast, midway the vale of years,
A retrospective look, bedimm'd with tears;
And tell, regretful, how I look'd and spoke ;
What walks I loved;-where grew my favourite oak;
How gently I would lead him by the hand;
How gently use the accent of command:

What lore I taught him, roaming wood and wild,

And how the man descended to the child;

How well I loved with him, on Sabbath-morn,
To hear the anthem of the vocal thorn ;-
To teach religion, unallied to strife,

And trace to him the way, the truth, the life.

But far and farther still my view I hend.And now i see a child thy steps attend ;

To yonder church-yard wall, thou tak'st thy way, While round thee, pleased, thou see'st the infant play; Then lifting him, while tears suffuse thine eyes, Pointing, thou tell'st him, There thy grandsire lies!

Grahame.

FAMILY AFFECTION.

THE whole human race may be considered as one great family, under the care, protection, and discipline of their heavenly Father;-and the most important duty which he requires of them is, that they love one another. He graciously founds their love to himself on this basis, for he even rejects the love of those who do not love their brother also.

It is a wonderful and benevolent part of the system of Providence, that his commandments produce our greatest earthly blessings; and our obedience to his laws brings immediate reward, in conferring upon us some visible benefit; as, on the contrary, every cutrage on his commands has its attendant judgment.

In no case are the blessings annexed to well-doing so sensibly felt as in the mutual kind offices of brotherly love. From the sweet affections and good will of society, most of our temporal comforts spring; and when we obey the command of loving and serving our fellow-creatures, the benefit is reflective, we are loved and served in return :"Therefore, my beloved brethren, let us love one another; for he that loveth his brother, hath fulfilled the law." If the cultivation of these benevolent feelings is so important a duty, and so great a blessing, in extending society, where our intercourse is only occasional, of what still greater importance is it in the near and daily concerns of domestic life! All persons, in all ages, have been deeply impressed with the value of family affection. The wise instructions of Solomon abound with injunctions on the subject; and David pronounces, "How good and joyful a thing it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, which ran down unto the beard, even unto Aaron's beard, and went down

to the skirts of his clothing. Like as the dew of Hermon, which fell upon the hill of Zion; for there the Lord promised his blessing and life for evermore." This precious balm to every earthly woe, spreads itself to every department in domestic life, like "the refreshing dew of Hermon, which fell upon the hill of Zion;" it nourishes and gladdens every benevolent heart, it softens the temper, it doubles every pleasure, it lessens every care; without. it human beings become savage, selfish, and morose; they lose the blessing which God has promised to it in this life, and that life for evermore, which is a heaven of love and benevolence. Mrs. King.

GOVERNESSES.

PERSONS of limited income, whether derived from trade or other sources, often educate their daughters with a view to their becoming governesses, under the idea that such a course will best advance them in life. It is generally expected, and supposed, that a governess should teach, or at least be able to superintend every branch of instruction, and it is consequently necessary that she should learn every thing. As soon, therefore, as she can read or write, she is placed upon a music-stool, and devotes several hours a day to the practice of the piano-forte, the harp, and singing. A French master is also engaged, and, after the lapse of two or three years, probably a dancing and an Italian master are added. Parents generally take the qualifications of the instructor upon trust; and the expense being an important consideration, when a school is chosen, it is most commonly one which gives the greatest apparent quantity of instruction for the least money. The fact that their daughter is learning French, Italian, music, drawing, and dancing, satisfies the parents;-they do not inquire how and in what degree the information on all these matters is obtained, nor how the moral and mental education proceeds; the characters and capabilities of the several teachers are never ascertained, their influence over their pupils never considered ;—and the pupils, though educated expressly to instruct others, are not taught how this object may best be effected.

The early education of children mostly falls under the direction of females, and this task requires few or none of the ornamental arts of life:-it calls for the exercise of a sound judgment, calm temper, steady perseverance, unrelaxed energy, warm affection, and subdued sensibility, combined with a simplicity of taste and feeling which can enter into the thoughts, actions, and dispositions of childhood. The cultivation of these qualities, then, should be the aim of those whose position in life obliges them to educate their daughters for the situation of instructors. A person so educated would rise merely from the force of her superior character;-and she would not despise those whose honest ambition had made her what she was, nor would she be unfitted to fulfil her duties in the same sphere with them pleasurably and advantageously. The more wealthy classes, who are generally sensible of the importance of a good education, need persons who can be trusted with the early management of their children; and they daily feel and lament the small number of those who are really fitted for the task. Those, then, who are possessed of judgment, temper, and practical knowledge, will be more sought and better rewarded than the mere musician, artist, and linguist. We do not mean to exclude these arts from education; but we protest against their cultivation to the total neglect of all the higher qualities of the mind.

One language thoroughly acquired will be worth more than three partially learnt, and we therefore urge upon parents and instructors to limit their ambition to the real quality rather than to the apparent quantity of such acquirements. French is now so universally understood that it serves as a medium of conversation among all European nations; this should be the first, and where situation prohibits greater acquirement, the only language taught ; circumstances and taste must decide upon any further attainments.

Music is perhaps the most desirable accomplishment that a female can possess, and the one in which she is most likely to excel. It is altogether a domestic employment, and may form either a recreation or a study; it will confer either solitary or social pleasure, and may be made an innocent incitement to virtuous ambition and a rational source of delight. It calls for the exercise of many of the intellectual faculties, and while it addresses itself more

especially to the sensibility and the imagination, it also demands the exertion of the moral habits of industry and patience. But with all these recommendations, the organic formation of the pupil must dictate the propriety of making music a study; it is worse than folly to pursue it unless nature has given the means:-the time and application that are in such cases uselessly bestowed would, if wisely directed, produce valuable results in some other way.

Drawing is an art which engrosses much time, but which is seldom really acquired or properly pursued. The object in learning to draw is, or ought to be, to acquire the power of copying correctly the forms of nature or of artificial objects. Where this is not done, nothing practically useful has been accomplished.

One of the accomplishments we would wish to see cultivated among females, and which is greatly neglected or wholly overlooked, is the art of reading aloud. It is a most healthy employment when used discreetly, since exercise is as advantageous to the lungs as to all other parts of the human frame. The ability to read aloud agreeably is also a truly domestic acquirement; it will be another link in the chain which binds men to their hearths; it will amuse the young, cheer the old, and instruct the ignorant. Quarterly Journal of Education.

TO MY BROTHER.

OH, I will love thee! when the glorious sun
Doth gently sink behind yon western hill,
When all the various works of man are done,
And every living thing is hush'd and still.

Oh, I will love thee! when the queen of night
Riseth serenely from behind the trees,
And poureth on the earth her silver light,
And gently sporteth on the midnight breeze.

Oh, I will love thee! when the vesper star
Shineth so brightly through the woody dell,
When nought doth see it here or from afar
Save that sad and lonely bird sweet Philomel!

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