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Brothers and sisters should be very careful, not to become estranged from each other after the death of their parents: of which there is always some danger. While one parent remains, though the other be gone to the sepulchre, there is a common centre of family affection still left, by drawing near to which, the members are kept near to each other; but when this survivor has also departed, the point of union is gone, and the household is likely, without great watchfulness, to be divided and distracted.

If by the vicissitudes of life, and the various allotments of divine Providence, one branch of the family has been more successful than the rest, peculiar care must be exercised, that the latter should not expect too much from him in the way of attention and relief, nor the former yield too little. For any man to be ashamed of his poor brothers and sisters, to treat them with cold neglect or insulting pride, discovers a littleness of mind which deserves contempt, and a depravity of heart which merits our severest indignation: it is at once ingratitude to God, and cruelty to man. It must be admitted, however, that it is extremely difficult to meet the demands, and satisfy the expectations of poor relations, especially in those cases where their poverty is the fruit of their own indolence or extravagance. They have claims, it is acknowledged, and a good brother or sister will readily allow, and cheerfully meet them, but it must be for prudence, under the guidance of affection, to adjust their amount. It is unquestionable, however, that though there are some few, who have most indiscreetly impoverished themselves, to help a

needy, perhaps, an undeserving brother or sister, the multitude have erred on the other side. Men or women of wealth, who choose to live in celibacy, and who have needy brothers and sisters, are cruel and hard hearted creatures, if they suffer such relatives to want any thing for their real comfort. 'Whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him.' And what shall be said of those, who, in bequeathing their property, forget their poor relations? The man who passes over a poor brother or sister and their families, to endow an hospital, or enrich the funds of a religious society, to which, perhaps, he gave next to nothing while he lived, offers robbery for a burnt offering.

I have now said all that appears to me to be important on the subject of fraternal duties. Is it necessary to call in the aid of motives to enforce the discharge of such obligations?

If so,

Let your parents' comfort be a plea with you. How often have the hearts of such been broken by the feuds of their children? And even where the calamity has not gone to this extent, their cup has been imbittered by the wranglings, quarrels, and perpetual strifes of those who ought to have lived in undisturbed affection.

Your own comfort and honor are involved in an attention to these duties. You cannot neglect the claims of a brother or a sister, without suffering a diminution in your happiness, or your reputation, or both.

The interests of society demand of you an attention to fraternal claims. As a son, you learn to be a good subject; as a brother, you learn to be a good citizen. Rebellious children are traitors in the bud: and he who has none of the right feelings of a brother, is training up for a parricide. And as to religion -fraternal duties necessarily arise out of its general principles, are enforced by its prevailing spirit more than by particular precepts, and are recommended by some of its most striking examples, for the first murder which stained the earth with human gore, sprung from a want of brotherly affection; and the family in which the Son of God found his loved retreat on earth, was that, where in the persons of Mary, and Martha, and Lazarus, fraternal love was embodied and adorned.

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ALEXANDER THE GREAT.

OLYMPIAS, the mother of Alexander, was of so unhappy a disposition, that he would never allow her to have any concern in the affairs of government. Olympias used frequently to make many severe complaints on this account, but Alexander submitted to her ill humor with great mildness and patience. Antipater, one of his friends, having one day written a long letter against her to the king, the monarch, on reading it, said, 'Antipater does not know that one single tear shed by a mother, will obliterate ten thousand such letters as these."

UPON THE MOUNTAIN'S DISTANT HEAD.

YON cloud

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YON CLOUD.

- 't is bright and beautiful—it floats

Alone in God's horizon- - on its edge

The stars seem hung like pearls — it looks as pure
As 't were an angel's shroud - the white cymar

Of Purity just peeping through its folds,

To give a pitying look on this sad world.

Go visit it and find that all is false,

Its glories are but fog- and its white form
Is plighted to some thundergust.

The rain, the wind, the lightning have their source
In such bright meetings. Gaze not on the clouds
However beautiful - Gaze at the sky,

The clear, blue, tranquil, fixed and glorious sky.

UPON THE MOUNTAIN'S DISTANT HEAD.

UPON the mountain's distant head,

With trackless snows for ever white,
Where all is still, and cold, and dead,

Late shines the day's departing light.

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But far below those icy rocks,

The vales in summer bloom arrayed, Woods full of birds, and fields of flocks, Are dim with mist, and dark with shade.

Tis thus, from warm and kindly hearts
And eyes where generous meanings burn,
Earliest the light of life departs,

But lingers with the cold and stern.

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THE clouds that wrap the setting sun
When Autumn's softest gleams are ending,
Where all bright hues together run

In sweet confusion blending:

Why, as we watch their floating wreath,
Seem they the breath of life to breathe?
To Fancy's eye their motions prove
They mantle round the Sun for love.

When up some woodland dale we catch
The many twinkling smile of ocean,
Or with pleased ear bewildered watch
His chime of restless motion;

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