hardships of eighty years, had settled down in a state of confirmed infidelity. * His wife, the partner of his early days, had made him the subject of her special prayers for forty years. He had regularly attended church, till at length he heard something in a sermon, from his minister, which he thought personal; and from that time, he deserted the house of God. This drove his poor wife àlmost to desperation. One morning she was taken suddenly ill. The old man went, in haste, to see if the Parson's wife would make her a visit-for he was truly an affectionate husband. The good divine was just commencing family prayer. The scene so impressed this old veteran, that a few days after, he became hopefully a humble believer in Jesus.

O ye! who are loaded with the bounties of God's providence-who fare sumptuously every day! how do you know, when you refuse admittance at your door, but that a Lazarus has come to ask for the crumbs which fall from your table? Professed disciples of Christ! How do you know when He, who for your sakes became poor, comes to your dwelling in the garb of a humble solicitor, to ask for a pittance to send his Gospel to perishing millions? Do you measure your responsibility when you refuse a messenger without at least inquiring the message.

Such formal intercourse, as is often practised at the present day, seems but ill adapted to the responsibilities of beings who are living and acting for eternity. In the retributions of eternity, how will you bear to hear the Saviour say, "I was a stranger and ye took me not in, naked and ye clothed me not." The customs of a fashionable life are often of dangerous tendency. Splendid establishments-costly furniture-expensive dress, too often engross the affections, and consume that time which, in a humble sphere, is devoted to friendship, to charity, and to God.

THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF MOTHERS IN REGARD

man.

TO THE SABBATH.

It is recorded, Gen. ii. 2. "That God rested from all his labor." Here is introduced to our notice, the first institution ever established for the use of From this fact we may infer its importance. When we consider the author, the antiquity, and the sanctification of the holy Sabbath, together with the penalty which was originally annexed to its violation, it is matter of surprise, that it should not be joyfully recognized, and faithfully observed, by every one acquainted with divine revelation.

What glorious and wonderful events does the return of every Sabbath serve to revive in our recollection! The finished work of Creation, the resurrection of the blessed Redeemer from the mansions of the dead; the only assurance that death will not prove to us an eternal sleep; the perpetual emblem of that glorious and heavenly rest, so full of comfort to the weary, heavy laden pilgrim.

Thou holy Sabbath! how often art thou profaned, insulted, and despised! If the violation of a law or statute is to be measured by the dignity and authority of the lawgiver, who can measure the guilt of that individual, that treats with contempt the Sabbath of the Lord. There goes a murderer! Every countenance turns pale with horror, and every heart is chilled, as this monster

of cruelty approaches; when, perhaps, the victim of this murderer's vengeance was the veriest nuisance in society.

What mighty impulse has moved upon thy soul, O man! and caused thy vital blood, flowing so rapidly in thy veins, to congeal about thy heart? Think you, that this murderer is more guilty in the sight of heaven's King, than he who wilfully neglects and despises the Sabbath of the Lord? Can this sin be more heinous than that which aims a blow at the very throne of the eternal God? Extinguish the light of the Sabbath, and you blot out every hope of heaven. The Sabbath breaker, as well as the fool, says in his heart—“ no God."

The sin of murder is usually preceded by that of Sabbath breaking. A clergyman once related to us the following circumstance. "I was sent for, to visit a convict, in the prison of D. He was under sentence of condemnation for murder. My last visit to him in his cell, was three days previous to his execution. I cannot describe the horrors of an awakened conscience, as exhibited by this unhappy man. He urged me, by all the considerations of a dread eternity, to be present at this execution, and I finally consented. A few minutes before the rope was placed around his neck, he requested the privilege of addressing the spectators of this melancholy scene. With a tremulous voice, he earnestly besought parents to listen to what he had to say to them. When I was quite young, I had many stings of conscience, till one Sabbath I went into a neighbor's corn field, and plucked three ears of corn, and my mother boiled them for me. From that fatal hour my career of sin and impiety has been unbroken, till it has at length brought me to the gallows.'"

It would seem that a Christian Mother would cherish the Sabbath, as she would her very life's blood. Who can measure HER indebtedness to this sacred institution? Mothers in this American Israel! let us resolve, with elevated affections and united hearts, to rally round the standard of our Immanuel-resolved to give up any thing—every thing, rather than renounce the duties, and services, and pleasures, of this holy day.

How admirably adapted to the purposes of a Christian mother, is the influence and power of example and association, upon the infant mind. Only let a little child be impressed with the idea, that its mother loves and reverencés the Sabbath, and longs for its return; let the duties of the week be performed with alacrity, and in a way of preparation for the coming Sabbath; whatever may be the outward conduct or expression, in regard to this consecrated season, even the conscience of this little child will inevitably bear testimony against itself for every wilful violation of its sacred hours; and perhaps, after a long life of sin and impiety, this reverence of a mother's example may embitter the last hours of infidels and apostates.

How often has the recollection of maternal influence and example, brought the wandering prodigal to consideration, and been the means of softening his heart to penitence and love, many years after that mother has been sleeping in the dust! How often has the practice and example of a Christian mother, in regard to the Sabbath, been blessed to the good of all her children, even when she has had to contend against the influence and example of an intemperate husband and father!

We are acquainted with many families, where the mother has met with a host of opposition, who, after all, has been able, with the blessing of God, to fashion the habits and manners of her children after her own worthy example. Only let us give to the infinite God that place in our affections which he so justly claims; let our petty selves and interests hold that subordinate place which justly belongs to them; then will the service of God be our most delightful service; his holy day, our best day; his will, the rule of our life. We should ever bear in mind, that the nature of our exercises, employments, and services, on the Sabbath, is not to be essentially different in the heavenly world, from what it now is. The same object of worship, the same song of triumph, the same theme of contemplation, the same chord of love, will bind all hearts to the eternal throne, during that Sabbath whose sun shall ne'er go down.

If our children are induced to love the service of Christ on earth; if they love his Sabbaths here below; then may we hope with confident expectation, that they will, through divine grace, be prepared to shine, in robes of unclouded lustre, throughout interminable ages.

Sisters in Christ! it is for us to say, under God, whether the Sabbath shall be restored to its primitive sanctity and importance. We have a power which will ultimately pervade the halls of legislation. This power let us employ in humble dependence upon His profound aid, who virtually says to every mother, "Take this child and train it up for me, and I will pay thee thy wages."

Are we willing to pledge ourselves afresh to our Redeemer, that we will endeavor to interest and instruct our children every Sabbath? That every Saturday evening shall be improved by us as a season of preparation for the coming Sabbath, so that we and our children shall feel and enjoy the Sabbath, as a season of holy rest-of refreshment to the body, and of quickening to the soul? With what propriety has the Sabbath been styled, "the soul's market day." Our children will be influenced by our example, whether we realize it or not. As parents are faithful, or negligent, in the observance of this holy day, so will their children, in all probability, be happy or miserable for ever. Happy, happy mother, who can say, I have done all I could, to sanctify the Sabbath in the hearts of my beloved children.

Before we leave this subject, dear mother, only give your mind for a moment to the contemplation of a subject which cannot fail to interest you. Stretch your imagination down the narrow vale of time; pass over, in quick succession, the scenes of the judgment day-onward-onward—through the lapse of one eternal age after another. Fancy yourself borne on the wings of thought, to that dark cavern where lost spirits dwell; look with a steady and unbroken gaze on those objects of despair, chained in regions of blackness and darkness, for ever and for ever. One object more particularly arrests your attention. Your whole soul is riveted to that spot, and while in agony of spirit you gaze, you behold an object of indescribable anguish. You put your ear to catch the murmurings of despair, "Wretch that I am! I might have been happy-I was born in a Christian land; the Sabbath shed its mild and heavenly light on my bewildered path for many years. But I closed my heart against the truths inculcated from the sacred desk, and in the Sabbath School. While others, scarcely less beloved and respected than myself, bewailed their sins,

LETTER FROM H. P. O.

15

She

and sought and found the pardon of a God-I did not." Unhappy Mother! that miserable being was once your darling child. Again you hear him exclaim, “Fool that I was-and why did I not attend to the concerns of my soul-Oh! that heart-rending TRUTH always comes to fill up the cup of my misery. My Mother did not warn me to flee from the wrath to come. did every thing else for my seeming good. Before laying my little head upon the downy pillow, she always imprinted upon my lips the maternal kiss. She loved me tenderly-yes, she loved me inordinately. She toiled night and day to make me happy; but it was in a way to foster my pride and selfishness; and yet, the remembrance of her looks of love, of her tender care and sympathy for me, comes over me like the recollections of an hungry man, who in his morning dreams, fancies all delicacies within his reach; he stretches forth his hand to seize the fancied good-the illusion is gone-and nothing remains but hopeless misery and despair."

To the Editor of the Mother's Magazine.

It is, with me, a matter of unspeakable surprise, that the field of usefulness which you are beginning to cultivate, has so long remained untouched. For every thing else we have our magazines. Even the raising of cattle and corn is deemed of sufficient moment to call for periodicals devoted to those interests. Is the training of immortal beings a minor object? Yet the mother with a train of responsibilities upon her, which stretch over the vastness of eternity, has been supposed, it would seem, to need no such assistance.

Το

In my opinion, your first and last difficulty will be to awaken a sense of maternal responsibility. Without this, nothing can be done. To every mother is given, in solemn charge, the disposal of intelligence and immortality. She, beyond any and every other acting cause, stamps its enduring characteristics upon the mind and heart of her child. Is this a trivial responsibility? In my apprehension, it needs a prudence and wisdom such as few mothers have. It is an art not inherited, not innate, attainable only by diligent research. govern her child, a mother should know well the principles of the infant mind. Especially should she understand the science of its affections and passions. It is an instrument of inconceivable delicacy; easily unstrung,broken, and ruined. And yet to this task, deserving the utmost preparation, many a mother comes utterly untutored. Were she going to set up for a milliner, for that she must have served a due apprenticeship. But the mere training of her offspring, on which hangs the issues of two worlds, that any body can do, and. do without the trouble of preparation. In my apprehension, months and years of study and attention should precede the entrance upon a station so full of responsibility. But can mothers be made to feel this responsibility? It will be a new era in the history of our race, when they are thus aroused. But really it is painful to contemplate the inconsistency of so many, who are practising this consummate ignorance upon so many hundred thousands of the rising gen. eration. Go abroad in this city; see what multitudes of embryo immortals are germinating, like noxious weeds, amid the ignorance, and folly, and vice under whose polluting guardianship they are thrown. Go over the length and

breadt of onr land, and every where the evidence will stare you in the face, that mother's magazine is greatly needed.

we have generally considered, that the efforts of infant and Sabbath schools pomised the greatest good to the rising generation, because they commenced s early. I would go back still further. I would begin with the mothers; for every one knows that the best directed labors of the Sabbath school avail but little, unless sustained by a mother's care at home. You will then be casting salt into the fountain, instead of the streams.

I know of no better service that you can render your generation, than to arouse the attention of mothers. First get them to feel their responsibility, then they will try to qualify themselves for their station. I believe it to be a fact of nearly universal application, that a hundred fold more pains are taken to study economy, house-keeping, making puddings, and mending stockings, than is bestowed on what, after all, is the most material attribute of a mother-the talent to train up her children. I do not wonder that so many children are ruined. A quack may be expected to kill half his patients, and spoil the constitution of the rest.

I hope your magazine will succeed. I think it must. Its importance is so manifest, that it must command patronage and attention. If it does not, I shall feel that the evil is even greater than I had feared, and is in fact incurable. Yours, sincerely, H. P. O.

LETTER TO MRS. C.

My dear Mrs. C.

I know of no office so delicate as that of administering comfort to a bereaved widow; and yet I know of no stores so rich and abundant as those laid up for her consolation. The voice which speaks to you from heaven now, is, Daughter! I claim that place in your affections which has too long been bestowed upon a creature. Look upon my suffering and bleeding cause. You were thinking to have my kingdom extended by the exclusive efforts of your companion; but “ my ways are not as your ways, nor your thoughts as my thoughts." Do not complain that I have given to your beloved husband a more extended sphere of usefulness and activity, without fatigue of body and anxiety of mind; say, did he not need rest from the toils and cares of earth? It will be your privilege now to take his place in the more active duties of life. A voice too speaks from the grave. Do with thy might, do quickly, whatsoever thy hand findeth to do; and what is the language of your sainted husband—I leave our precious babes to your care, and Heaven's. Do not be anxious as to what they shall eat or drink, or wherewithal they shall be clothed; like the young ravens, they shall be fed. If you knew more of the joys of heaven, you would be chiefly concerned that they should prepare to join us in singing anthems of praise above. I know dear wife, there is an aching void in your widowed heart; but rise and claim the promise of a heavenly Father, and then your gain, as well as mine, will be of infinite value. Hear the compassionate language of this heavenly Father, "For thy Maker is thy husband"" leave thy fatherless children, I will preserve them alive"-" Let thy widows trust in