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MATERNAL AFFECTION.

DISPLAYS itself in ten thousand ways; but the following instance of its operation is most singular and impressive.

"ONE morning (said an old shepherd at Freshwater) as I was looking for a strayed ewe, I came up with some bird-catchers. They presently prepared their tackle, and went down the cliffs, and left behind the wife of one of them, to shift the ropes, and do such offices as the nature of their business demanded. That she might the better attend to her charge, the woman had placed beneath her cloak, at a small distance, a sleeping boy, about twelve months old, and thinking all was safe, applied herself to the stake, when looking round, to her great astonishment, the child had crept from beneath the covering, and had wantonly reached the verge of the cliff, at least eight hundred feet from the sea, and wanted but a few inches more to sink into eternity! Alarmed at his tremendous situation, the mother stood like a fixed oak, but spoke not. To rush forward was to destroy her playful boy. What could she do? Heaven inspired her with the sudden thought-she bared her breast, and claimed by signs, which feeling mothers best devise, her boy's attention. He saw his favourite source, stretched his little arms, and smiling, hastened to the fountain of his life and health, while the eager mother, in speechless enjoyment, first hugged him to her breast; then bore him from the reach of danger, and still retired some paces further back, but only to fall and faint, overcome with the swift returning ecstacy "Ramble from Bristol.

LIBERALITY OF SENTIMENT

Is a lesson which should be inculcated from every quarter upon the tender mind. It is fa vourable to true religion, and holds in due ab. horrence every species of bigotry.

"TEACH your children to prefer their own religion; but inculcate at the same time that the virtuous are acceptable to God, however erroneous in point of belief. Press it home to them that there is nothing in nature to hinder different sects of Christians from living ami. cably together, more than different sects of philosophers or of men, who work in different arts, especially as the articles of faith which distinguish these sects are purely speculative; they have no relation to morals, nor any influence on our conduct. Yet from these distinctions have proceeded rancour and animosity, as if our most important concerns had been at stake. In a different view the absurdity appears still more glaring; these articles, the greater part at least, relate to subjects beyond the reach of human understanding. The Almighty by his works of creation, has made his wisdom and benevolence manifest, but he has not found it ne. cessary to explain to his creatures the manner of his existence, and in all appearance the manner of his existence is beyond the reach of our conceptions; persecution for the sake of religion would have been entirely prevented by whole. some education, instilling into the minds of young people that difference of opinion is no just cause of discord, and that different sects may live amicably together. In a word, neglect no opportunity to impress on the mind of

your pupils that religion is given for our good, and that no religion can be true which tends to disturb the peace of society.".--Lord Kaimes.

PARABLE AGAINST PERSECUTION.

THIS piece of composition is indeed well known, but the subject is so important...the mode of illustration so striking--and the tendency of it so truly useful, that we could not refuse it a place in our little miscellany.

"AND it came to pass after these things, that Abraham sat in the door of his tent about the going down of the sun. And behold a man, bent with age, coming from the way of the wilderness, leaning on a staff. And Abraham arose and met him, and said unto him, Turn in, I pray thee, and wash thy feet, and tarry al night, and thou shalt arise early in the morning and go thy way.' And the man said Nay, for I will abide under this tree.' But Abraham entreated him greatly, so he turned and they went into the tent; and Abraham baked unleavened bread, and they did eat. And when Abraham saw that the man blessed not God, he said unto him, Wherefore dost thou not worship the Most High God, Creator of heaven and earth? And the man answered and said, I do not worship thy God, neither do I call upon his name; for I have made to myself a God, which abideth always in mine house, and provideth me with all things. And Abraham's zeal was kindled against the man, and he arose and fell upon him, and drove him forth with blows into the wilderness. And God called unto Abraham, saying, Abraham, where is the stranger

And Abraham answered,

and said, Lord, he would not worship thee, neither would he call upon thy name; therefore I have driven him out from before my face in, to the wilderness.' And God said, Have I borne with him these hundred and ninety eight years, and nourished him, and clothed him, notwithstanding his rebellion against me; and couldest not thou, who art thyself a sinner, bear with him one night ?"--Dr. Franklin.

AN UNDUTIFUL CHILD

Is an object of general hatred and detestation, Heathens, Jews, and Christians unite in the re probation of so unnatural a character; it is at once the bane and disgrace of human nature.

"A cruel and undutiful Child is the most odi. ous and unnatural monster upon earth; inso. much that the Chinese are said to punish such crimes with the greatest severity. It is re corded in their history, that if a son should be known to kill, or so much as to strike his father, not only the criminal, but his whole family, would be rooted out, their dwelling razed to the ground, and its foundation sown with salt! La Compte indeed adds, that the inhabitants of the place where he lived, would be put to the sword, as they concluded there must have been a total depravation of manners in that clan or society of people, who could have bred up among them so horrid an offender !"--Dr. Hugh Smith.

THE ECCENTRICITIES OF GENIUS

ROUSE attention and afford occasional amuse" ment. But alas! they often involve the indi

vidual who is distinguished by them, in serious evils; these cannot fail of exciting our pity and commiseration.

"I am sad when I contemplate the eccentricities of Genius! Like meteors some flash upon our view, and are extinguished; some shake their torches in our eyes, and delight to dazzle instead of directing us. Surely that man is the wisest as well as the happiest, who considers there are luminaries enough to enlighten the world, and lets his taper shine from the windows of the lonely farm-house! A little taper will lighten the room, but place it to illuminate the street, it will do no good, and the wind will speedily extinguish it."---Southey.

THE ELEPHANT

Is a wonderful animal; and has both in ancient and modern times been duly estimated in the Eastern world: his virtues are thus enumerated by a natural historian, justly celebrated for the accuracy and eloquence of his descriptions.

"TO form a just estimation of the elephant, he must be allowed to possess the sagacity of the beaver, the address of the ape, the sentiment of the dog, together with the peculiar advantages of strength, largeness, and long duration of life. Neither should we overlook his arms or tusks, which enable him to transfix and conquer the lion! We should also consider that the earth shakes under his feet, that with his hand he tears up trees, that by a push of his body he makes a breach in a wall, that though tremendous in strength he is rendered still more invincible by his enormous mass, and by the

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