ment with the allotments of Providence, and considered it an indispensable duty to be cheerful, and look at the bright side of things. 4. She considered herself, in a great degree, responsible for the tempers of those around her; hence, she was careful that those of her children should not be spoiled, either through indulgence or severity. If she reproved, she took care to do so in a spirit of meekness and affection, as well as fidelity; and she never said anything that was likely to goad either a child or a servant. 5. She considered the government of temper a most important part of Christian duty, as involving many other duties, indeed, affecting the performance of all. She often quoted that expression of the apostle Peter, "that your prayers be not hindered," 1 Pet. iii. 7, as an argument against family strife. "Think," she would say, "how the indulgence of evil tempers, shuts up our way to the throne of God, and hinders us from doing good to one another. Come, let us lay aside our angry feelings, and kneel and ask to be forgiven." 6. She cherished a constant sense of the Divine presence. I have more than once known her to reprove an angry expression with saying, "My dear child, did you consider that these words fell on the ear of God, as well as on the ear of the person to whom you addressed them?" 7. She was deeply sensible of her need | of Divine influence, and was earnestly desirous of being renewed, day by day, and more and more conformed to the spirit of Christ; and she was very solicitous not to grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by the admission of evil tempers. 8. She constantly bore in mind the near approach of death, judgment, and eternity; and if any indication of unkindness appeared, she would say, "Do not let us strive; think how soon we must stand before the judgment seat of Christ. Do not let us disagree; think how painfully a recollection of it, would embitter our separation when death arrives. There are troubles enough in the world; do not let us add to them by our own ill temper. These things will soon be done with; they are far too trifling to quarrel about; do let us love one another, and so live together as that the transition shall be easy from earth to heaven." In taking leave of my aunt and her temper, I will just notice three, from among many, of the advantages resulting from its happy regulation. (1.) It greatly promoted her own happiness. The government of temper is one particular in which "a good man shall be satisfied from himself," Prov. xiv. 14. As the turbulent, ill-tempered man carries the bitter spring of misery within himself, which, continually breaking forth, either carries away, or casts mire and dirt over all the outward comforts with which he may be surrounded; so the spirit of meekness diffuses that inward serenity, which is the first requisite of every pleasurable feeling, and which has the happy property of either annihilating or correcting outward sources of vexation. Those who cultivate a spirit of holy love and peace, realize most of the bliss of having "the God of love and peace" with them; and the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keeps their hearts and minds through Jesus Christ, 2 Cor. xiii. 11; Phil. iv. 7. Such was eminently the privilege of her, whose character I am attempting to describe. (2.) Her lovely consistency of character gave weight and sanction to her instructions and attempts at usefulness. A person of turbulent, violent passions, throws away this most valuable kind of influence. So far from being either respected or loved, such persons, if their eyes were open, might easily see, that, while they trample on the rights and feelings of others, they are either dreaded or despised for their brutality, and live only to excite the contempt or hatred of society. And when was religion successfully recommended by such a teacher, or exemplified by such an example? On the contrary, nothing can be more odious or contemptible, than for such an one to pretend to be a disciple of Jesus. The domestics of such a person, and all who observe his carriage towards them, will be tempted to despise that religion which they see joined with such rank and loathsome hypocrisy. But when my aunt spake to a child, a servant, or a neighbour of the truths and claims of the pel, not a moment's doubt could be entertained whether she really believed them, and lived under their influence, or whether she were rendered thereby the better and the happier. She was, indeed, Christianity embodied and alive. Her example was both amiable and attractive, and lodged a testimony in the bosoms of all who observed her, that there is true blessedness in religion, and that in that blessedness she largely participated. gos (3.) My aunt's own well regulated temper, maintained as it was by the constant exercise of Christian principle, eminently qualified her to be a peacemaker. I never knew her take part in the quarrels of others, and yet she was often appealed to when misunderstandings arose. The result of these appeals invariably tended to make each party think more favourably of the other, and more disposed to cherish and adopt measures of reconciliation. On these occasions she would sometimes say, "Now we are not going to settle the question, who was right and who was wrong; let that pass. Remember Lord Bacon's maxim, that 'it is the part of sound wisdom, never to let what we do know be disturbed by what we do not know.' Now we do know, beyond dispute or mistake, that it is quite right we should love one another, and live in peace; but we are very liable to ignorance and mistake, when we attempt to pronounce upon the feelings and conduct of others, or even upon our own. So let that pass, and fix upon the undoubted Christian duty of putting away all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, with all malice, and be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven us, Eph. iv. 31, 32." It was not my intention to say so much about my aunt's temper; and yet, I do not think any more has been said than was necessary to exhibit it in a just light, or than may be useful in assisting myself and others in the regulation of our own tempers-a matter so intimately connected with Christian consistency and usefulness, and with domestic harmony and comfort. like. My aunt's antipathies and predilections were excited by indications of moral character, which she was pretty quick in discerning. It seems to savour of prejudice to form an opinion of the character of an individual at first sight; and yet, without fancying oneself competent to discover the entire character, there may be a something, either very repellant or very attractive, which, almost unperceived by ourselves, makes a lasting, and not often erroneous, impression on the mind. I have frequently heard my uncle remark, that, if a stranger called on him on business when my aunt was present, he watched her expressive countenance, and if he could perceive that an unfavourable impression were made, he exercised caution in his transactions with that individual; and that he had invariably found her impressions to have been correct. I am sure she must, perhaps unconsciously, have observed some little action or expression indicative of character; for she was not one to form an opinion from groundless prejudices. She did not like a person who, when speaking or listening to another, did not fix the eye upon that of the speaker, or person addressed; for she thought it indicated either inattention to what was spoken, disrespect to the speaker, or a want of conscious sincerity. Neither did she like a person who would thrust the face close to that of the person addressed. A forward, obtrusive disposition would, she thought, be found to pervade the whole character. She disliked persons who accompanied their conversation, with a significant wink, which, perhaps, as far as any particular speech went, signified nothing; but bespoke, in general, a high opinion of personal shrewdness, and a capacity for manoeuvreing. My aunt had some antipathies and predilections, which must now be noticed. I scarcely need say, that she was a woman of too much good sense to cherish any silly antipathy against harmless things-spiders, frogs, beetles, or the She had a great antipathy to selfishI remember that she was particu-ness, indicated in little things, such as larly careful to guard us children against the same person, when seated by the firesuch prejudices by interesting us in ob- side himself, being exceedingly angry if serving the formation and habits of the the door were set open for one minute, creatures referred to, making us familiar even to bring in his dinner, yet, when with their natural history, and teaching quitting the room, invariably leaving it us to cherish benevolent feelings towards open upon other people; such, again, as them, to protect them from injury, and professing to recommend as the best that take pleasure in seeing them enjoy the which it was most desirable to get rid of; happiness for which they were created and such as admiring the property of and designed. I believe not one of us. other people, with a desire to become regarded the above-mentioned creatures possessed of it in the shape of a present. with less admiration, than we did a canary bird, or a peacock butterfly. She had a great dislike to the professed epicure or gourmand, whose thoughts and feelings seemed to be concentred in the business of eating and drinking:. on the other hand, she did not admire those who affected an unnatural indifference to the same matters. "It is necessary to us," she would say, "to eat and drink, and it is more agreeable to have good and wellprepared food than otherwise; the best regulated feelings, in this respect, will lead us to enjoy, with moderation and gratitude, the bounties of Providence, and neither to despise nor idolize them. There is a fault in the character of those who do either, and generally a fault that reaches far below the surface.' The power of suddenly changing the voice from an affected whisper, or a piteous whine, to an angry scold or a boisterous shout, or vice versa, gave her a very unfavourable impression of the person who possessed it. She had an equal dislike to tradesmen who affected to favour her in the purchase of their goods. I remember one who lost her custom by naming twenty-five shillings as the price of an article, and added, "but a guinea, as it is to you.'" She had no claim to his especial favour, and no reason to suppose that he would in sincerity offer it to her. She therefore concluded, that the first-named price was extravagant, and that the man who made two prices was not to be depended on for integrity and honour. My aunt had an instinctive shrinking from flattery. The esteem of the wise and good she richly deserved, generally enjoyed, and highly valued; but sycophantic flattery she held in utter abhorrence; and a person who wished to obtain a favour from her, could not take a surer method of frustrating his object, than by beginning with compliments. She had also a great dislike to persons assuming airs of familiarity, either with herself or others, with whom, at most, they were on the footing of slight acquaintance. She compared them to parasitical plants, which, not having vigour to support their aspiring pretensions, servilely cling to any substantial and elevated object within their reach, and seem to appropriate the fictitious elevation as their proper level. Nor were those persons less contemptible, in her esteem, who would endeavour to force upon her their confidence, by communicating their own secrets, or those of others with which she had no concern. When warning me against forming an intimacy with a person of this description, I recollect her saying to me, Depend upon it, all this gratuitous information is not given without an expectation of a return in kind. Those who are too communicative are also too inquisitive, and should always be regarded as merchants, inviting to the establishment of truck and barter; but whose credit is so low, that it would be unwise to trust them with our own stock, and unjust to commit to them the property of others." Unnecessary professions of friendship and fondness she very much disliked. If the sentiments really existed, there were better ways of expressing them than by mere words. In reference to such disgusting displays, she used to quote the just and beautiful remark of Cowper: "Stillest streams Oft water fairest meadows; and the bird That flutters least, is longest on the wing." Display and affectation of every kind were most repulsive to her. I could mention many particulars, but shall confine myself to one. She had an utter aversion to letter-writing apologies and injunctions-apologies for haste at the close of a letter, itself too long by half; and injunctions to concealment of a letter, every period of which had evidently been rounded with the utmost care, if not the dictionary ransacked in search of fine long words; and flowers of imagery and sentimentality scattered with so evident an aim at effect, that could the writer for a moment have imagined that the request would be complied with, and no eye, save those of her correspondent, be permitted to look upon the lines, her own would have been filled with the tears of bitter disappointment at losing the anticipated reward. Shabby gentility, beggarly pride, incongruous mixtures of extravagance and meanness, splendour and shabbiness, were among the objects of her aversion. She was a gentlewoman by birth, education, habits, and circumstances; and I never knew her do an unlady-like action; but she did not consider it unlady-like to be active in her own house and nursery, to do anything that was really useful, or to condescend to men of low estate. I have hence heard her express indignation, if not contempt of a mother in straitened circumstances, who, when she could not afford to employ a nurse-maid, suffered her little ones to pine for want of air and exercise, rather than, as she fancied, degrade herself, or her eldest daughter, by being seen to carry them abroad. Nor transgressions-those things which ought to be had in remembrance as " wormwood and gall," Lam. iii. 19; and matters of deep shame and humiliation, Rom. vi. 21. -But I have left myself scarcely room to say a word or two about my aunt's predilections. She was partial to young persons, who, in company, were distinguished by modest silence. She gave them credit for being diligent learners, and for having something to say when a proper opportunity was afforded them to speak. She cultivated the society of such young persons, and I believe, seldom had reason to retract her good opinion. She had a particular partiality for dutiful children. If she had good reason to believe that a young person was remarkable for filial reverence, affection, and obedience, she would place almost implicit confidence in the virtue of that young person in every other respect. If my aunt were about to hire a servant, of all who applied, she would be sure to engage the one that came in a neat, clean working dress. "If," said she, "people are suitably and neatly equipped for work, I can make sure of their having a decent, respectable wardrobe in every other particular, and of their being habitually neat and orderly; but if one sees them dressed out ever so fine, we have no security that they do not carry all they possess upon their backs. had she a very exalted opinion of young ladies who would trouble a shopkeeper to send a considerable distance with a small, light parcel, which the said young ladies might easily have put into a pocket. By the way, it had not, in my aunt's day, become unfashionable for ladies to wear that convenient, personal appendage, a pocket, or a pair of pockets. Neither was the office of the pocket a mere sinecure. I recollect that when the children began to wear a pocket, my aunt was very particular to make them wear it one day on one side, and the next day on the other, lest the disproportioned weight should draw them aside. When about twelve years of age, she furnished us with a pair of pockets, and even then she occasionally ascertained that they were about equally loaded. What would my aunt have thought of a young lady who had not about her person a thimble, a pincushion, a pair of scissors, a needle and thread? What would she have thought of a maid servant who would fancy herself degraded by carrying a parcel rather larger than could be contained in a little silk bag, which, with more propriety than she is aware of, she calls her ridicule? Ah! I thought of my aunt but the other day, on seeing a little bit of a servant girl, twelve or thirteen years of age, just installed in her first place, very gracefully taking her pocket handkerchief out of such a bag. Thinks I to myself, "My aunt Priscilla would not have hired you.' In looking over a house-and though I will mention but one particular more, my aunt did not often change her own as an object of my aunt's aversion. It residence, her judgment was often sought, was any thing like an ostentatious, ob- in the choice of a dwelling, by her chiltrusive, ill-timed display of religious pro- dren and young friends, when about to fession. My aunt was truly and emi- settle-she first looked at the kitchen and nently religious, and she was by no means attics, "for," said she, "if they are conashamed of her religion. She delighted | venient and well arranged, no doubt the in all the appointed means of grace. Her parlours and drawing rooms are so too." entire conduct was actuated by religious principle. She thoroughly enjoyed Christian intercourse, and she was indefatigable in her efforts to diffuse religion around her; but she could not endure an indiscreet, an irreverent manner of speaking of sacred things in general, and of the exercises of Christian experience in particular, especially in promiscuous society, which our Lord has characterized as casting pearls before swine, Matt. vii. 6. She was distressed at any manifestation of the self-exulting spirit of Jehu, "Come with me, and see my zeal for the Lord,' 2 Kings x. 16; and she was shocked and disgusted when one professing penitence could speak with flippancy of past In any pursuit in which she engaged, she was very fond of going thoroughly into the groundwork, and making herself accurately familiar with principles, rather than of pleasing herself with rapid advancement and showy display; and even in the best things, though she was for many years in the school of Christ, to the last her favourite passages of Scripture were the most simple declarations and promises of salvation through Jesus Christ for the chief of sinners. She died as she had lived, saying "A guilty, weak, and helpless worm, Be thou my strength and righteousness, C. FEMALE DRESS IN THE EAST.* ARTICLES of female dress are, we find, specified in the prophecies of Isaiah, ch. iii. 18-24. We shall notice them briefly in the order we there find them. Tinkling ornaments about their feet. These ornaments are such as they now wear in oriental countries. Mr. Lane thus speaks of them: "Anklets of solid gold, or silver, are worn by some ladies, but are more uncommon than they formerly were. They are, of course, very heavy, and knocking together as the wearer walks, make a ringing noise; hence it is said in a song, The ringing of thy anklets has deprived me of reason.' Isaiah alludes to this, or perhaps to the sound produced by another kind of anklet." This he also describes:-"Anklets of solid silver, already described, are worn by the wives of some of the richer peasants, and the sheyks of villages. Some anklets of iron are worn by many children. It was also a common custom among the Arabs, for girls or young women to wear a string of bells on their feet. I have seen many little girls in Cairo with small round bells attached to their anklets. Perhaps it is to the sound of ornaments of this kind, rather than of the more common anklets, that Isaiah alludes." Rauwolf speaks to the same effect, and so also do other travellers; and there is a passage in the Koran, analogous to that of the prophet Isaiah, *From "Eastern Arts," published by the Religious Tract Society. which alludes to the same ornament. It runs thus: "Let them not (that is, the women) "make a noise with their feet, that the ornaments which they hide may "Let thereby be discovered." That is, them not make a noise with their feet, etc., by shaking the rings which the women in the East wear about their ankles, and which are usually of gold or silver." The pride which the Jewish ladies of old took in making a tinkling with these ornaments of the feet is, among other things of that nature, severely reproved by the prophet Isaiah. Caul. Much difference of opinion exists as to what the caul alludes. The most probable is, that it refers to the manner in which the women set the tresses of their hair as they hang down their backs. The hair is equally divided into a number of braids and tresses, to each of which are added three silken threads, each charged with small ornaments of gold, and terminating in small gold coins. Mr. Lane thus speaks of these ornaments: sufa appears to me the prettiest, as well as the most singular of the ornaments worn by the ladies of Egypt. The glittering of the burck, etc., and their clinking together as the wearer walks, have a peculiarly lively effect." "The Round tires like the moon.- -This ornament most probably consisted of small moonlike figures, strung together, and worn as a necklace. Some, however, think, that the denomination from the moon denotes the lustre of the orna I |