form a good, rational, and useful woman, rather than a clever and brilliant artiste. The voice, the finger, and the toe, would still receive their due portion of cultivation: but the heart would not be neglected; and the thinking, eternal mind, would be turned to those uses which become a rational and religious agent.

Having no interest, but what was bound up in the real and permanent happiness of her child, it would be the daily practice, as well as wish, of the parent, to make every thing tend to the essential welfare of her daughter's condition. She would know, perhaps from her own sad experience, that real happiness and mental character cannot flow from the same sources whence flow external accomplishments, but from a proper cultivation and discipline of the mind: hence the formation of her child's character would be to her the prime object of her thoughts and plans, in all her processes of instruction. The importance of this would force itself so strongly upon most mothers, that they would strive to make every thing subservient to it.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I do not say to every mother, Give up your governess;" in some cases it would be impossible to do so, and in most cases impracticable; but I do most earnestly impress upon all the very great use and importance of their taking at least a part in the general education of their daughters. There is no excuse for any one, who will honestly set to work after some such plan as I recommend. Surely, there is no English mother in the upper classes of society who can say that she has neither time nor ability for such an employment! I say English, for mothers should consider what good they may do their couns try, as well as their children.

Ponder, for a moment, the influence of a welltrained female mind in its domestic and social rela tions-the good it can do, the evil it can prevent! and it is quite certain, that nothing but a well-trained mind can perform well the duties of a daughter, wife, mother, and in all these characters, and at all times and in all places, the duties of a Christian lady.

Before. I leave this subject, I solemnly call upon all mothers, who are wont to transfer the formation of their daughter's minds to the hands of strangers, seriously to reflect upon what they are about. You have brought your child into the world, and you are answerable for the early impressions its infant mind shall receive. Is it too much to ask of you to make for your own peace, as well as that of your children, by giving an active attention in due time, when the mind is malleable, to the formation of your child's character, moral and intellectual,—an account of which will most surely be required at your hands! Remember, your daughters may play well, sing well, dance well, may talk well, about German, or the Opera, or this and that person, finally, may flirt well, and catch husbands and get establishments, but, if they cannot think well, and act well, as Christian ladies ought to think and act, verily, after all, they are but as sounding brass or tinkling cymbals, sporting along the broad high-way which leadeth to destruction!

Extracted from "The Mother the best Governess."

TRIFLES.

UNSOPHISTICATED nature does not despise trifles: the little birds when building their nests despise not the scattered straws by the way-side, nor the torn

wool in the thorny hedge. Children do not notice only the steep bank, the milestones, the stately trees, and the many tinted flowers around them; but likewise the insignificant worm, the thistle-down floating in the air, and the feather wafted past by the wind.

A cultivated intellect does not despise trifles: the falling of an apple, and the rainbow-tinted films of a soap bubble, were the small causes which led Newton to discover the laws of gravitation, and some of the Phenomena of light.

The God of creation does not despise trifles: the scientific researches of every day are disclosing to our view more proofs of his wonder-working skill and tender care, in every kingdom of nature, from the myriad peopled drop of water, or microscopic forest, to the sublime system of the universe.

The God of providence does not despise trifles: the helpless infant laid in the ark of woven rushes on the banks of the Nile, was his appointed instrument to deliver his own people, to establish a theocracy, and to guide them to the land of Promise, whence the light of truth has spread throughout the earth. A dusty and neglected copy of the Holy Scriptures engaged the stern energies of Luther, revealed to him the delusions of Popery, and prompted him to proclaim truth, unalloyed to its blinded votaries.

The God of grace does not despise trifles: the day of small things, the bruised reed and the smoking flax, are all regarded by him with peculiar in

terest.

The God of holiness does not despise trifles: his revealed will marks no gradation in sin, but covetousness is classed with murder; and the love of pleasure fearfully contrasted with the love of God.

I have been led to make these reflections by the frequent repetition of the remark, "It is only a trifle not worth notice;" but, if I may venture to judge, there are few things not worth notice; for those which are unimportant in themselves, are not so in their tendency. Human life is made up of trifles; and many suffer more from the mosquito-like annoyances, which every day assail us, than from severer trials. Are these annoyances to be despised, because they consist of trifles? or should we not rather seek from them to learn in patience to possess our souls? regarding them as sent in love by Him, whose wisdom we acknowledge in the heavier visitations of affliction.

The pencil, nature, music, books, afford us a constant succession of pleasures: Is the enjoyment we derive from them to be despised, because drawn from trifles? or is it not perhaps to be more highly prized than those high-wrought bursts of extatic rapture, which too frequently are poisoned in their origin, and leave a sting behind? Trifling actions are the links which form the strong chains of habit;-our habits materially affect the comfort and happiness of ourselves and those around us ;—is it then right to disregard their causes?

In another point of view trifles are of consequence. The human mind is not so framed as to endure being always engaged in abstract thought, even if our social duties would admit of it; yet it is never vacant, but ruminates on those things "which the five watchful senses represent." These are often trifles; but the choice which we make of them as subjects of thought, and the nature of our meditations respecting them, will fix the tone of our mind, mould our motives, and direct our actions. Should we then despise trifles? MARY P. B.

FEED MY LAMBS.

AND did our Shepherd bid us feed his lambs?
Behold I have prepar'd the tenderest grass

That grows on Zion's hill. Here feeble lambs
May find sweet nourishment, and greater strength
To climb the verdant heights, where the fair flock
On richer pasture feed. Say not too soon

I urge their tottering steps. Should I forbear,
On every side deceitful strangers stand,
And beckon them away ;-in flowery paths
Awhile to sport; and then to wander long
Amidst the hills of darkness and of death;
Where hungry beasts, in every thicket hid,
Wait to devour; and should they e'er return,
With fleeces all defiled and bleeding feet
The wanderers would come. O can they know
Too soon their Shepherd's voice, or love his name
Too soon, or in his gentle arms repose!
Then come, my little ones, and hear me tell
Of Jesus' dying love. If God shall pour
His Spirit from on high, your infant hearts
Shall thrill with tenderness; you'll run to meet
Your Shepherd's fond embrace; who shall forbid ? ́
"Tis Jesus bids you come, and calls you his;
And who shall pluck you from that pierced side?
'Tis Jesus' arms encircle you around;

In sight of all your foes, they'll bear you safe
O'er many a rugged path and dangerous steep,
To the sweet fold on Zion's summit fair.

And have you lodged your darling in those arms,
Fond mother? Did you, as his reason dawn'd,
And he began to muse on things unscen,
Unfold the history of a Saviour's love,
And painful death? And has that love won his?
O! then, should death's dark cloud arise,
And from your sight conceal his cherub form,
How sweet t'will be to catch his parting smile,
To see the infant angel, as he soars,

Cling fondly round his own beloved Lord!

P. P. D. Y.