82 A MOTHER'S THOUGHTS. [Written for the Mother's Assistant.] A MOTHER'S THOUGHTS. "Their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in Heaven." "Mama," said a little boy one day, while looking with admiration upon his infant sister, "what a beautiful baby the Savior must have been!" The thought so innocently expressed, struck me forcibly. How beautiful indeed he must have been! If the faces of our sweet infants fill us with such delight, how intense must have been the emotions of Joseph and Mary when gazing upon that Holy One, on whom no shadow of sin had ever descended. Well did the old painters give to Mary the lofty and beautiful expression with which they always represent her; for the companionship of such a child, would, alone, impart something of its own angelic loveliness. We cannot picture to ourselves the perfect bliss of such a mother. Her heart was not saddened by the thought that sin could ever enter his innocent bosom, or shadow his beautiful brow. There were to be struggles, disappointments, and suf ering, but no sin. If her heart foretold his future destiny, how must she have rejoiced with him, although with a mother's tenderness, she rejoiced through her tears. And from the day when our first mother, with a joyful though repentant heart, pressed her lips to the cheek of her first born, to the hour when the most highly favored among women rejoiced over her holy offspring-and from that blessed time, to these latter days, when God sends us the same yearning tenderness, how much joy has the smile of an infant given. How it warms the coldest heart, softens the hardest, and brightens the saddest! It is a delight to all, from the parents themselves, to the little child who welcomes its baby brother with unwonted gentleness. I have often thought what a beautiful order of Nature it is, that the helpless creature who brings so much care and anxiety, should bring with it also, so much love. Surely no parent was ever an unbeliever in the goodness of God. He could not look upon the innocent being consigned to his keeping, and not feel certain of the overruling providence of a kind and merciful Father. And then as days pass away and the little creature shows signs of intelligence, what a sunshine its presence casts over the whole dwelling! How we hail its first smile, and then watch the look of curious wonder with which it examines ENCOURAGEMENT TO PIOUS WIVES. 83 the exquisite workmanship of its own little hands! Then it learns to distinguish its friends from strangers, and nestles its head in its mother's bosom, when one it knows not, enters; then it laughs, and crows, and jumps; and who, that has not a a heart of stone, can resist its beautiful gladness? How often have I said to myself, "of such is the kingdom of heaven." One lesson in particular we may learn from them, and that a most important one-the lesson of faith. With what a confiding trust the infant reposes in its mother's arms! There is no fear, no anxiety, but a "perfect love which casteth out all fear." Its feeling is, "there is a kind hand ever near me which will keep me from danger; " a watchful love which will avert all evil." Is it not a beautiful emblem of the faith which the Christian should feel in the tender love of his Heavenly Father? "As the mother moveth about the house with her finger upon her lip, and stilleth every little noise that her infant be not disturbed; as she draweth the curtains around its bed and shutteth out the light from its tender eyes;-so God draweth the curtains of darkness around us; so he maketh every thing to be hushed and still, that his large family may sleep." 66 Sweet child, as my bosom is yearning for thee, Boston, Mass., March, 1843. A. F. D. ENCOURAGEMENT TO PIOUS WIVES.-A short time ago, as I was conversing with a pious old man, I inquired what were the means of his conversion. For a moment he paused. I perceived I had touched a tender string. Tears rushed from his eyes, while, with deep emotion, he replied, 'My wife was brought to God some years before myself. I persecuted and abused her, because of her religion. She, however, returned nothing but kindness, constantly manifesting an anxiety to promote my comfort and happiness; and it was her amiable conduct, when suffering ill-treatment from me, that first sent the arrows of conviction to my soul. "Temper," added he, "is every thing." CHILDHOOD.-Remember to begin early. One drop of warm rain may cause the tender shoot to swell and flourish, while a whole shower does but little good to the tree. 84 NOTICES OF BOOKS. NOTICES OF BOOKS. THE KAREN APOSTLE, Or Memoir of Ko Thah-Byu, the first Karen Convert, with notices concerning his Nation. By Rev. Francis Mason, Missionary to the Karens. Boston: Gould, Kendall and Lincoln, 59, Washington Street. 1843. We have here a book of 153 pages, giving the life of a converted heathen, who became a missionary, and was instrumental himself in the conversion of many of his benighted brethren. He was born about the year 1778, was converted in 1828, at the age of 50, and died in 1840, aged 62. The life of this man is a remarkable one, and adds much to the interest of the Burman mission, whose history is fraught with some of the most remarkable and glorious events which have transpired in modern times. The history of that truly wonderful man, Mr. Judson, who still lives and labors among the heathen, and the history of his devoted and amiable wife, who has long since passed to her reward in heaven, have thrown round that mission a charm, upon which all Christians love to gaze with feelings of the deepest delight and admiration. PARENTAL INFLUENCE. Influence of Religious Parents, Illustrated by Interesting Tales, Selected from different Authors. By a Father. The above is the title page of a little work just published. Maternal Associations accustomed to listen to reading in their religious meetings, will find much to interest and profit them in this little book. Here is a collection of serious and impressive facts, which speak volumes to every one sustaining the important relation of parent. Those who wish to be profited themselves and to profit others, will do well to read and circulate it. For sale by Saxton and Peirce, 133 Washington Street. This Annual contains 252 pages, THE MASSACHUSETTS REGISTER. comprising, beside the usual astronomical calculations of the almanac, a vast amount of matter, which will be found useful, more or less, to almost every family; but especially to clergymen, as it contains a list of all the clergy in the State-a list of the colleges, academies, theological institutions, missionary, education, Sabbath school, literary and charitable societies. Published and for sale in this city by James Loring, 132, Washington Street. LIFE OF WASHINGTON. Tappan & Dennet, of this city, have issued the eighth number of this beautiful publication. The embellishment is Washton's Head Quarters near Newburg, N. J. The historical period is from December, 1770, to March, 1781. Published in fourteen numbers. Price only twenty-five cents each. THE YOUNG LADY'S FRIEND. [Written for the Young Lady's Friend.] A VISION. As I was sitting in a melancholy mood one evening, reflecting deeply upon the moral evils which afflict society, the triumph of cold-hearted selfishness over the generous and confiding, the oppression of pride; and success of the deceitful and malicious; together with the false and suspicious motives attributed to the pure and simple-hearted; I became wearied and sickened with the view, and sunk into a gentle slumber. In a moment a being of celestial form and beauty was at my side, and as I gazed at his countenance, radiant with benignity and love, I felt soothed and tranquilized. To the affectionate inquiries of the stranger, "of the cause of my dejection," I replied that "I was weary of a false and deceitful world. I look in vain for truth, integrity and righteousness. Earth contains no longer a repose for the guileless heart,_nor a resting-place for a noble and disinterested friendship. Tell, me," I cried, "if truth and goodness have forever fled." "Mistaken mortal!" replied my heavenly visitant. “Blind and weak are thy perceptions; narrow and severe thy judgment. When the flowers no longer spring up in the desert, and the rain-clouds have washed away the stars from yonder vault, then mayest thou conclude that goodness and purity have vanished from the world. Come with me and learn that there are still in human hearts, gems of priceless worth, guarded with more watchful care than the miser's gold. Gemsnot of earth, but scattered among its base rubbish, ere long to be gathered up to garnish the palaces of angels." He took my hand, and presently I was at the door of an immense building, brilliantly illuminated, from which proceeded the sounds of festive mirth and hilarity. The doors of a rich saloon were thrown open, exhibiting a vast assem bly of every age and rank. As I eagerly advanced into the promiscuous throng, I felt a soft pressure of a hand upon my eyelids, and what was my amazement on looking round, to behold that vast multitude invested with purely transparent forms, so that the whole inner circle of thoughts, emotions, passions, imaginations and memory even, were instantly revealed to sight. My guide, perceiving my agitation, whispered to me, "Be calm; I desire only to give you a glimpse of the world in which you dwell, as it really is. Attend to the lesson before you." Immediately a female drew near with a gentle air, and graceful recognition, expressing in unmeasured professions her admiration at "being honored by the presence of such distinguished strangers ;" and I should have been captivated by the witchery of her beaming beauty, had not my eye rested on the lucid tracery, depicting its dark lines of contempt, derision, and hate on the soul. I turned suddenly away, and a youth approached, with such a serene and composed expression, that I was favorably impressed; but a glance exposed the interior lines of self-complacence and admiration converging to a focus, at the shrine at which he worshipped. Soon a touch from my guide recalled me to the observation of one at a distance, who seemed encircled by a faint glow of light. As she slowly drew near, I had opportunity to notice a face of ineffable sweetness, with a form arrayed in simple elegance. The halo which encircled her, passing through this transparent medium with the celerity of a sunbeam, revealed to my entranced eye, a picture of moral beauty which it is imposible to describe. There were the pulsations of disinterested and expansive benevolence, a self-forgetfulness and devotion, a subdued tenderness and chastened sensibility, touched by the luminous pencil of truth, and made brilliant by the glowing coloring of love! At this instant, my companion put into my hand a glass, and bade me "look." I beheld, and that atmosphere of light was the pavillion of angels, surrounding their precious charge, intent on duty, watching with faithful care, to turn aside the breath of calumny, the shaft of malice, or the evil eye. All unconscious of her celestial guard, was that fair being, but safe as "the apple of the eye." As she passed by, I distinctly perceived a gentle vibration like the swept chords of a well-tuned instrument; in mysterious sympathy with the kindred spirit at my side. |