Another principle something different from this, though it may properly fall under the head of selfishness, seems to actuate some parents, in their conduct towards their children. I mean a certain slothfulness of mind, a love of ease, which imposes a voluntary blindness, and makes them not choose to see, what it will give them trouble to combat. From such persons we frequently hear such expressions as these, Children will be children' My children, I suppose, are much like those of other people,' &c. Thus we may observe this dangerous and delusive principle, frequently turning off with a smile, from the first indications of those tempers, which from their fatal tendency, ought to be very seriously taken up. I would be understood now as speaking to conscientious parents, who consider it a duty to correct the faults of their children, but who from this indolence of mind are extremely backward in discovering such faults, and not very well pleased when they are pointed out by others. Such parents will do well to take notice, that whatever they think it a duty to correct, it must be equally a duty to endeavour to find out. And this love of ease is more to be guarded against, as it not only leads parents into erroneous conduct towards their children, but is peculiarly dangerous to themselves. It is a fault frequently cherished, from ignorance of its real character, for not bearing on it the strong features of deformity

which mark many other vices, but on the contrary bearing some resemblance to virtue, it is frequently mistaken for the Christian graces of patience, meekness, and forbearance, than which nothing can be more opposite; these proceeding from the Christian principle of self-denial, the other from self-indulgence. HANNAH MORE.

It is not uncommon for parents, while they forego the exercise of their own reason, to trust to the future reason of their children for counteracting the effects of their injudicious management. But does experience justify their confidence? I believe every person who has traced the rise and progress of passions in individuals, will answer in the negative.

The frequent recurrence of any passion, even in our earliest years, begets a tendency to that passion, till it is strengthened into a habit, and becomes, as it were, interwoven with the constitution. How difficult, how next to impossible, is it then to conquer, all can witness! Reason may

govern, and religion may so far subdue it, as to prevent its excess to the prejudice of society; but by nothing less than a miracle, can it be totally eradicated from the breast. The more worthy the heart, the more delicate the conscience, the more bitter will be the sensations

of regret and self-abhorrence, which a person liable to the dominion of passion, and at the same time under the influence of principle, must frequently endure.

How many are the agonizing tears shed in private by the irascible, while, perhaps, the sudden ebullition of wrath that brought them forth, may have fixed a dagger in the heart of a friend, doomed there to rankle for ever! And yet anger being a passion which quickly vents itself, and is then annihilated, is less generally obnoxious than peevishness or pride, which have no crisis, but which continue to operate, without rest or interval. HAMILTON.

AND can a mother's love grow cold,
Can she forget her boy?
His pleasing innocence behold,
Now weep for grief, for joy?—
A mother may forget her child
While wolves devour it on the wild,
Is this a mother's love?

Ten thousand voices answer, 'No!'
Ye clasp your babes and kiss,
Your bosoms yearn, your eyes o'erflow,
Yet ah! remember this-

The infant reared alone for earth,

May live, may die, to curse his birth,
Is this a mother's love?

A parent's heart may prove a snare;
The child she loves so well,

Her hand may lead with gentlest care,
Down the smooth road to hell,
Nourish its frame, destroy its mind,
Thus do the blind mislead the blind,
E'en with a mother's love.

Ir is time to have done with that senseless cant of charity, which insults the understandings, and trifles with the feelings of those who are really concerned for the happiness of their fellow crea

tures.

What matter of keen remorse, and of bitter self-reproach, are they storing up for their future torment, who are themselves the miserable dupes of such misguided charity; or who being charged with the office of watching over the eternal interests of their children or relations, suffer themselves to be lulled asleep, by such shallow reasonings, or to be led into a direliction of their important duty, by a fear of bringing on themselves momentary pain! True charity is wakeful, fervent, full of solicitude, full of good offices-not so easily satisfied, not so ready to believe every

thing is going on well, as a matter of course; but jealous of mischief, apt to suspect danger, and prompt to extend relief. That wretched quality, by which the sacred name of charity is now so generally and so falsely usurped, is no other than indifference, which against the plainest evidence, or at least where there is strong ground of apprehension, is easily contented to believe that all goes well, because it has no anxieties to allay, no fears to repress. WILBERFORCE.

ON INCONSISTENCY IN PARENTS.

WOULD not a stranger be led to imagine, by a view of the reigning mode of female education, that human life consisted of one universal holiday, and that the grand contest between the several competitors was, who should be most eminently qualified to excel and carry off the prize, in the various shews and games which were intended to be exhibited in it? And to the exhibitions themselves, would he not be ready to apply Sir Francis Bacon's observation on the Olympian victors, that they were so excellent in these unnecessary things, that their perfection must needs have been acquired by the neglect of whatever was necessary?

HANNAH MORE.