CHAPTER VIII.

HIS FILIAL LOVE.

THE obligations of filial affection have their foundation alike in the dictates of nature and of revelation. He that can wantonly violate them, in doing so, must trample on some of the plainest demands of moral propriety, and set at naught the most solemn injunctions of the Divine Word. In barbarous lands, indeed, this sacred duty has been cruelly disregarded, and thereby practically denied. There, has usage often authorized the child, in raising his parricidal arms against those who gave him birth; especially when age and infirmities rendered them unfit for the business of life, and a supposed burden to the community. But a far different standard of filial inorality has been established in Christian lands, and of consequence a widely different practice prevails. Here, it is a duty of paramount obligation. Indeed so obvious and reasonable a one is it, that they are scarcely thought deserving of praise who discharge it, seeing its glaring neglect, would stamp the character with a mark of peculiar infamy. And yet, however monstrous a vice filial ingratitude may be, its existence is not so rare, as to render its opposite virtue without its claims to commenda

tion. There is certainly in the world a great deal of unkindness in children towards their parents,-enough to cause much unhappiness in the latter, if not to tarnish the characters of the former. They have a claim, then, to the tribute of our approbation, who, resisting every temptation to this sin, do faithfully and affectionately exemplify a virtue of such distinguished excellence, and important social effects as that of filial love.

Every child," says a pious writer, "is bound to entertain the most respectful and reverential thoughts concerning his parents, and concerning the parental character. He is to remember, and regard his parents, as standing in the most venerable, and the most endearing, of all earthly relations to him; as those to whom, under God, he owes his being, and the great mass of his blessings. He is to regard them as the persons, to whose kindness, care, and government, he has been committed by God himself. He is to consider them as the best of all friends; the most affectionate, the most faithful, the most confidential, the most persevering, the most watchful, the most unwearied.

"The words uttered by children, which respect their parents in any manner, are to correspond with the thoughts, which have been here recommended, and, if effectual care is taken to make the thoughts right, the words will be right of course.

"The deportment of children, when their parents are present, ought to exhibit every mark of respect. The honour which God commands them to give, ought in the literal sense to be here invariably rendered without qualification, without reserve, without reluctance. However humble the station, the circumstances, the educa

tion, or the manners of parents may be; the child instead of discovering that he is ashamed of them, is bound cheerfully to acknowledge their proper superiority; to exhibit towards them a respectful deference; and always to prevent even a remote suspicion, that he is reluctant to give them their proper place.

"When children have left their father's house; their circumstances become materially changed, and with them in several respects, their duties

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"Still, as they are more indebted to their parents than to any other human beings, and incomparably more indebted, at least in ordinary cases; their remaining duties to their parents are numerous and important. In this situation, more than any other, they are required to contribute to the maintenance of their parents. This is mnade by our Saviour so important a branch of the duty under consideration, that he declares the 'Pharisees,' who by a fraudulent comment on the fifth commandment, had released men from the obligation in question, to have made this command of God of none effect through their tradition.' In this period, also, they are bound as much as may be, to nurse and soothe their parents in pain and sickness; to bear patiently and kindly their infirmities of body and mind; to alleviate their distresses; to give them the cheering influence of their company and conversation; and in these and various other ways, to serene and brighten the evening, but too frequently a melancholy one, of old age."

That the subject of our present work was an example of this, as of many other virtues, we have very satisfactory ground of belief and assurance.

It would seem that from his earliest youth he had been an obedient and dutiful child. This was the testimony of his mother, in a conversation with certain distinguished officers of the French army, who, after the War, paid her a visit of compliment at her residence in Fredericks. burg, Virginia. In answer to their encomiums on her son, she simply remarked, that "George had always been a good boy." That it was so, let the subjoined narrative attest.

That a mother should love such a son as George proved himself to be, and that a son should love such a mother, as Mrs. Washington certainly was, is not at all surprising. From his earliest days she had exerted her whole influence to imbue him with a love of whatever is lovely and of good report; and her exertions had not been in vain. How well he repaid her for her kind care may be seen in the following story :—

"When about fourteen years of age, he became strongly inclined to go to sea, with a view of enlisting in the service of the mother country,' at that time engaged in a war with France and Spain.

"It was surprising that a youth so young, and who had been abroad so little, should have had the moral courage to quit country and friends, on a purpose so full of danger. But so it was. He was resolved to go. Preparations had been made. A midshipman's birth had been procured for him, on board a British man-of-war, then lying in sight of his mother's house; and even his trunk was on board.

"When the precise time arrived that he was to go, he passed into the sitting room of his mother, to take his leave of her. She was seated and in tears.

"He approached her, and putting his arms about her neck, affectionately kissed her. He was about to bid her 'farewell;' but he hesitated. Her affection and affliction unmanned him. He was young and ambitious; and at that early day the spirit of patriotism, which so nobly characterized him in after life, in respect to his country, was stirring within him. Yet the filial feelings of his heart were stronger than any other ties; and here, nobly sacrificing his pride and ambition, he relinquished his purpose, and staid to comfort her who gave him birth

"It was a noble self-denial. And in the now more than forty years, that the writer of this has been upon the stage, and watched the course of human events, he can bear his testimony to the uniform prosperity of such as have honoured father and mother. There is a promise recorded in favour of filial piety, and a God, who never forgets it, and never fails to fulfil it.

"But my story is unfinished. The boat which was conveying officers and men and baggage from the shore to the ship, continued to ply. At length she returned on shore for the last time. A signal flag was hoisted to denote that all was ready.

"George was standing viewing the movements. Several of his companions now entered the boat, which presently was urged towards the ship by several lusty

oarsmen.

"As they approached her, the signal gun for sailing was fired. The flash followed by the report was noticed by George, soon after which the sails rose majestically one after another.

"George could no longer bear the sight with calmness, but turned away, and entered the room where his mother