網頁圖片
PDF
ePub 版

She died at the age of 31 years; but if, as we fully believe, she had accomplished the great end of life, it was long enough for her; though for her companion and dear children we could have wished it longer.

WHAT

PARENTS AND CHILDREN.

EDUCATION SHOULD BE.

Education, unaccompanied by moral training, is like a sword in the hands of a madman-and yet grieved am I to utter it, much of the education of the country is of this sort. The schools of most reputation are eagerly sought-the colleges of richest endowments are greedily visited-knowledge, knowledge is the cry, while not a thought is spent upon the moral education which may be going on during the acquisition of that knowledge-of the poison that our children may be drinking in-the poison of immorality, of licentiousness, of infidelity. My friends, rather let your children lack the accomplishments of life-rather let them be behind in the knowledge of the day, than procure them at such a cost. But no schools, however well conducted, no colleges, however strict the moral discipline, can achieve any thing for your children, until you yourselves train them in the homestead, to obedience, self-government, to courtesy, to virtue. It must be "line upon line, and precept upon precept, here a little and there a little"-it must be daily instruction in the word of God-it must be a constant watchfulness over faults and habits-it must be earnest prayer for them and with them; and accompanying all this, must be a free use of the rod of correction: for "folly is bound up in the heart of a child," and nothing else can fetch it out. This is education, and it is the want of this which has made our schools and colleges rather engines of evil than instruments of good.

Bishop Elliot, of Georgia.

For the Mother's Magazine.

A LOVELY BRIDE.

I was spending an hour not long since in turning the pages of a pleasant miscellany, in the course of which my eye fell upon the following perhaps rare but beautiful and touching incident in the history of one who that day was to become a bride.

A party of lively and interested cousins and friends had early assembled at the bridal mansion for the purpose of decorating the drawing-room where the marriage ceremony was to be performed. At length this pleasant duty being accomplished, they retired, happy in contributing to the joy of an occasion which, while it would take from them one whom they loved, would unite that one to the object of her highest regard. The room was beautifully decorated with rich and variegated bouquets, and on a centre-table lay the gayly adorned bride's loaf, an object of great importance.

I said all had retired from the lovely spot-but there was one of the cousins, who, a short time after, stole gently back to look once more at the varied beauty of the scene, and to indulge by herself the hopes and anticipations of an affectionate heart for the future happiness of her friend. She gently opened the door, and was about entering, when she noticed the sofa was wheeled round to the precise spot where that evening the happy pair were to rise and exchange their solemn vows, and there the lovely bride was kneeling-so absorbed in her own solemn thoughts that the intrusion of her friend was unnoticed. That friend stood for a moment gazing in holy admiration at the scene-she longed gently to approach and kneel by her side-but the occasion was too sacred to admit of social union, and she retired.

And what so solemn and absorbing was occupying the thoughts of this happy being? Was it the anticipations of earthly felicity that had brought her there? Looking round upon the beauty and gayety of the room, where in a few hours she would give her hand to him whom she preferred to all others on earth, had she

in the wildness and excess of her emotions fallen into a reverie? Nothing of the kind. Delighted she might be, and justly was— but she had one duty to perform-a high and holy duty ere she plighted her vows to the object of her earthly affection. There, in that spot where she would soon stand and surrender her earthly all to her husband, she would first consecrate herself to the Lord. The prior consecration was due to Him. On that altar she wished to offer an earlier and holier incense-on that spot to make a record of the prior deed, which she had given of her self to her superior Lord.

I know not of an earthly scene more lovely, or of an immortal being in similar circumstances, in an attitude more becoming. And I am sure that if her intended husband had himself the love of God reigning in his heart, and could he have seen her there, whatever he might have thought of her before, his love would have become more pure and intense-he would have said—not perhaps with perfect truth, for others, it is to be hoped, have done so before her-but he might be forgiven if, in his ardor and admiration, he had exclaimed, "Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all."

What a beautiful example for the imitation of those who are about to be led to the hymenial altar! Most beautiful! most becoming! I know not the subsequent history of that "lovely bride," but I am sure she never repented of that act of selfdedication to God. She may not indeed have escaped sorrow and affliction; but if they were her lot, I know that God would remember the kindness of her youth. He would not forsake her. She might bury husband and children and friends-she might suffer from sickness and poverty-but in no hour would her heavenly Father forsake her he would guide her by his counsel, and afterwards receive her to glory. Youthful females! would you lay the foundation of future peace-would you provide against the reverses of fortune-would you have a friend and protector through this world of vicissitude-would you have consolation in the darkest night of adversity which may set in upon you, imitate the example of "a lovely bride."

[blocks in formation]

Selected, by permission, from "JUVENIILE SONGS," by Thomas Hastings; published by D. Fanshaw, at 148 Nassau-street and 601 Broadway, New-York.

[merged small][graphic][subsumed][merged small][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][graphic][subsumed][subsumed]
« 上一頁繼續 »