Without indulging in a long preamble, I may mention an incident which he related with much earnestness and simplicity, as having made a great impression upon his mind and heart. He spoke of it as being

THE FIRST DISOBEDIENCE.

"I was born," said he, "in Pennsylvania, but at an early age my parents removed to the State of New York, and located themselves at a delightful country village in the vicinity of the Hudson. Our home was a short distance from the village, and was situated in a pleasant vale, luxuriant with the flowers and plants of that region, and smiling in all the verdant richness of the indulgent Dispenser of natural beauties. The margin of an extensive garden was watered by a beautiful and gently winding stream, whose transparent waters were distilled from the founts of the crystal rock, or showered in all their purity from the favoring clouds of heaven-the lofty and evanescent alembic of the Creator. How sweet were the silent groves where oft I went to gather the wild flower or cull the lily of the vale, and where the gay and thoughtless infant hours of childhood led the released companions of my school-boy days to indulge in their pastimes and mirthful glee. But of these we all have our recollections, and for these we all have our regrets.

"I am to tell you of my first disobedience, and the impression made upon me by my mother's conduct. Who does not love a mother's name? Who would not cherish a mother's love? Who is there whose lot has been so hard that he will not ever retain the remembrance of his mother's care? As to others I scarce can judge, but for my own I will ever preserve an ineffaceable remembrance and unextinguishable love.

"I had a sister too: a smiling, beautiful, little girl, with an eye of cerulean blue that seemed like the azure whence the starlight of its intelligence shone from its fountain like the spiritkindling influence of the far off land. Her heart was as pure as the light of her eye was brilliant, or the cheerful melody of her laugh was buoyant and inspiring. She is gone now. of death heard his commission given, his unerring shaft struck the The angel

silvery thread, and the unbound spirit sped to the Giver of its immortality. Let me too be as pure, that I may join her harmony around the Throne of the Lamb.

"In the garden of which I spoke, a quantity of rubbish had accumulated, which we wished to throw away. Accordingly, on a delightful sunny day of autumn we endeavored to obtain permission from our mother to take it and throw it over the fence into the little stream at the garden-side. This was refused for some time, fearing that we would go down to the bridge which crossed the brook, and there fall off and be drowned. We at last, by repeated promises not to venture on the forbidden spot, obtained her consent. But temptation will sometimes obtain a victory.

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Having amused ourselves for some time, with watching the rejected rubbish float down the stream, I suggested the attempt of throwing the net off the bridge so that we could watch it longer; but to this my sister objected and protested with all the power of her childish eloquence, and with all the sacredness of our united pledge. But my determination overcame her appeals, and she consented to accompany me so that I should not drown.

"We reached the bridge. One fling-how it floats! There! See now, Mary! I told you so! Another-more manfully done-what a chuckle of triumph I had over my conquest, and my safety. Another fling-but that last step was a step too far; I had tried too great a feat-I lost my balance and fell headlong over the bridge! I recollect nothing more until I was seated at home in the little chair, with dry clothes and my mother's kind voice falling upon my ear.

"All this may appear trifling to you-but I can never forget the tender and faithful care with which she reproved me for my disobedience, and endeavored to impress upon my heart a lesson of wisdom and truth. She placed in my hands a book of illustrated selections from the Bible, and while turning over the leaves would explain their precepts and their lessons of love, and holiness, and obedience. It was an incident I shall never forget, and while I see so many mothers who neglect the proper education

of their children in teaching them the consequences of sin, the beauty of holiness, and the excellence and wisdom of early serving the Lord, I always remember the beautiful method which my own mother took, to enforce a conviction of my sin upon my heart. If Christian mothers would thus act, the children of Christian parents would be more frequently led into a realizing of the promise, that our Heavenly Father is gracious to them that fear Him, and "showeth mercy unto thousands of them that love Him and keep his commandments."

Under the impression that the narrative, trifling as it may be, would be acceptable to your readers, and that it would contain a moral for the young to beware of the consequences of disobedience, I have committed it to its present form. If it excites similar feelings in others to those which I entertained when it was narrated, my labor will not be without its reward. The gentleman referred to is now a member of one of the most active churches in our State, and I have no doubt will not censure my appropriation of his interesting narrative.

MATERNAL ADVICE.

1. NEVER command, unless you mean to be obeyed.

2. As early as possible, establish an absolute and entire authority over your child.

3. Never make a promise, which you do not intend performing. 4. Never attempt to deceive your child, by look, word, or deed. 5. Never frighten your child into the performance of its duties.

6. Beware of incessantly finding fault.

7. Never praise or blame your child to visitors in its presence: the first will excite pride and vanity, the last anger and enmity.

8. Be not unequal in your government.

9. Never use the rod, under the influence of passion—and never, but through necessity-and but for sins.

10. Never give your child what it cries, or teases you for.

11. Provoke not your child to wrath, by delaying unnecessarily to answer it when it speaks to you. Defer not to give the information desired.

12. Refuse not to gratify their childish desires, if they be innocent and of little consequence.

Charleston, Jan. 31st.

G.

Original.

FAMILY PRAYER REMEMBERED.

"NOTHING," exclaimed a young friend of mine, "nothing comes over me in the whirl of thoughtless pleasure like the memory of my father's prayers. A hundred times have I been ready to rush into forbidden gratification, and successfully silenced even the voice of conscience, when those prayers and that family altar around which we were all gathered in the silent hour, would come to me like an unseen but mighty hand, suddenly arresting the career of folly and bringing me to a stop. Not an inch forward can I move in the forbidden path if that vision of love but once more visit my soul. Those prayers!—how often have they subdued our wild spirits, softened our little asperities of temper and melted all hearts into one. I never think of home without connecting its strongest endearments and sweetest associations with that altar of love. There was a strange mystery about it. How it was that my father could so unite our hearts with his own tender and holy aspirations, I know not. It seems to me I never can go far in the road to death, while the memory of those prayers so entrances, and, as it were, paralyzes my soul." Happy youth! those memories shall not be forgotten, for

know! they wove a mighty chain to link thee safe to the throne of God. They had mysterious efficacy to bind thee fast to a Savior's love! The blissful vision will return to visit thee in thy earthly trials, and encircle thee when the tempter is nigh. It will conduct thee through all thy pilgrimage, and lend thee a "staff" in the "valley and shadow of death."

Said another youth, "Ihave had praying enough! Do let me have a little respite! That long weary prayer which I have heard till I could run through every sentence before it was spoken, it sickens me to think of it. The cold gloomy piety which I witnessed in my childhood hangs about me like a dismal spell. I wish I could shake it off!" Yes, poor youth! better for thee if thou couldst forget that dull and heartless formality; but no, the remembrance of it will brood over thy solitary soul, unless the gentle dove, in pity to thy hapless bondage, break the iron spell, and breathe into thee the refreshing, living, loving spirit of confiding prayer!

"I too,” said another, "remember the family altar, and though successive years have thrown a veil over the cherished scenes of early youth, yet in the twilight of age, how clearly do I remember the morning and evening hour, when the closed shutters and darkened room shed no sad influence on my young heart; for the tones of holy earnest supplication, fresh and glowing from an upright heart, and sustained by a consistent walk with God, could not fail to interest the feelings. There were no measured sentences or technical phrases-but humble, simple, hearty supplication, varied to family circumstances, duties and cares, but well suited to sinners addressing a holy God. It is not strange that I remember those moments rich in blessing' when the first gentle dew fell upon my heart."

Christian parent, as your children go forth into the sinning, tempting world, what shall be the memories of their father's altar of prayer?

E. B.