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are thoroughly well brought up. It is of no very great advantage, that they should be taught those things, which, in their different situations it is fit they should know, if their hearts are to remain uneducated;by which I mean, if their tempers are not corrected, their passions subdued, their pride humbled, and the important truth impressed upon them that they are accountable for their actions to One above. The task of bringing up children is, it must be allowed, a very difficult one; but, on this account, it requires so much the more patient exertion, and steady perseverance. To keep their minds constantly fixed on their duty, and responsi bility to their Maker, and to lead them on in such a course of conduct as this religious principle would produce, is a difficulty which the best of parents have felt, and have been constantly heard to lament. When a little boy was stamping with rage, (his first fault of the kind,) a good mother said to him:"Henry! Who sees you now?-It is not only my eye that is upon you!"-He was instantly still and penitent for the rest of the day-grieving to think what would be thought of him by that Being who saw him all the time; and at night he of himself added to his prayer a request for pardon, and a petition that the Hearer of all prayer would make him less passionate. But, with this family, religion is made a principle of action. Every thing is referred to it. They fear their God,-they love Him, and they trust in Him. What a happiness it would be if all mothers would act thus!How much misery, toil and trouble they would save themselves!to say nothing of the awful responsibility which awaits a contrary system. I am quite sure, Mr. Editor, you feel that the merely hearing children say their catechism and hymns on Sunday, and repeat prayers night and morning, comes very short indeed of the benefits and blessings they may be made to derive from the Gospel. I

know the watchfulness and self-command which is required of parents and instructors themselves, if they would ever expect to be the means of implanting in the minds of children a love of that which is good. The Christian religion requires a government of the temper; and the best part of education is that which thus goes to the regulation of the child's heart and mind. But how hard it is for instructors themselves to preserve that calmness and gentleness of disposition which they would teach to their children. But still, without this, little good is to be expected. "My teacher tells me," a child will think, "that religion calms and regulates the mind; why then do I see him so ruffled and disturbed ?"

What great and constant watchfulness is required, then, of every one who would be an instructor of children! Who can always so guard the heart, that the temper shall be constantly gentle and equal? And yet, if the correction and reproofs of a parent, are to vary according to the humour he is in; if one day, every thing is to be found fault with, however trifling; whilst, another day, when the parent is in a different humour, the very same things will be passed over, without blame, or, perhaps, even received with pleasure; what is a child to depend upon, and how is it to know how to act? It must be ruinous to a child to be corrected or applauded according to the passions or varying feelings of its teacher, instead of being guided by an unerring standard of right and wrong. These are indeed difficulties which we can all see... I wish we could all correct them. We must, however, attempt it, and we must persevere in our efforts steadily. Religion must be our rule; this we may affirmand God will be our help.

די

A.B.C.

HOME-MADE VINEGAR.

TAKE five pounds of coarse brown sugar, and put it in a small cask with four gallons of water. A piece of common muslin to be pasted on the top of the cask with yeast, in preference to flour paste, that insects may not loosen it. This, if it remain one year untouched in a cellar, will be excellent vinegar. The quantity can be increased or lessened to the consumption of the family. I recommend it as being cheap and not prejudicial to health, as common vinegar too often is.

ANON.

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SPRINKLE a few grains of the seed upon a hot fire-shovel, if the seed is good it will snap, if it burns away without snapping, the seed will not grow. This should be tried, particularly, with onion seed, which is often mixed with bad, to know what proportion to sow, in order to have a good crop. This simple method of proving seed is unknown to most gardeners and to many seedsmen.

ANON.

ANECDOTES.

THE famous oriental philosopher, Lochman, while a slave, being presented by his master with a bitter melon, immediately ate it all." How was it possible," said his master, "for you to eat so nauseous a fruit?" Lochman replied, "I have received so many favours from you, that it is no wonder I should once in my life receive a bitter melon from your hand." This generous answer of the slave

struck the master to such a degree that he immediately gave him his liberty.

With such sentiments should man receive his portion of sufferings from the hand of God: especially since he knows, that, when God afflicts him, it is for his good.

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Industry, Bishop Cumberland being told by of his friends that he would wear himself out by intense application, replied, "It is better to wear out than to rust out.

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It was the custom of a sect of heathen philoso phers, every day at dinner, to examine their disci ples how they had spent the morning; and every one was obliged to show, that he had discharged some good office, practised some virtue, or improved in some part of learning. If any one could not prove that he had performed one of these things, he was sent back without his dinner.

“Though I suffer," said Augustine, "when I am sick, yet I am well, because I am as God would have me to be: He can neither do nor permit any thing but what is just.

An Italian Bishop who had endured much perse. cution with a calm unruffled temper, was asked by a friend how he attained the mastery of himself. "By making a right use of my eyes," said he, "I first look up to heaven, as the place whither I am going to live for ever: I next look down upon the earth, and consider how small a space of it I shall soon occupy or want; I then look round me, and think how many are far more wretched than myself."

EPITAPHS.

To the Editor of the Cottager's Monthly Visitor.

SIR,

HAVING perused, with pleasure, several articles on Epitaphs, in your valuable little Publication, I have sent you the following, copied some years ago, from an almost decayed tomb in Hornsey churchyard; should you think it worthy your notice by insertion, you will afford much satisfaction to your constant reader and well wisher.

Read to preserve thy soul, and learn to trace
The GoD of glory in the work of grace;

That precious blood that streamed to save mankind,
Shall cleanse each stain and purify the mind.

By CHRIST'S example pass this world of strife,
And Truth shall lead thee to eternal life.

Another.

On wings of Faith and strong desire,
Her spirit humbly strove to rise;
May it have reached the shining choir,
In the bright mansions of the skies!

For there's a glorious world on high,
Resplendent with eternal day;
Faith views the blissful prospect nigh,
While God's own word reveals the way.

There shall the fav'rites of the Lord
With never-fading lustre shine;
Surprising honour! vast reward!
Conferr'd on man, by Love Divine!
On a Child.

Life is a span, a fleeting hour,

How soon the vapour flies!
Man is a tender transient flower,
That, e'en in blooming, dies,

T. T.

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