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domestic duty, her self-denial, unwearied patience, gentle forbearance, and untiring industry, may not always be imitated by her daughters; but, amid the temptations of the fascinating world, or the more powerful inducements of self-indulgence, conscience will make itself heard, and "My mother sets me a different example," will check, if it does not entirely restrain, all tendency to wrong doing. The pious, consistent mother may rest assured that an influence is at work in the heart of her most thoughtless child that will never be lost-it will produce satisfactory results, though it may be "after many days."

But "example" is not the only influence that must be brought to bear on those under our control. There must be "precept upon precept"-there must be restraint, reproof, and, if need be, punishment, or we fall far short of a proper discharge of our duty. While we "forbear threatening," we must impress upon those around us the high sense we entertain of the responsibility which is laid upon us by Him who appointed our lot in life. We must prove to them that we are not solely influenced by a determination to have our own will, but to do the will of our Father which is in heaven, and who has commanded us to "train up" our children in the way they ought

to go.

If we thus add to the influence of example that of precept and restraint, we may justly expect most satisfactory results, though we must not be discouraged if the onward progress be slow and not easily defined. It is sometimes difficult to say whether example or precept be the more powerful, or whether the two combined would avail without some degree of coercion. For instance, a father may be himself an early riser, he may inculcate the necessity of the habit in powerful and energetic language, but it may require on his part still more energetic action, regularly repeated and long persevered in, before his children will systematically and habitually follow his example.

There are few habits so difficult to form in either boys or girls as that of neatness and order. We all know, from painful experience, that no efforts short of compulsion will induce most young people to put everything in its proper place. There are temperaments so volatile that the possessors seem to delight in throwing everything into confusion and disorder. Woe betide the orderly student whose library is even for one day appropriated to such a genius! We say genius, for we often think there must be some especial talent for throwing books and papers about, possessed by certain persons of both sexes. What orderly matron could send one of these scattering maidens to her drawers or wardrobe with any reasonable expectation of finding

PARENTAL INFLUENCE.

anything in its proper place on her next visit?

3

"I

Bring me a pair of black sleeves from the left-hand side of the top drawer but one," said Mrs. to a young lady who had offered to assist her. cannot open the drawer" is the statement after a long delay. "That drawer is not locked; did you try the top drawer but one ?" "Oh, no; it was the top drawer I could not open; I'll go again." Another long delay, and the young "helper" returns with the assurance that the sleeves are not there. The lady, in despair, goes herself, accompanied by her willing but useless young friend, raises the cover, and finds to her consternation-that every part of the drawer has been overturned, except the "left-hand side," to which she had directed the seeker.

Mothers should endeavour to strike at the root of this evil betimes. To subdue the selfishness which is so strongly engrafted on our nature is the great object. Active children don't like the quietness and thoughtfulness so essential to habits of neatness and order; studious young people don't like to lay aside their books to assist in making a room or a house neat and comfortable; and idle, loitering young people are always too busy with their own arrears of duty to aim at promoting the comfort of others.

We have dwelt, perhaps, too long on our last topic; but it requires in a mother the united forces of example, precept, and coercion to form in her family those habits of order, the neglect of which leads to so much sin and misery.

If example were all-powerful, the children of pious parents would of course be early brought under a religious influence. We know but too well that this is not the case, and we know also that precept is often equally unavailing. Long do some eminently-pious parents work and wait without seeing any satisfactory results. So far as the outward forms of religion are concerned, they add coercion to example and precept; repeated prayers they can require from their children while they are young, they can command their presence at family worship,-they can lead them to the house of prayer, but too often apparently in vain. Parents cannot do the work of the Holy Spirit. Unless that sacred influence be poured out on the youthful heart, all our efforts are unavailing. We cannot compel our children or dependents to give their hearts to God, to seek for pardon through the blood of a crucified Saviour. Here we feel our utter helplessness.

But the time of man's extremest need is that in which the power of God is most evidently displayed. Here lies our strength: to Him we may come we must come-in earnest, continued, believing prayer. We are encouraged to come boldly to a throne of grace,

and, if anything will induce us to do so, it is surely the knowledge that we have no other resource; that the eternal happiness of our beloved ones depends on the answer given to our prayers; that unless we obtain the Divine blessing on our labours, they are indeed in vain. "The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin." We are encouraged, exhorted, to plead that precious blood in our supplications for our children. We have tried the influence of example, of precept, of reproof; now let us try the influence of earnest, believing prayer. Other instrumentality may fail, but prayer is omnipotent, and will prevail.

THE DEPARTED YEAR.

THY farewell lingers in mine ear;

For ever gone, departed year!
Gone, with the ages long swept by;
Gone, to the far eternity!
Unnumbered treasures on thy wave,
Borne onward to their goal-the grave!

What hast thou taken? Pearls of Time,
More precious far than diadems!
The matin and the vesper shrine

Still counted up the vanished gems.
Rich, golden hours that flitted by,
Their record in eternity!

What hast thou taken? Hopes that shed
Their radiance o'er life's sunny day;
The beautiful are with the dead,

The fair, the joyous passed away!
Wrung spirits weep at thought of thee,
The pall, the grave, death's mystery.

What hast thou taken? Moments given
To garner up a trust on high;
Days hallowed as the pledge of heaven,
The seed of immortality!
Woolwich.

MATER.

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CONSTANTINE, THE EMPEROR, A CITIZEN OF LONDON.-It is not generally known that Constantine, the Emperor, was born in London. Stowe says (Survey, lib. 1, c. 30, p. 260), "The City of London hath bred some which have subdued many kingdoms, and also the Roman empire. It hath also, brought forth many others whom virtue and valour hath highly advanced, according to Apollo in his oracle to Corute sub occasu solis, etc. In the time of Christianity it brought forth that noble Emperor Constantine, which gave the City of Rome and all the imperial ensigns to God, St. Peter and Pope Sylvester, to whom he performed the office of a soldier, choosing rather to be called a defender of the church than an emperor."-City Press.

IMPULSE AND DECISION.

IMPULSE AND DECISION.

5

ARTHUR GWYNNE was a lively energetic lad of versatile ability. His companions deemed him "a universal genius," but his preceptors and elder friends watched with some anxiety lest he should fritter away the talents which God had given him, by attempting too many things to be thoroughly successful in any. Even in his school-boy days his very quickness of apprehension and manual dexterity were perpetual snares, tempting him to put off preparation for recitation till the last moment, or to trust to a sudden impulse of ingenuity to accomplish undertakings which wanted patient thought and careful execution.

Kindly disposition and agreeable manners endeared him to his associates, and when his class was summoned, to save him from disgrace, one would seek his dictionary, another his penknife or ruler, and by extraordinary effort, and a few "fortunate hits" on his own part, or the accidental delay of his tutor, he would pass muster, and rejoice that "he always managed without wearisome plodding" at his studies! He forgot, meanwhile, how much more valuable knowledge he might have acquired had he added a modicum of this same plodding perseverance to his unquestionable capacity for learning.

So in his amusements, while pointing triumphantly to the many clever contrivances which distinguished his little machines, he chose to overlook those which lay about unfinished, because the "fit of invention had gone off," or because he was discouraged by the length of time requisite to complete them.

On leaving school, the same tendency was the perpetual bane of his good qualities. He was easily beguiled into needless expenses, or waste of time, by yielding to the impulse of the moment. "Never fear, mother, dear! I was never too late for the train yet!" he would reply to her urgent entreaties that he would betimes make the needful arrangements for a distant journey; but oftentimes he only reached the terminus at the latest instant, by incurring double charges in feeing the drivers of cabs or flies to exert their utmost speed, and, moreover, he not unseldom left behind his most important documents or apparatus.

"Yes, that is the style of dress for a gentleman; make me a suit of it," said Arthur to the tailor. "I hate indecision, even in trifles," he added, glancing significantly at his brother Ernest, who was making some calculations upon the back of a note; but when pay-time came, Arthur could not help secretly wishing he had been a little less prompt in his decisions, for Ernest's sober calculations had saved him some pounds in the course of the year, though his appearance had been not a whit less gentlemanly than Arthur's. Upright and undesigning himself, poor Arthur was often the dupe of his associates. "I can see at a glance that Mr. White or Mr. Black is just the friend for me," and warm enough their intimacy would be till the progress of time revealed some glaring defect, or an impulse of prudential reserve would signally cool some other flame, and distance an acquaintance whose regard might otherwise have ripened into valuable friendship.

Ere entering upon the personal responsibilities of a business life, Arthur Gwynne had the misfortune to lose his father, and in this calamity lost the only friend whose authority could have restrained, while his wisdom guided, his son's mercantile transactions. Charmed with novelty, he eagerly embarked in manufacturing schemes which needed larger capital and more experience than he possessed; and when all was lost, his spirits sank proportionably below an ordinary ebb tide.

"I will sell my business, and shall then be at liberty for anything that may turn up." And so he did, at a ruinous sacrifice! One hasty resolution after another was then continually adopted, and as hastily abandoned, when each seemed fruitless, after a brief trial.

Yet all this time our hero deemed himself a person possessing remarkable decision of character, forgetting that the most indispensable elements of this desirable trait are a careful weighing of probabilities—a patient perseverance in continuous effort-a due appreciation of small successes-punctual diligence in the allotted duties of each moment and every moment-cautious husbandry of strength and energy, that none may be wasted to no purpose.

Young people are delighted by the vigorous proceedings of great characters, but they do not always examine into the source of the conduct they would fain imitate. Dazzled by the splendid discoveries of Columbus, they have not traced the tedious collection of facts and arguments which raised his expectations. Absorbed in admiration at the lucid demonstrations of Galileo, Sir Isaac Newton, Humphry Davy, or Cuvier, they forget the long years of toilsome reasoning which revealed the marvels they announced to a wondering world. Enthusiastic at the bravery and tact of celebrated conquerors, they omit the study of their early struggles to ensure the knowledge and experience requisite for their success. They are too apt to attribute to good fortune what is really due to prudent preparation. Such was Arthur Gwynne's mistake. "The foolishness of man perverteth his way, and then his heart fretteth against the Lord." "Unstable as water, thou shall not excel," is the penalty of all who substitute occasional impulse of action for decision of character.

Nor can it be wondered at, that Arthur Gwynne's religious course should exhibit corresponding vacillations. Religion changes the heart, and purifies the conduct, but does not obliterate mental or moral peculiarities. When, therefore, our young friend first understood his own condition in the sight of God, and from the depths of heart-felt contrition, learned the precious truth of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ, his joy was unbounded, and he longed to communicate the same glorious tidings to all. Hence he began seriously to think of entering the Christian ministry, and enrolling himself among the missionary band; but ere preliminaries could be arranged, his fervid zeal abated, and the thought presented itself that Christian effort in other departments need not be incompatible with business: an undeniable truth, certainly, of which we have ample proof in the eminent usefulness of Wilberforce, Fowell Buxton, Thornton Hardcastle, and other worthies, whose praise is in all the churches, but who, however, evinced one qualification which Arthur overlooked-that steady perseverance which his impatience never could command.

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