Slacken your rein upon a wild colt, let him slip from under your management, and see if you will be able to restrain his impetuous career.

There is nothing that fathers should

pation is degrading. The interests of all demand a concentration of power; and let this be rigidly maintained.

THE HAPPY HOME.

be so jealous about as the maintenance To preserve union, let home become of their prerogative. The idea of a happy home. We do not speak of yielding it into other hands, however luxuries, or sensual gratifications, of capable, is foreign to the Divine de- balls, of routs, or public assemblies, cree, and calculated to establish anar- which are the whirlpools of folly; nor chy and promote confusion. The power do we even believe these vanities to be ought always to be lodged in the head, sources of real delight. Pleasure in and the head should retain its power. excess terminates in pain. There is The hands are not designed to plan, an unnatural thirst created for its posbut simply to execute. The cornice session, that no ordinary skill can grapresses down the stones underneath, tify. Happiness sits and broods her and thus maintains the solidity of the young in the days of halcyon tranquilbuilding. Remove the key-stone out lity. The storms of boisterous mirthof its place, and the finest arch will the wild shout of revelry-the tumult totter to pieces. of excitement are not designed to be permanent; and like a beggared monarch, the devotee of pleasure, after a night of gaiety or debauch, feels the vacuum, mourns over joys that are fled, and lives only in anticipating their return. Happiness is not chained to lordly palaces-to massive plateto delicious wines-to sumptuous banquets. Like the sweet violet, it loves the shady bank, and vies there in loveliness with the blue heavens that smile above it. The cottage is oft the seat of tranquil joy, when the palace is reft with the pickaxe of discord, political controversy, or ambition:

We do not advocate the doctrine of paternal despotism. While every father is to act as ruler, none should degenerate into a tyrant. Constitutional liberty is found to be essential to civil government-the associating of responsible advisers with the Sovereign, as a restraint upon arbitrary power. In families this limitation is not needed. Familiar intercourse, common interests, and deep-seated love, are supposed to be sufficient restraints to bridle undue authority; and hence, the governor stands alone. This is no reason, however, why these important checks should be disregarded, or why the slave-driver and the father should be convertible terms.

Notwithstanding these precautionary statements, we believe that parents too largely err on the side of leniency. Their orders should be strictly enforced. No child should ever be suffered to step into their shoes, unless for very substantial reasons. The usur

"Not in proud palace halls
Is often seen thy beauty to abide.
Thy dwelling is in lonely cottage walls,
That in the thicket of the woodbine hide;
With hum of bees around, and from the side
Of woody hills, some little bubbling spring
Shining along, with banks of hare-bell
dyed;

And many a bird to warble on the wing,
when Morn her saffron robe o'er heaven
and earth doth fling."-CROLY.

All that is really required to render home happy, is a desire to make it so. The physical material may be wanting -money may be locked up in the Queen's exchequer-broad acres may be absorbed by a wealthier neighbour -silver and gold there may be none; but there is a richer treasure locked in living hearts-hearts burning to remove difficulties out of the way-to uproot the nettle and to implant the rose-to light up the soul with the beacon-light of joy-to smooth the brow of care-to filter the waters of adversity-to overcome real griefs, and to expel imaginary ones-to cheer when the world frowns-to let in the beams of comfort on the mind darkened with melancholy-and to open up the ample storehouse of religion, when every minor consideration fails, exhibiting the rich mines of wealth and glory reserved for the patient, submissive believer, beyond the grave. This, this it is that makes home happy.minate in undissembled piety. It is not the power to succour, but the desire. Pleasure lives in the smiles of joy we read in the cheerful countenances of those we love :

vests of golden grain yield the richest increase ?-in the savannahs of Spain, or in the snow-clad deserts of Siberia ?

under a wintry or an autumnal sky? Where do the sweetest spices scent the gale ?-among the snows of Lapland, or in the aromatic islands of the East? Whence do our luxuries come to us?from northern or southern seas? It is vain to harass the minds of youth, with intent to harden them to bear the knocks and buffetings of the world. Blows will bruise the softer metals, the harder will be shivered to pieces. Look at Dean Swift, Lord Byron, and a host of others, and tell me, is it safe to try the experiment of harsh treatment? Home should be an asylum from the world. The severity experienced without should be amply compensated by kind looks and mild treatment within. In this way domestic virtues are matured, and these, again, lay the foundation of public worth, and may ter

""T is bright where'er the heart is;

Its fairy spells can bring
Fresh fountains to the wilderness,
And to the desert, spring.
"There are green isles in each ocean,

In heaven all is union, from the loftiest archangel to the humblest saint. They all sing one song, bask in one catrancing smile, and dwell in one heavenly city. There is nothing either to hurt or annoy in all God's holy mountain. The movements of ransomed saints and happy angels are like the ebb and flow of ocean-an impulse given to the middle gradually widens till it reaches the utmost boundary of glory. But once there was war in heaven, when Michael fought and his angels, and the dragon fought and his angels. Then the dragon's tooth was extracted, and Satan cast out of the celestial city. Since that period, no banner floats over the walls of Paradise but the banner of lily-white

O'er which Affection glides; And a haven on each rugged shore, When Love's the star that guides." Is not the existence of a happy home, where all live in harmony, adapted to cultivate the good affections of the soul, and to repress the vicious? Whether does the tree grow straightest, stateliest, and tallest, in the fertile valley or on the rocky cliff and mountain? Where do the har--no branch is lifted up by the inmates

in heaven! When sharp and barbed arrows are shot out by fiery tongues, oh! consider the loving anthems, the united hallelujahs of saints and angels! When discord would rive the house in twain, oh! reflect upon the holy city, where love is the foundation, and love the top-stone! Are you desirous of entering that holy city, or of being enrolled among that happy family? Prepare for admission, by cultivating the heavenly plant of unity. "Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard; that went down to the skirts of his garments; as the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded

but the palm and olive, emblems of peace and victory. The great Spirit of the universe appears to animate all. The cry, the song, the hallelujah, that emanates from ten thousand lips, mellows into one bland symphony, as if an organ with ten thousand pipes resounded. Love cements the heavenly Jerusalem-love, fairer than the sapphire that forms its gates, or the coral that constructs its walls, or the gold that paves its courts, or the precious stones with which it is garnished. Joseph, with his coat of many colours, is not envied-Moses, with his countenance full of glory, is not reviled Paul, laden with the abundance of his revelations, is highly honoured-John, resting on Jesus' bosom, is revered and loved-Elijah and Enoch, enrobed in spiritual bodies, do not provoke detraction among their companions-David's the blessing, even life for evermore." fall is not minded-nor Lot's dishonour-nor Noah's drunkenness-nor ENCOURAGEMENT TO PARENTS. Aaron's idolatry-nor Samson's forni- ANOTHER powerful motive stimulatcation-nor Peter's denial-nor Tho- ing you to exertion is this, that if duly mas's unbelief. The only contest ex- trained, your children will amply repay ists in striving who owes most to the your labour. Agriculturists are loath riches of sovereign grace, and who is to reclaim a barren heath, or a rocky most efficient in rolling on the tide of upland that, in winter, is covered with universal happiness. The saints lay incessant snows, and, in summer, down their harps to embrace in trans- chilled with a damp, drizzling atmoport, and they lift them up to sing sphere. They naturally inquire, before with one heart and one tongue, "Unto they sink the spade, or open the drain, Him that loved us, and washed us from or enter the ploughshare, or throw up our sins in His own blood, and hath the subsoil to pulverize and ameliorate, made us kings and priests unto God Is it likely that our capital expended and His father; to Him be glory and here will return to us with interest? dominion for ever and ever. Amen." If heaven and earth combine against them, they cease their toil; they direct their eyes to more productive lands, deeper, richer in their elements, inclining more to the southern sun, and approaching nearer the level of the sea. Here they put in the ploughshare with

This is the original, the loving, heavenly model, after which every Christian family on earth should copy. When coals of juniper burn upon the hearth, oh! let the angry members think of the flames of love that burn

confidence; and they scatter the seed, never doubting a reasonable increase. To encourage parents, let me tell them, there is no soil more productive than the soil of the heart. Children will repay, when agriculture, commerce, and the industrial arts will fail to replace a stiver. But consider the design of cultivation.

if they possess no interest in the field of salvation, from which they might reap a harvest of glory at the termination of the present world-though they clothed themselves in the shadowy gauze of secular virtue, while the tinselled robes of faith, love, repentance, self-denial, spiritual zeal, and growth in grace, were allowed to moth-eat and Some train up their families to a decay. Forgetting temporal increase, thorough knowledge of their own occu- strive to cultivate the plants of our pations; and, aware of the importance Heavenly Father's planting. Man, of morality, they are careful to keep though a sinner, is neither beyond the them from scenes of vice. Such super- pale of hope nor the boundary of ficial training is only designed to qua- mercy. The human heart, though lify them as respectable citizens of the naturally composed of stone, is caworld, and it often fails of its object. pable of being mollified. PerseverThe deeper you lay the foundation, the ance, prayer, and faith, will remove steadier and more impregnable will be mountains. And when the soul shall the superstructure. Search down till be sanctified, redeemed, and set down, you find the Rock of Ages, which is clothed in white, upon the Saviour's Christ; then build fearlessly the tower throne, oh! what a sparkling jewel of religion. Think not that mere will be added to your crown of glory! secular knowledge, or even the cobweb But your own happiness or misery of moth-eaten morality, will resist the is closely interwoven with the happistorms of temptation or time. Hus-ness or misery of your offspring. The bandmen tell us that, to secure an prophet tells us, that "they that be ample return, it is necessary to throw wise shall shine as the brightness of up the subsoil. Economy and morality the firmament, and they that turn are the upper surface; religion is the many to righteousness as the stars for undersoil; and where this department ever and ever." How delightful for a is stirred and pulverized, there is no Christian mother to behold her son danger of the superficial layer being or daughter in paradise! Stoicism well tilled and in proper condition. teaches the extinction of human feelOh! how many foolish parents "sowing hereafter; Christianity sanctifies the wind and reap the whirlwind!" and immortalizes affection, as, in many Religion alone can have "the promise instances, " a well-spring of deep gladof the life that now is, and of that ness to the soul." After the pious which is to come." It is a trivial parent, like "Christian," has ascended matter, indeed, though your sons and the hill of glory, and the children, stidaughters should become respectable mulated by her enlivening precepts, citizens, if they appear disqualified are endeavouring to keep themselves candidates for the celestial city- pure in this valley of temptationthough the little circle of time should after the genuine metal of their graces be filled up with temporal enjoyments, has been thrown into innumerable

of happiness be full, if these precious gems of the soul were exiles from paradise?

Thus he could

fires, and has come out sterling gold-heaven. Lead them with you-lead after angels have entwined their sil- them after you. How could your cup very locks with the fillet of Divine approbation-after Satan has stamped and foamed in fury, that another band of pious souls have broken the chains of their captivity, and flung them back against the walls of his dungeonafter the deep tide of death has been touched, crimson with the blood of countless victims-after fiery steeds appear above, resplendent with gold and azure, lowering the celestial car to bear those pilgrims to the throne of the Heavenly Jerusalem-who is yon happy spirit we perceive standing at the sapphire gate, her transparent robes glittering like a sunbeam, her crown dazzling with gems and lustre, and her feet like polished brass? Be hold her white hand waving in acclamation, and see her immortal eye flashing flashes of indescribable joy! Her golden harp is flung behind her in transport, as she flies to receive the strangers from the giant arms of Death! It is the glorified mother rushing to embrace her glorified children, and to welcome them to her heavenly home. We leave imagination to conceive their holy rapture-their days of endless endearment under the shades, the arbours, and by the river of paradise. May we not exclaim with the poet :

"Twine, twine the victor wreath!

Spirits that meet them,
Sweet songs of triumph breathe,

Seraphs to greet them.
From their high resting-place
Who shall them sever?
With their God face to face

Leave them for ever!"

Mothers! do you anticipate this felicity? Walk before your children to

THE SELFISH WORKMAN. HE was healthy and active, temperate, frugal, and diligent; a good and very quick workman. He was married, but had no children; in addition to all these advantages, he was strongminded and very well informed upon all common matters. plead neither necessity nor ignorance in justification of his very disreputable conduct. It is the custom of journeymen tailors, while at work, to perform for each other sundry little services, which, while they are helpful to the one party, are in no way burdensome to the other. They were, however, grudged by my shopmate; yet, as he feared reprisals if he altogether refused, he contrived to avoid being again troubled on this score, by performing them in such a manner as to give much additional annoyance instead of assistance. All this he would do with such seeming good will, as made it difficult to believe that he had intentionally done wrong. ever, he was suspected of this, it was quite useless either to remonstrate or to be angry, for he was not to be moved by such means; on the contrary, he was quite as merry about it as if it had been nothing more than a harmless and allowable joke. As he was able to manifest at all times what seemed to be a thoroughly good temper, and, moreover, had at command some ready wit and humour, he not only got easily out of the scrape, hut

If, how