see your daughter; for, believe me, nothing but an occasional thought of poor widowed papa ever intrudes upon my cheerfulness. Mrs. Morton has frequently expressed a wish to see you, so that I shall look forward with anxiety for that happy occasion.

Again thanking you for your thoughtful and liberal kind

ness,

Believe me to remain,

My dear father,"

Your ever affectionate and grateful daughter,

CLARA LEWIS.

TO CHARLES LEWIS, ESQ., West 24th Street, New York.

From a Gentleman to his Son, at School.

MEMPHIS, Sept. 7th, 18-.

MY DEAR SON,-Though I have so long been silent, you have not been absent from my remembrance, and I should have written to you before, had I not waited for some intelligence which would have rendered my letter more acceptable. Nothing, however, of any particular importance has transpired, and I have therefore only to inform you that your mother, myself, and your brothers and sisters remain as well as when I last wrote. My knowledge of your usual good behavior and attention to your duties readers any fresh advice in regard to your conduct unnecessary. I leave you, my dear child, to the guidance of your own good sense, and the guardian care of Mr. Shaw, to whom myself and your mother desire to be remembered, with our complinents to his family. Believe me, with the best wishes of myself and your dear mother for your health and happiness,

Your ever affectionate father,

WILLIAM BRANDON,

TO MASTER ERNEST BRANDON, Paris, Ky.

From a Mother in Town, to her Daughter at a Boarding-school in the Country, recommending the Practice of Virtue. CLEVELAND, Oct. 5th, 18-. MY DEAR DAUGHTER,—Although we are separated in person, yet you are never absent from my thoughts; and it is my continual practice to recommend you to the care of that Being whose eyes are on all his creatures, and to whom the secrets of all hearts are open; but I have been lately somewhat alarmed because your two last letters do not run in' that strain of unaffected piety as formerly. What, my dear, is this owing to? Does virtue appear to you unpleasant? is your beneficent Creator a hard master, or are you resolved to embark in the fashionable follies of a gay, unthinking world? Excuse me, my dear; I am a mother, and my concern for your happiness is inseparably connected with my own. Perhaps I am mistaken, and what I have considered as a fault may be only the effusion of youthful gaiety. I shall consider it in that light, and be extremely glad to find it so. Useful instructions are never too often inculcated, and therefere give me leave again to put you in mind of that duty, the performance of which alone can make you happy, both in time and in eternity.

Religion, my dear, is the dedication of the whole mind to the will of God, and virtue is the actual operation of that truth which diffuses itself through every part of our conduct; its consequences are equally beneficial as its promises "Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.'

Whilst the gay, unthinking part of youth are devoting the whole of their time to fashionable pleasures, how happy shall I be to hear that my child was religious without hypocritical austerity, and even gay with innocence! Let rae beg that you will spend at least one hour each day in perusing your Bible, and some of our best writers; and don't imagine that religion is such a gloomy thing as some enthusiasts have represented; no, it indulges you in every

rational amusement, so far as is consisteut with morality; it forbids nothing but what is hurtful.

Let me beg you will consider attentively what I have written, and send me an answer as soon as you can. My dear daughter,

I remain your affectionate mother,

TO MISS HELEN MOWBREY,

HANNAH MOWBREY.

Oakland Seminary, Hillsborough, Ohio.

The Young Lady's Answer.

OAKLAND SEMINARY, Oct. 10th, 18-.

MY DEAR MOTHER,-I am so much affected by the perusal of your really parental advice, that I can scarcely hold the pen to write an answer; but duty to the best of parents obliges me to make you easy in your mind before I take any rest to myself. That levity so conspicuous in my former letters is too true to be denied, nor do I desire to draw a veil over my own folly. No, dear mother, I freely confess it; but, with the greatest sincerity, I must at the same time declare that they were written in a careless manner, without considering the character of the person to whom they were addressed. I am fully sensible of my error, and on all future occasions shall endeavor to avoid giving the least offence. The advice you sent me in your valuable letter wants no encomiums; all that I desire is to have it engraven on my heart. My dear mother, I love religion, I love virtue, and I hope no consideration will ever lead me from my duties, in which alone I expect future happiness. Let me hope to hear from you, and I; trust that my future conduct will convince you that I am what you wish me to be.

I remain, dear mother,

Your affectionate daughter,

HELF MOWBREY.

TO MRS. HANNAH MOWBREY, Cleveland, Ohio.

A Widower to his Daughter at School.

CHICAGO, June 14th, 18

MY DARLING,-Your last letter gave me much pleasure, as it conveyed to me the belief that although enjoying every comfort under the care of Miss Howard, you still cling with fondness to your home and to your father. Believe me, my dearest child, it was no small trial for me to part with you after my unhappy bereavement, but I felt that parental fondness must not be instrumental to making a sacrifice of a child's prospects, and that nothing can excuse a man debarring his children of the necessary advantages of education, in order to gratify the somewhat pardonable desire to see them around his own fireside. I trust, my dear girl, that when you return to Chicago your improvement in all that can elevate the character of a young woman will be ample atonement for the pain I feel in your temporary estrangement from me. Pray write me another letter soon, and believe me,

MY DEAREST CHILD,-Your father, brothers, and sisters, all unite with me in sending you a thousand good wishes on this, your fifteenth anniversary. We could all have desired that circumstances would have admitted of your spending it with us; but feeling, in these matters, must oftentimes be sacrificed for our good, and our selfish delights must not be permitted to interfere with the prospects of those dear to us. The package which accompanies this letter, contains not only some trifling tokens of affection from all of us,

but the materials for a little entertainment which, I have no doubt, Mrs. Belmer will allow you to give to your schoolfellows, as I have written to beg a half-holiday on the occasion.

God bless you, my dear child! and that every succeeding year may see you increase in all that is desirable in body and mind, is the earnest prayer of your ever-anxious parents. With best compliments to your mistress and teachers,

TO MISS LUCY SANDFORD,

Believe me,

Your ever affectiontate mother,
ISABELLA SANDFORD.

The "Oaks" Seminary, Princeton, N. J.

A Gentleman to his Daughter, on her Preference of a Suitor. SUMMERSIDE, Dec. 3d, 18

MY DEAR CHILD,-What pleasure must it give me when I declare that my children's conduct has ever displayed that dutiful affection, which has made their present happiness and future welfare my constant aim! To find that they have made a prudent choice in their partners for life, and to see them living in harmony and in comfortable circumstances with those partners, have been among my dearest and most cherished wishes. I suppose I shall `occasion you some little emotion in mentioning the name of Mr. Hastings; but be assured, my dear child, that from my own observation of that gentleman's character, and from the esteem in which he is generally held, there is 'scarcely one among my acquaintance for whom I have greater respect, and whom I regard, from his worldly position, his integrity, his gentlemanly conduct, his prudent and well-known good temper, as being more likely to make a woman happy. I can therefore truly say, that although I shall sorely feel the loss of your dear company, I