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[Mrs. Smith's letter should have been given to our readers some months ago. The consideration that this letter contains, probably, her last written expressions of deep interest for Christian Mothers in America, and of her desire that they early and faithfully impress upon the minds of their children lessons of self-control, may give additional force and interest to her judicious remarks. The following testimony to the excellent character, elevated piety, and missionary zeal of Mrs. Smith, which we have elicited from her early friend, Mrs. Sigourney, will doubtless gratify the numerous relatives and acquaintance of the departed, who died in the family of the Rev. Mr. Temple, at Smyrna, Sept. 30, 1836.]

For the Mother's Magazine.

LETTER FROM MRS. SARAH L. SMITH.

THE annexed letter to the Editor of the Mother's Magazine, from the pen of one of the most devoted missionaries of the cross that our country or any other country has produced, will be perused with a most deep and melancholy interest, now that the hand which traced it, is powerless in a foreign grave. The testimony of her life of piety, and her death of Christian triumph, is unspeakably precious to all. Especially is it dear to those of us who knew and loved her from childhood, who watched the germ of her pure zeal for the heathen, from the moment of its quickening among the wilds of Mohegan, until it ripened to its perfect harvest beneath the fatal fervor of Syrian skies.

Blended with the image of our departed friend and sister, is that of the sorrowing and solitary husband, the faithful laborer in a pagan clime; and the prayer of sympathy will surely ascend for him, that he may be strengthened and sustained until his reunion with that angel-spirit, whose earthly pilgrimage was so cheered by his tender and unslumbering affection.

L. H. S.

DEAR MADAM,

BEYROOT, (Syria,) February 15, 1836.

YOUR valuable periodical occasionally reaches our little circle in this far distant land, through the kindness of friends; and though the number is small who are at present benefited by its perusal, we prize its instructions, and trust the time will come when they will reach the minds of native mothers, and a generation of Arabs "rise up and call you blessed."

Although personally a stranger to you, I take the liberty of offering a few thoughts on the mode of education, as it now exists in our native land-thoughts, which if not suggested, have been confirmed by my recent intercourse with the inhabitants of other countries. You are aware, that objects viewed at a distance often assume a different aspect, especially if one is drawn away from the excitement which an immediate contact produces. This is my experience in regard to the privileges, the blessings, the dangers, and the defects of our beloved country, as contemplated from this, as it were, other world.

Yet

I rejoice that in your present improved systems of education, there is so much to win and gratify the youthful mind, while toiling up the ascent to maturity; and that silken cords, in the hand of intelligent affection and pious care, are found so successfully to supersede the necessity of severer measures. I see a danger here. Said a correct and religious lady in America to one of my missionary sisters, in substance, as follows: "I had an excellent mother, who was very attentive to her maternal duties, and never allowed any thing wrong in her children; yet I feel now that my spirit was never thoroughly subdued. Her uniform course was to seek to prevent the occurrence of evil tempers in her children, and this system of prevention never subjected us to any struggles with our natural feelings of insubordination, and of course we had no opportunities for self-conquest; and although my disposition may appear faultless to others, in later years I have suffered inward conflicts, which have made me regret that my mother did not, in my early days, sometimes cross my inclinations, and require me to exercise self-control."

There is much sound philosophy in these remarks, and they

are worthy a moment's consideration. A very large class of young persons in America are in a course of training under circumstances so pleasant, and facilities so great, that, contrasted with the condition of youth in most other portions of the globe, they may be said to be basking in the sunshine of Eden. They do not, perhaps, realize this, because there are a thousand little perplexities affecting human nature in its fairest circumstances, which, for want of greater, assume the name of trials. Yet let them spend a few years in a heathen or unevangelized country, and they will acknowledge that scarce a trouble worthy to cloud the brow reached them when at home. You will observe that I am speaking of the most favored class in our country, of which there is a large number in almost every city, town, and village. Many of these, perhaps, intend to devote their lives in some way to the welfare of mankind, or their parents have this object in view for them. Then allow me to say, that every opportunity which occurs for enforcing obedience on the part of parents or teachers, and for the exercise of self-conquest on the part of the children, will be a most important step in equipping the latter for their work.

You will not imagine, my dear Madam, that I do not fully acquiesce in the counsel of Scripture, which says, "Provoke not your children to wrath." This precept can scarcely be too highly prized; yet fathers and mothers, and all others to whom the training of children is committed, should bear in mind, that God has delegated them with authority, and that sometimes they are in duty bound to enforce implicit obedience, although the child should at the time be unable to appreciate the motives which induced this exercise of authority. Our almighty Ruler and Parent has set us an example in his own mode of government, and although forbearing and gracious beyond any human being, yet he does not always permit us to see the reasons of his dispensations, but requires an act of faith on our part. So should the earthly parent or guardian, else he casts aside the prerogative with which he is invested, and deranges the beautiful system which infinite wisdom has ordained.

Since transferring my abode to an aristocratic country, and mingling also with foreign residents from lands less republican

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