As an auxiliary for the requisite suspension of worldly duties? to this, daughters may be employed on this day with the needle, or in some fancy work, with special relation to this object. In almost any of the country towns, as well as cities, little articles of fancy work, or more necessary articles of clothing, will sell for something worth putting into the treasury of the Lord. Let every daughter be furnished with her monthly-concert work, something in which she will engage with pleasure and interest, and let her feel that its avails are for a special object, to send a Bible, or a tract, or a teacher, or a minister, to such a poor family, or such a heathen child, or such a destitute church or needy missionary. If the choice of this object be her own, her interest will be proportionably increased. Oh the delight with which the little heart will give its self-earned mite! Mothers, have you tried this plan? and do you know how much good may result from it to yourself, your children, the church, and the world? If not, will you make the experiment this year? Let no time be lost. Remember the appeal so recently made through the medium of this magazine by our dear brother Mr. R. The generation, said he, on whom, under God, the future success of the cause of missions depends, are now in the training of Christian mothers. I once knew a little girl, only three years old, whose interest in this subject would shame many an adult Christian in our day. She would talk of the heathen, and tears would bathe her little cheek as she told of the poor children of the Choctaws and Cherokees, who had no mamma to tell them about Jesus. She would talk of the children at the Sandwich Islands, and beg that she might send them some of her little comforts, and the Bible, and her teachers. She was a minister's daughtershe had been taught to think of the heathen. Though familiarly acquainted with her mother, we do not recollect to have ever seen her engaged in her usual occupations on the first Monday of the month. Her charity work, and her Missionary Herald, were always before her. That little girl formed the plan of making a quilt for the Indian children. When she saw any little bit of calico, however small, which she supposed she might procure for it, she would say, in her lisping accents, "Please give me that to put in my bed-kilt for the poor heaven." If asked why she wanted it, she would say, "because they have noue to keep them warm." If delayed a little, she would manifest more anxiety, and plead for it, saying it would do them so much good to have it. In this way she collected nearly all the materials, and had almost completed the covering of her quilt, when she was called by death to leave this world, not without hopeful evidence to mourning friends that she died in the arms of Jesus. The quilt was finished soon after her death, by the little girls of the place where she resided, and sent, bearing her name and age, to the Cherokees, for whom she especially designed it. That mother is now in heaven. May her example in thus early imparting to her children a missionary spirit, be followed by many. CITHERA. For the Mother's Magazine. A STRICT REGARD TO TRUTH. A STRICT regard to truth should influence the conduct of mothers in their daily intercourse with their children. "I thought you would not do wrong," said a young lady to her mother, referring to her childhood, "and I watched you closely to satisfy myself whether you would or not. I even hoped that I should detect you in a falsehood. One day I went to school in the morning, fully believing I had done so; but found, on returning home, that I was mistaken." Of all this, the mother was ignorant. How strikingly does this fact prove, that our children are constantly acting as spies upon our conduct, and that we may easily lead them in a course of sin without being sensible of it! The fact was simply this; the child had frequently expressed a strong desire for a particular kind of food, and had often been told that she should have it as soon as convenience permitted. This had occasioned delay, until the child believed that her mother had not spoken the truth. As it proved otherwise, her confidence in her mother's integrity was restored, and the little incident never forgotten. Thus a little inattention on the part of the mother might have destroyed her reputation in the estimation of her child, while the mother would never have suspected that she had lent the influence of her example for the commission of a sin of awful magnitude. It is to be feared that many an unsuspecting mother has thus prepared the way, and even given the force of her daily conduct in her family, to any thing rather than truth; and her children, being left to make their own inferences and observations, are left to act accordingly. "Train up a child in the way he should go," should be written in legible characters, by fathers and mothers, in all family matters. For the Mother's Magazine. CHILDREN EARLY TAUGHT THEIR NEED OF A SAVIOR. DEAR MRS. W. As a constant reader of your invaluable Magazine, and as a mother, I am desirous of contributing my mite to its pages, with the hope of encouraging its readers to perseverance in training their dear children for usefulness here, and happiness hereafter. I propose, therefore, to give you my thoughts respecting the duty of mothers to teach their children the need of a Savior in their infancy. And, in the first place, I observe that children are cast upon the care of their parents, in a state of helpless dependance. It is, therefore, the imperious duty of parents, to supply their necessities in due season. It is important, too, that they adopt such a mode of instruction as will lead children to a knowledge of their true character by nature, and to guard them against the danger of depending on their own righteousThat this can be done, the writer fully believes, having had this sweet experience in the case of a little daughter in her ninth year, who exhibits pleasing evidence that she is trusting for salvation alone in the merits of Christ's righteousness. But one consideration, in particular, I would urge upon mothers, is, that their children are depraved, and are already under the ness. curse; and that it is impossible for their parents to remove that depravity, or to renew their hearts, or to discharge them from the penalty of that curse, by any thing that is in their power to do. Children themselves early discover these symptoms. A great point, therefore, is gained, when a mother is convinced. that it is utterly out of her power, by the most faithful and unremitting efforts to remove this depravity, or to renew the hearts of her children, so that they will hate sin as sin, and love holiness on account of its own intrinsic excellence. She must feel that this is the work and office of the Holy Spirit. But a mother has it in her power to restrain this depravity, and to prevent its breaking out in overt acts of transgression. That it requires both wisdom and prudence to reduce these sentiments to practice, in the religious education of children, so as to prevent them from placing some dependance on their obedience or good conduct as a ground of justification, will not be denied. Still, with the blessing of God, it can be done. To this end, let a mother seriously and conscientiously improve every opportunity which may be afforded, to express her decided approbation of the right conduct of her child, and in the same way her disapprobation and displeasure in witnessing that which is vicious. The manner of expressing her sentiments and feelings in such cases, is highly important. Instead of saying, you are a good child, and deserve commendation, it is better to say, "you have acted right," "this is what God requires." For even a child can understand the import of that direction, "So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants, we have done that which it was our duty to do." By such and other means, a mother may teach her child, that in the sight of God, its virtuous conduct to-day will not discharge it from the demerit of its wicked conduct of yesterday, or last week, or last year, and that it must absolutely perish without pardon and redemption through a Savior's blood. This mode of instruction is essential, in order to lead children to a correct knowledge of their own hearts, and of the only way of salvation. Could mothers be persuaded to attach due importance to this subject, and attend to it faithfully, we have reasop to believe that many stupid mortals would be deterred from presuming on an honorable entrance into heaven, till in the world of spirits they were awakened as from a dream, and found themselves in a state of endless despair. Did mothers rightly estimate the value of the souls of their offspring; were they sensible of the obligations God has laid parents under to train up their children for him, they would see and feel the force of the exhortation, "In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thy hand." Were the question now to be put, "Why do not mothers attend strictly to the religions instruction of their children?" would not the answer be," because we have no heart to this service." But does not this indifference often arise from the fact, that mothers forget where their great strength lies, and feeling incompetent to perform the work alone, they yield to discouragement. While as parents we are to exercise implicit confidence in the promises of a covenant-keeping God, we are to use diligently the means which God has ordained for the conviction and conversion of our children. Let us beware of substituting the opinions of our fellow men for the commands of the Most High; remembering that "the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple." A MOTHER. For the Mother's Magazine. EDWARD RISLEY. THE following account of Edward Risley was contained in a letter, the substance of which is here given, written by his mother, soon after the death of her beloved boy, and addressed to her pastor. This interesting child appears to have been chosen of God, and called from his earliest infancy, and to have been peculiarly taught by that God, who has so often perfected his praise out of the mouths of babes and sucklings, to teach the proud heart of man how entirely human intellect must bow to the omnipotence of divine power. Oh, how long it is before na |