singing the high praises of her Redeemer! Oh, what a happy providence, that she and her dearly-loved ones should be, as it were, in the self-same chariot, translated to heaven. Like some owner of a well-cultivated garden of flowers, who, in looking about upon the plants which his own right hand hath planted, sees some of more than common beauty and fragrance, which he gathers and places in his bosom; just so, it seems to me, has it been with our beloved friend and her dear offspring: they were beautiful and fragrant flowers, made thus by redeeming favor and holy culture, and fitted for the bosom of Jesus.

May we not say, respecting her excellencies-" though many daughters" of the church "have done virtuously," yet she certainly, in many things, "excelled them all?"

Yours, in Christian love,

Charleston, S. C., Aug. 8, 1837.

S. Z. G., Secretary M. A.

For the Mother's Magazine.

LIGHT SHINING OUT OF DARKNESS.

THE following lines were suggested by reading "Passages from a Mother's Diary," in the April number of the Mother's Magazine:

While I acknowledge many mercies and blessings, in common with the author, which calls for my gratitude, there are still others which I would record, hoping that some feeble benever may be encouraged thereby, and led to the exercise of stronger faith and more perfect confidence in God.

I would render thanksgiving and praise to Him, from whom "cometh every good and perfect gift," that he has been with me "in six troubles, yea, in seven he has not forsaken me." He has granted the grace of resignation, when one, and another, and another, of those dearly beloved, have, within the past year, been called into eternity.

At times, an awful sense of loneliness, caused by the removal of all my family, save one, into the upper world, has come over my soul; wave after wave has threatened to overwhelm me;

and I have been ready to sink under the weight of accumulated trials; then the blessed truths of the gospel, and the precious promises of his word, have brought consolation, and imparted a "peace which the world knoweth not of." Yes, I would render praise to him who giveth the "oil of joy for mourning, and garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness," that, in times of deepest distress, when I felt to say, "all thy billows have gone over me," "strength has been equal to the day," and his "grace sufficient;" for though he permit the furnace to be "seven times heated," there is "seen one walking in the midst like unto the Son of Man," who will not permit us to be burned, but only designs to purify from dross, that he may see his own image reflected.

I bless him, also, that the little one I have yet spared to me, already gives me some reason to hope that she has chosen him for her portion, who "perfects praise out of the mouth of babes and sucklings." Truly he is the hearer and answerer of prayer. I bless him that, by the light of revelation, the eye of faith can penetrate the dark clouds that obscure our vision; and, by taking Pisgah-views of the promised land, see there our dear departed friends, participating in all the holy employments of the upper sanctuary.

That I am detained in this waste wilderness, still a sojourner here, does not call forth my gratitude; but that I am encouraged to hope and believe, that soon this clayey tabernacle will be dissolved, my soul delivered from this "body of sin and death," and permitted to enter the blissful abodes of the redeemed, calls for unceasing praises.

"A hope so much divine,
May trials well endure."

Glen's Falls, June 12, 1837.

L. A. S.

For the Mother's Magazine.

WISE SAYINGS.

WISE sayings, often repeated in childhood, and under circumstances where they saw their practical application, are fre

quently discovered by people of advanced age, to have been the governing principles of their actions through a long life.

Hence the importance that parents exercise great caution in the use of family maxims, as a certain means of conveying to the susceptible minds of their children the most wholesome truths, or the most fatal errors.

The whole book of Proverbs is a rich storehouse of pithy and important truths thus conveyed, and they have one advantage over all others-there is no disputing the wisdom of any of them, for they bear the infallible impress of inspiration.

Were the Bible properly regarded by parents, even those most important and offensive truths, which are so faithfully delineated in the book of Proverbs, it is believed, if suitably explained, and prayed over by parents, would convey to the minds of children such instructive and impressive lessons, as would effectually guard them, in after life, from the commission and contaminating influence of those appalling crimes, and all kindred evils, which Paul said ought not to be so much as named among the weak and unstable Gentile converts.

How well did Solomon understand the "right way," the "safe way," to avoid contention or contagion. He says, "Avoid it; pass by it; turn from it, and pass away."

We venture to propose, as the best safeguard to virtue and morality, that all our youthful readers begin, at once, to commit to memory the entire book of Proverbs.

It is admitted that the Germans, as a people, are noted for the number and variety of their "wise sayings." They are, likewise, eminent for their honesty. One of their maxims, in particular, deserves a place in the memory of every child in America.

It may have been owing to the influence of this maxim, faithfully explained and applied by German mothers, that, as a people, they are so much more strictly honest than some of their neighbors. The maxim to which we refer is this:

"The wrong-taken cent hath eaten out the right-earned dollar."

How singularly does this motto, exhibiting the hundred-fold injuries consequent upon theft, correspond with the requisition

among the Hebrews, in ancient times, that, in case of theft, the criminal should restore sevenfold, which some commentators say was put for manyfold. In certain cases, if the offender was not able to make restitution, he was to be sold. There is, therefore, no superstition in entertaining the sentiment conveyed by this maxim, as is the fact in regard to many of the German notions.

Is it improbable that a God, who "taketh vengeance," will, in the course of his providential dispensations, require of the offender, whether man, woman, or child, an hundredfold more than he or she has wickedly taken from others? His word and promise stand pledged, that "the workers of iniquity shall not always hide themselves."

It is no uncommon thing to see men of affluence suddenly stripped of the greater part of their overgrown estates, which had been dishonestly or fraudulently acquired, either by themselves or their ancestors. How often, too, when men begin to flatter themselves that their mountain stands strong, that they shall never be moved-that "then cometh sudden destruction, and they shall not escape, for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it." How often, too, do such reverses take place at a time, and under circumstances, when it is most keenly felt and deplored.

When children are guilty of any sort of theft, instead of using the rod, as many parents invariably do on such occasions, might it not be better and more in accordance with Scripture examples, to deprive them of something which, by common consent, is theirs. For example, if a child should take from the closet, or the bowl, a lump of sugar, may it not be well to restrict him from the use of sugar for several days?

We have heard the sentiment expressed by some parents, that some children seemed to be born with a propensity to lie, steal, or cheat. But is it not much more likely, that the striking difference which we do see in different families and individuals, in regard to strict honesty and truth, depends chiefly on the fact, whether parents do absolutely abhor and shun these detestable vices, or whether they do in reality practise them themselves, or wink at them in their children?

MATERNAL ASSOCIATIONS.

WE have on hand a number of interesting reports of Maternal Associations. We would gladly publish most of them, but our very limited number of pages, and frequently a press of matter, compel us to use them sparingly.

Without pledging ourselves to insert communications of this nature, we earnestly invite the continuance of them. They are decidedly useful for another purpose. They are read with deep interest by members of different associations in various parts of the country, and they serve as a connecting link between these societies.

Maternal Associations are multiplying. Many, which were commenced under peculiarly embarrassing circumstances, and at first were very feeble, have been greatly strengthened and enlarged, as the Secretary of the Pittsburgh Association writes" Our numbers have so increased as to require division; so that, with good old Jacob, we can say, 'With my staff I passed over this Jordan, and now, behold, I have become two bands.' In truth it may be said, that the utility of these institutions is no longer considered a matter of doubtful experiment, as many mothers abundantly and joyfully testify."

We feel greatly encouraged in our labors, and earnestly entreat all mothers, who are faithfully laboring in their stations of quiet influence, in the family and social circle, to take courage also; to persevere in prayer, and in every good word and work; for, "in due season," if we have not already seen the fruit of our efforts, "we shall reap, if we faint not.”

We rejoice to communicate such facts as are found in the following extracts:

From the Report of the Maternal Association in Moriah, Essex county, New York, for 1836.

"Since the organization of our association, in 1835, twentynine mothers have been members, and ninety-six children have been our charge. With the deepest emotions of gratitude and praise, we mention the hopeful conversion of fifteen or twenty