purchase, will it not serve to form their business habits? If it be to sew, knit, or read, will it not serve to increase their store of knowledge? and if they are required to keep away from idle and improper companions, is it not intended to preserve from injury one of their greatest treasures—a good character?

Children should, therefore, patiently listen to and receive their parents' advice with pleasure; as it will generally be found to be their best guide in directing them to what is right, and their surest safeguard against the commission of wrong. That advice, at times, may be opposed to their most urgent desires; and may even be given so as to interfere with some pleasure or amusement, in which they may be taking the greatest delight; but as children are very apt to desire and do things without much consideration of their propriety, they should be promptly guided by the advice of their parents.

Children should also love their parents; for pure and ardent is their parents' love for them. And when children reflect on the toils, the cares, and sacrifices of their father, in order to provide them with the comforts they enjoy; and think how fondly and anxiously their mother has ever attended to their wants in sickness and health; how can they help loving such kind and affectionate parents? And if they truly love them, will they not show it by their kind and courteous language, and respectful behaviour towards them?

As children, when they are void of knowledge, have no understanding to guide their own conduct, or to enable them to be useful to others, they should willingly receive the instruction of their parents (or of the teachers they appoint,) as the most precious of all gifts that could possibly be bestowed upon them. For what more precious gift could they receive, than that which enabled them to know some of

the wonderful existences that are found in the earth, the air, and the water? To know what kind of a world they live in, and what they must do, and how they must strive to act, in order to be happy in it?

But, to acquire this valuable knowledge, they must listen with attention to the instruction that is given to them both at home and at school, and, at the same time, strive to impress it firmly in their memories. For they must remember, that no kind of useful knowledge will ever get into their heads, unless they make some effort, and take some trouble in order to put it there.

They should also learn to perceive that every thing which they waste, or heedlessly destroy, must give their parents additional labour to replace it; and thus cause the family to have less comforts and enjoyments than their parents might otherwise have afforded them. Hence they should take great care, both at home and abroad, so as not to break, waste or destroy anything which they possess, or may be entrusted with. And in their play they should be equally careful not to soil or injure their clothing, nor endanger the lives and property of others, by heedlessly throwing things about, as is often done by the mischievous and inconsiderate.

Brothers and sisters too should, as twin branches of the same parent tree, bud and bloom together in amity and affection. Sharing conjointly the comforts of the same happy home, and the enjoyment of food, dress, books, and amusements, provided by the same kind parents, they should feel too grateful towards them ever to hurt their feelings by any contentions, or quarrels with one another. On the contrary, they should vie with each other in mutual acts of love and kindness, so as to bring joy to their parents hearts, and make their home beam with happiness.

But we will now suppose them to have outgrown their

childhood, and to have arrived at an age when their parents deem it necessary that they shall begin to acquire some trade, occupation, or profession; so as to be qualified to earn their own living, and fitted for a life of usefulness. In this stage of their existence they must not forget their duty to their parents; and this they will best fulfil by attention to the instructions of their employer, by earnest application to their business, by steady virtuous conduct, and by being obliging and civil to all those they come in contact with.

Nor, in their new pursuit, should they neglect the important duty of still further improving themselves, by additional acquisitions in knowledge; abundant time for which they will find in their leisure hours, instead of wasting them in idleness and frivolity.

Sons and daughters thus grown up to maturity under their parents fostering care, and by whose toils and sacrifices they have been mentally endowed, and physically qualified, to share in life's battle, and brave the world's temptations, will do well, still to consult those who have so far guided them in safety, respecting the difficulties they may have to encounter; the evils that may beset their paths, the fears that depress them, or the hopes that animate; in fact, any step they may be about to take, where prudent caution is required, or good advice necessary.

And if children always acted thus-if they thoughtfully weighed the advice of their mother, and regarded their father's admonitions as beacons, forewarning impending danger-so many daughters would not have had to repent of their folly in sorrow and anguish; nor so many sons have made shipwreck of fortune, position, health, and character, and died in misery.

But those kind parents, after a long life of industry and care, and the due performance of their parental duties, find

themselves aged, infirm, and helpless; and, it may be, through sickness, losses, or misfortunes, wanting the means of comfortable subsistence. To whom, under such circumstances, should they look for help and consolation, if not to their children? And greatly wanting in affection and duty will those children be, who, according to their means, are not the first to relieve and foremost to console them.

In thus endeavouring to point out the duties of children to their parents, it is greatly to be regretted that exceptions have to be made of parents who do not perform their duty to their children. For, unhappily, parents are to be found, who are not only ignorant and neglectful, but who even live upon the vices of their children! who teach them to cheat, lie, beg, and steal, in order that themselves may live in idleness, or gratify their propensity for drink! Such unfortunate children, who may possibly have learnt the distinction between right and wrong, should know that there is still a more sacred duty than the parental one -that of determining to abstain from evil, and resolutely to suffer any privation rather than be induced to commit a

crime.

DUTIES AS MEMBERS OF SOCIETY.

ON KIND AND COURTEOUS LANGUAGE, AND PROPER

BEHAVIOUR.

As language (however varied in different countries) is the chief medium by which men make known their wants and wishes to one another, it may very properly be designated the current coin of thought.

But language not only serves as a medium for making known men's desires, but is likewise the outward symbol for expressing their inward passions and feelings; and therefore has its influence in society, for good or evil, in the same manner as human conduct.

Most persons must have seen enough of the effects of language upon others, to convince them that one mode of expression is more fitted than another to make man more agreeable to his fellows; more disposed to friendly communion; more inclined to render and receive mutual assistance; and more anxious to live in amity and peace with others.

But although the language, or mode of expression, made use of by individuals greatly depends on their original organization, or pecularities of desires and feelings, there is no reason why it might not be modified, so as to be more promotive of individual and general well-being than we now find it to be. For if the instructions of the teacher, the restraints of law, and discipline of morality, have their effect in improving human character, there is no reason why the language expressive of that character