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our domestic duties, obeying our Lord's command?'

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MRS. M. Surely, my love; provided we do not make them an excuse for neglecting Him or his ordinances; and it is our own fault if they interfere with the duty we owe to God.' EMILY. Let me ask a question, mamma, when you were well you always thought it very wrong to stay away from Church; suppose papa was not well and could not go with you, do you think you ought to leave him? › MRS. M. If your father was ill enough to require my attendance, then I should consider that in remaining with him I was not making an excuse for neglecting the duty of attending public worship; but if I only remained at home because it was pleasant to me to attend on him, then I should be guilty of wilful neglect of duty: I will put another case. Suppose your father was an irreligious man, and required me instead of reading my bible, to read some light and foolish book, and that I complied, and made obedience to

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him, an excuse for doing what I knew to be wrong: I think that would be preferring man to God; it would be a sinful compliance with a husband's wishes, rather than a performance of duty towards him; in short, no duty, however imperative, to an earthly being, should ever interfere with our duty to Him, who alone can enable us to perform any duty as we ought. But if we are careful, as the Apostle tells us, to "do all to the glory of God," there will be no danger of our moral duties ever interfering with our religious ones. Our amusements, our pleasures, our follies, are much more likely to prove hindrances to us.'

GEORGE.

• Indeed that is very true, mother: some pleasures are very enticing and make us forget everything else.'

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MRS. M. True, my child; but we must pray fervently, that our pleasures may be such as shall not tend to make us forget Him, who alone can enable us to know what real pleasure is.'

GEORGE.

I am afraid I shall be very

fond of what is called pleasure or gaity when I am a man.'

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MRS. M. My poor boy, this would be very unfortunate indeed for you: but I trust the Lord will hear my prayers for you, and not only enable you to resist all the temptations with which worldly pleasures so abound, but that he will so change your heart and affections, that these follies shall cease to please, and that in their stead he will supply you with such enjoyments as shall not be be followed by disappointment and selfreproach; but such as shall afford never failing satisfaction and happiness here, happiness which shall be perfected hereafter.'

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GEORGE. I shall pray for this myself too, I hope.'

MRS. M. • Do my beloved child. “Ask and ye shall receive, seek and ye shall find,” and may the inspirer and hearer of prayer, stablish, strengthen, settle you." May He, my dear children, watch over your childhood, guide and guard your youth, and lead your footsteps into the " paths of pleasantness and

peace: " and in his own good time grant that we may all meet in his glorious kingdom, the joys of which it "hath not entered into the heart of man to conceive." Tomorrow, my beloved child, we must part!'

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GEORGE. We must, indeed, and I am very sorrowful; but I hope when I come home in summer, you will be well, mamma, and able to walk about with me; and papa will teach me to drive the little pony carriage, that I may drive you and him out in the long evenings.'

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EMILY. Oh, that will be so pleasant; George and I can sit with you, and we can shew mamma the pretty new road that has been made through the glen.'

MRS. M. smiled tenderly upon her children, but felt that all those little anticipations of future pleasure in her society, were but the sanguine hopes of childhood; for that ere long she should be realizing the only anticipations of future joy, it was now permitted her to indulge. But she did not wish to cast a gloom over their cheerful minds, and only said, 'If

it shall please God to improve my health, I shall greatly enjoy such drives, George; but if He wills it otherwise, I shall be convinced He knows best what is good for you and me; and we shall, I hope, feel alike on this subject.'

Next day, George with a heavy heart, received his beloved mother's tender embrace, and her pale cheek was watered with his tears. She blessed and prayed for him, and committed him to the care of the Father, in whom she trusted that he would never leave him nor forsake him. Vacation came again, but poor George found no mother's arms open to receive him. Before that time arrived he had been summoned to receive the last blessing of this beloved parent: to hear her last sigh; to receive the last kiss of her who had in infancy

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