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MATERNAL ASSOCIATION OF NORTH WILBRAHAM.

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MATERNAL ASSOCIATION OF NORTH WILBRAHAM.
To the Editor of the Mother's Assistant.

DEAR SIR:

A few of the ladies of this town, deeply feeling the responsibility which rests upon every one who sustains the tender and endearing relation of mother, and that the qualifications for the proper discharge of their duties, are deserving the most serious consideration, have formed themselves into an association, known as the "Maternal Association of North Wilbraham."

The object of this association is, by frequent intercourse and interchange of our feelings, to prepare ourselves for our maternal responsibilities, and the proper discharge of our duties as mothers. We are deeply impressed with the importance of that trust which God has committed to our hands. It is our duty to watch the early dawnings of reason in the infant mind, and give them such a direction as will lead to the best and most happy results. Our influence when properly exerted, is almost irresistible in the formation of character. This is demonstrated by a recurrence to the history of those men who have been the lights of the world, and the benefactors of their race; generally they were blessed with judicious, and pious mothers, women who stamped their own characters upon the tender minds of their sons. Wesley, Dwight, Washington, and a host of others who have been great and good, were indebted to their mothers for those qualities of mind which render them the ornaments of their race.

Deeply impressed with the above sentiments, we are anxious to imbue the minds of our children with such principles as will prepare them to exercise a happy and salutary influence in their day and generation.

The members of this association, without an exception, are zealous co-operators in this great work.

We have twenty-five mothers belonging to the association, connected with whom are fifty children.

The association was formed about one year since.

We have had three quarterly meetings and several addresses from different clergymen.

Per order of the Association,

MARY ANN BLISS, Sec'y.

Wilbraham, Mass. March, 1843.

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PATIENT LITTLE JANE.

[For Children.]

The following interesting account of a sick and lame child is extracted from the Advocate of Moral Reform. As the mother of the child was a poor woman, and often called away from home for hours together, little Jane was left alone to employ and amuse herself as best she could.—ED.

PATIENT LITTLE JANE.

There in that solitary basement, she sat, day after day. unable to walk, and with no companion but her bible and a few little tracts. She was able to read but indifferently, having never had regular instruction. The contrast between the mother and daughter was striking. The former so coarse and ill-bred, the latter so amiable and docile, that she reminded us strongly of Legh Richmond's Young Cottager, whose affecting narrative we found her trying to spell out when we went in. On being asked if she wished to be like Jane, "O, yes, ma'am," she replied, and the tears stood in her eyes"she was so mild, so patient, she was such a good girl." On being told that if she would be like Jane, she must make Christ her pattern, as Jane did," she said, "O, yes, ma'am," that is what I try to do; I think of him more than any one else; but I read so bad that I don't always understand what the good book says about him." I repeated to her some of Christ's words of encouragement to children and youth. 0," ," said she, "I know that's what I learned in the Sabbath School. Won't you find it for me in the Bible?" When found, she turned down the leaf, saying," that she knew it so well she could spell it out after we were gone."

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Her complaint was a local affection, arising from scrofula. It was thought necessary by some physicians to amputate the limb; by others, that an operation would be sufficient. She seemed greatly troubled in view of the suffering, but said she hoped she should be able to submit patiently. The tears streamed down her cheeks as she looked up many times and said, "I wish it was over." We directed her to many precious promises to the poor and needy, which seemed to strengthen her. From the 23d Psalm she derived much consolation. We read and commented upon it, when she smiled, took the book quietly, and turned down the leaf. She thanked us on leaving her, and earnestly entreated us to call again.

This was our first visit. At the next we found she had been removed to the hospital, where we visited her in a room

THE MOTHER'S ASSISTANT.

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with about a dozen other patients. We handed her some refreshments which we brought, for which she seemed very grateful, but soon laid them away and took up the tract, which lay by her side, and said she wished to show how well she could read one or two paragraphs. She read with much sweetness, receiving any correction. We told her to look continually to the Savior for instruction and guidance. Yes," she replied, "I endeavor to do so! I give my heart to him. every night." We dreaded to approach the painful subject, fearing her firmness would fail, but finally inquired if the physician had concluded to operate upon her limb. answered cheerfully, "Yes, ma'am, on the third day from this. "Well, my child, how do you feel in prospect of it?" "O, I don't dread it at all now, ma'am, I think I shall be carried through." "You must look to the dear Savior," I said; you will find in him a friend who will not forsake you.' "Yes," was her answer, I shall try," and she went on describing with minuteness the expected operation, and apparently without the slightest dread. We felt that this was one of the lambs which Christ was carrying in his bosom.

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DEAR SIR:

THE MOTHER'S ASSISTANT.

To the Editor of the Mother's Assistant.

After having taken this work one year, I am prepared to say that I am much pleased with it, and I find myself indebted to it for many of my best sentiments on the important subject of the education of children. And while it has served as a stimulus to untiring effort in the great work before me, I doubt not, it has had a similar effect upon the hearts of many mothers. I trust you are frequently receiving acknowledgments of its benefits; and though you do not meet with that liberal patronage which the cause demands, I hope that you will be able to prosecute it, until mothers shall feel a thirst for knowledge, and turn to slake it at the fount which gushes from " The Mother's Assistant."

Respectfully yours, MINERVA F. HOES.

Lowell, Mass., March, 1843.

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A CHILD'S FIRST LESSONS IN FALSEHOOD.

A CHILD'S FIRST LESSONS IN FALSEHOOD.

BY W. WILLIAMS.

It may not have occurred to many parents that they, themselves, have taught their own children to utter falsehoods. I have recently been led to examine this subject seriously, as it was forcibly presented to my mind by some circumstances which I witnessed. Hoping the narration of it may be the means of awakening Mothers, and those who have any intercourse with children, to beware how they lead their young and tender minds astray, I have concluded to give you an

account of it.

Not long since I passed an evening at the house of a friend. While the older members of the family were engaged in conversation, a bright little boy, of about four years, was amusing himself at the back part of the room with tossing a ball. Frequently it would rebound, or roll into the midst of the circle seated round the fire. Upon one of these occasions, it was caught by his mother, who, upon his looking in that direction, pretended to throw it across the room. The little fellow went in the direction indicated by the motion of his mother's hand, and searched for the ball, but in vain. He then came back to his mother, and in a respectful manner asked for it, believing she had the ball. Judge of my surprise, when his mother replied, "Why, John, I threw it across the room, and if you wish for it, you must look there for it." John returned to his search, but had hardly reached the farthest part of the room, when, bounce came the ball, thrown from his mother's hand. He picked it up, and returned to his play, apparently not thinking of the subject. His mother, if she thought of it at all, supposed, I presume, that it was all play, and could do no harm. But we will see. Presently the ball again enters the circle, and is seized by the mother. She again pretended to throw it across the room. Now mark the result. John stands looking in the direction, but starts not. He is doubtful. And has he not good reason to doubt? His mother had deceived him once, and why may she not again?

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Mother, you havn't thrown it; you said you did before, but you didn't," was John's remark.

Now, young as John was, he knew his mother had told that which was not true. And could he after this, place as much confidence in her word as before? Could he be blamed

A CHILD'S FIRST LESSONS IN FALSEHOOD.

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if he did not? If he had once been deceived, might he not ever after expect the same result?

But was this all the harm it did? I would it were. But no; much as it was-much as it would tend to pierce that mother's heart in after years, to think that that son would doubt her word, it was not the most agonizing. There was still a greater evil which grew out of this. John knew that his mother had told that which was not true. For aught he knew, it was manly, or a mark of wisdom. And he, too, had caught the infectious disease.

Presently, a thimble rolled from the workstand upon the floor, which was no quicker observed by John, than pocketed. Upon being asked for it, he replied, with a rouguish smile, “I havn't got it." I immediately called him to me, and began to talk to him of the sin of telling that which is not true. The little fellow listened attentively awhile, and then said, "Why, mother does."

Now I do not wish to infer, that that mother had wilfully taught her little boy to tell lies. In fact, in a conversation with her upon the subject afterward, she remarked that she had never before thought of it in that light. She said she was in the habit, frequently, of playing with her little boy, and when she did, she would often deceive him, as in the case mentioned. It had never occurred to her that she was losing her character for veracity, or teaching her little boy to tell falsehoods.

Now, is it not to be feared, that many mothers, and those who have the charge of children, are in the habit of amusing themselves in this way, at the risk of making those children liars? And they do this, too, without giving one passing thought to the evil. O! ye mothers, look upon those blooming little ones. Do you love them? Is it your wish that they, too, should love you, and would you draw out their hearts in unison with your own? Would you have them place implicit confidence in your word? Above all, would you train them for happiness and heaven? Would you at the last great day see them stand among those who "have a right to enter through the gate into the city," there to dwell for ever and ever, speak the truth, then. Never let Never let your children hear aught but the truth, even in play. "Let your yea, yea, and your nay, nay; for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil."

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Boston, March, 1843.

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