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day was happily instrumental of good. In directing one of these children how to conduct when visiting, "Yes," said the little one with seriousness, "I will think of this, "Thou God seest me.'" One illustration more shall suffice.

"The father of a family was accustomed at the close of day, when fatigued with labor, to refresh himself by taking a little one on each knee, and in those happy moments of reciprocal expressions of love, talk to them of Jesus and of heaven; and when their young hearts were full of every pleasing thought of God, he would lay them down in their little bed, 'safe under the wings of the Almighty,' and when those infants awoke in the night, it was always to talk of Him in whose tender care they fell asleep." Happy, happy mother, when the father of her children thus cooperates with her in these labors of love!

SCRIPTURE EXERCISE

FOR THE NEXT QUARTERLY MEETING OF THE UTICA MATERNAL ASSOCIATION.
LESSON IV.-NOAH AND THE FLOOD.

In what year of the world was Noah born?

Gen. vi, vii, viii.

Whose son was he, and what does his name signify?

How many sons had Noah?

Can

you tell us their names?

Were all the people, who then lived in the world, good people?

Did God see all the wickedness of men?

What did God say he would do, because men were wicked?

Was Noah a good man, or a wicked man?

What was said of the character of Noah? v. 9.

What is it to "walk with God"?

What did God direct Noah to make?

How long was the ark? How much is a cubit?

How broad and how high was the ark?

Why was the ark made so large?

How many persons were saved in the ark?

What other living creatures were taken into the ark?

How many of each kind?

How long did it rain, to produce the flood?

How high did the waters rise?

Did the ark float upon the waters?

What became of the people who were on the earth?

How long did the flood continue?

How did God cause the flood to be diminished?

In what month, and on what day of the month, did the ark rest?

On what mountain?

In what country is this mountain?

How many days after this did Noah open the window of the ark?
What birds did Noah send out of the ark?

What became of them?

How did Noah know that the waters were abated?

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How long after this did he wait, before he opened the ark?
What did God then say to Noah?

What did Noah do soon after he came out of the ark?

What did the Lord say he would not do again?

What gracious promise did the Lord then make?
Can you tell us of whom the ark was a type?

If Jesus Christ was represented by the ark, who are the people that will be saved by him?

What will become of all persons who do not trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior?

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When dark frowns of fortune have over me thrown,
The gloom oft attendant on watchings and cares,
How sweet to the heart that is friendless and lone,
Is the thought of a mother's instructions and prayers!
How oft in the night, when the world is at rest,
And my mind is relieved from the toils of the day,
Do I fancy my mother her God has addressed,

For grace to direct me through life's stormy way.

Whenever temptation my heart shall assail,

And urge me to crime, that dear mother appears;
Her mild, beaming eye, o'er my passion prevails,
Her warning voice melts to repentance and tears.

When time o'er my locks shall have strewn his hoar frost,
And an exile I roam from the land of my birth,
Shall thoughts of her prayers, as I'm tempted and toss'd,
Illumine the pathway that leads me from earth.

UTICA, N. Y. August, 1833.

0.

A. D. W.

THE

MOTHER'S MAGAZINE

FOR DECEMBER, MDCCCXXXIII.

For the Mother's Magazine.

EFFECTS OF TIGHT LACING.

Mrs. W.-In the July number of the Magazine were some remarks upon "tight lacing," with which I was much pleased, and hope the important suggestions therein contained may not pass unheeded by a single mother whose eye they shall meet, and that all who sustain this endearing relation may be reminded of their responsibility in this matter, and of the influence which they may and ought to exert over their daughters; and of the diligence with which they should guard these "frail tabernacles," the abode of the undying soul, from any needless inconvenience; and of the weight of guilt that will rest on them, and which they will in vain strive to impute to another, if they do not so watch over the precious charge submitted to them, as to preserve not only the mind, but the body also, from an injurious influence. That this cannot be done, while children and young females are permitted to follow the cruel and unnatural practice of "compressing the vital parts" of the body, which are "fearfully and wonderfully made," and so easily displaced and injured, must be acknowledged by all.

It is indeed a lamentable proof of a depraved public sentiment, that such a practice has come to be considered in any way desirable; that it is so, is seen and felt and proved around us daily; proved too, in a melancholy way, by the hundreds of lovely young females going down to an untimely grave; who, but for the pernicious effects of corsets, might have lived to bless the world by lives of active usefulness in the cause of Christ. And shall this practice continue? Shall society be annually robbed of so many precious members? Will you, Christian mothers! still lend a helping hand in this work of destruction? Will you, for the sake of having the daughter, dear to you as your own life, admired by the gay world as a "beautiful form," "an elegant girl,” wantonly expose her to all the distresses of spinal diseases, of nervous excitements, of lingering, untold agonies; and more than this, to a premature grave? Dear sisters in Christ, let us ask you prayerfully to look at this subject, and see whether you have been, whether you now are, faithful to the high and holy trust committed to you; and if you find that you have not been; if you see around you now daughters whose "suppressed sighs, labored respiration,

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constrained movements," tell a truth that perhaps they may not be ready to acknowledge, rest not till you have done all that you can do to retrieve your past neglect; rest not till you have labored with them, and prayed for them, and set before them in its proper light the sin of thus complying with a fashion which tends directly to produce disease and death.

But it may be that these daughters have arrived to womanhood, and have chosen the Savior as their portion; (and in such case conscience will prove your powerful assistant) are themselves ready to forsake all and follow him, and in the ardor of their zeal have longed for an angel's strength with which to serve their heavenly Father; and when weary and exhausted with the duties of the sanctuary and Sabbath school; when trembling and faint with nervous agitation, after spending an hour or two as tract distributors, or in visiting the abodes of wretchedness, have never thought that their distress and weariness was in a very considerable degree occasioned by their manner of dress; have not been sensible that without the constraints which fashion has imposed, they might serve God better, and not so often "groan, being burdened." And yet it will not be strange if they cannot be led to acknowledge this; it will not be strange if they should feel as if your alarm for them was altogether needless; or, if they should be brought to admit that it is an evil, they will perhaps tell you that the injury is already done, and nothing can now remedy it; and the former part of this assertion may be very true, but the latter part is not, for much may be done to relieve them even now. Let the chest have perfect room to expand; let there be no constraint, and those delicate organs will acquire new strength and vigor, and will in a measure, though probably not entirely, regain the power which had been taken from them. And let me beg you, Christian mothers, be not easily discouraged; look at this subject in all its length and breadth, for it is of fearful extent; seek direction from him "who giveth liberally and upbraideth not," and then go and do your duty.

And to those dear lambs of the flock let me say, it is not a small matter how you treat these frail bodies, for " they are the temples of the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in you;" they "are not your own;" the body as well as the soul should be regarded as the gift of God; and think you that he will look with complacency upon a practice, which, by causing needless weariness and languor, renders you unfit for that more perfect service you might otherwise perform? Oh! no, he cannot; he has commanded us to "glorify him with our bodies and spirits, which are his ;" and will you not hereafter remember, that although "man looketh on the outward appearance, the Lord looketh on the heart"? M.

THE PARTING KISS.

A FRAGMENT.

"I was but five years old when my mother died; but her image is as distinct in my recollection, now that twelve years have elapsed, as it was at the time of her death. I remember her as a pale, beautiful, gentle being, with a sweet smile, and a voice that was soft and cheerful when she praised me; and when

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I erred, for I was a wild, thoughtless child, there was a trembling mildness about it that always went to my little heart. And then she was so kind, so patient; methinks I can now see her large blue eyes moist with sorrow, because of my childish waywardness, and hear her repeat, "My child, how can you grieve me so ?" I recollect she had for a long time been pale and feeble, and that sometimes there would come a bright spot on her cheek, which made her look so lovely, I thought she must be well. But then she sometimes spoke of dying, and pressed me to her bosom, and told me "to be good when she was gone, and to love my father a great deal, and be kind to him, for he would have no one else to love." I recollect she was very sick all day, and my little hobby-horse and whip were laid aside, and I tried to be very quiet. I did not see her for the whole day, and it seemed very long. At night they told me my mother was too sick to kiss me, as she always used to do before I went to bed, and I must go without it. But I could not. I stole into the room, and laying my lips close to hers, whispered, "Mother, mother, wont you kiss me?" Her lips were very cold; and when she put her arm around me, laid my head upon her bosom, and one hand upon my cheek, I felt a cold shuddering creep all over me. My father carried me from the room, but he could not speak. After they put me in bed, I lay a long while thinking. I feared my mother would indeed die, for her cheek felt as cold as my little sister's did when she died, and they laid her in the ground. But the impressions of mortality are always indistinct in childhood, and I soon fell asleep. In the morning I hastened to my mother's room. A white napkin covered her face. I removed it-it was just as I feared. Her eyes were closed; her cheek was cold and hard, and only the lovely expression that always rested upon her lips remained. In an instant all the little faults for which she had so often reproved me, rushed upon my mind. I longed to tell her how good I would always be, if she would remain with me, She was buried; but my remembrance of the funeral is indistinct. I only retain the impression which her precepts and example left upon my mind. I was a passionate, headstrong boy; but I never yielded to this turn of my disposition, without fancying I saw her mild, tearful eye fixed upon me just as she used to do in life. And then when I had succeeded in overcoming it, her sweet smile of approbation beamed upon me, and I was happy. My whole character underwent a change, even from the moment of her death. Her spirit was forever with me, strengthening my good resolutions, and weakening my propensity to evil. I felt that it would grieve her gentle spirit to see me err, and I could not, would not do it. I was the child of her affection; knew she had prayed and wept over me, and that even on the threshold of eternity her affection for me had caused her gentle spirit to linger, that she might pray for me once more. I resolved to become all that she could desire. This resolution I have never forgotten. It helped me to subdue the waywardness of childhood, protected me through the temptations of youth, and will comfort and support me through the busier scenes of manhood. Whatever there is that is estimable in my character, I owe to the impressions of goodness made upon my infant mind by the exemplary conduct and faithful instructions of my excellent mother."

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