hand of a heavenly Father transplant it in a more congenial soil. The beloved mother removed from our ranks was Mrs. Mary A. Hart, who finished her earthly course January 14th, 1839, at the age of thirty-two. Tears are a tribute due to the memory of that deceased friend. We mourn her early departure, for not to mourn with intense feeling, would be insensibility to departed worth to mourn is in compliance with the providence of God, which calls us to labor zealously and faithfully as time is short, and our influence upon our children vast in its consequences. Could that sister descend from her celestial heights-could the spirit of that just one made perfect be permitted to visit the sphere of her former terrestrial labors, how would she urge to zealous and united effort-with what ecstacy would a sainted mother hover around the scene of combined maternal watchfulness, prayer, and holy consecrations. At the quarterly meetings, those welcome periods to mothers and children, when the happy group is assembled, if there is a window in heaven which admits saints to look down upon earth, with holy rapture, a sainted mother must behold the scene; her own little son perhaps listening with fixed attention-a tearful eye-a throbing heart melted to tenderness, with the touching story of the Savior's sufferings. Mrs. H. was in her disposition kind, gentle and retiring—a peculiar sensitiveness, arising from refined emotions of heart, showed itself in all her deportment. To her husband she was the companion of his joys and sorrows; preferring his comfort and usefulness to her own ease, she made his house truly "a hive of domestic happiness." In the last months of wasting disease she was uncomplaining. Not a murmuring thought at the dispensations of providence escaped her lips-not a complaint, unless drawn out by interrogations. When her sufferings became extreme, a cough and burning fever, which ranged to the greatest height, she was like a lamb in her spirit, or a quiet babe in the arms of its mother. At the last she seemed to have a clear and comforting vision of her acceptance with Jesus, and spoke of his immediate presence as the fulness of her joy. When the last struggle of expiring nature came, she fell asleep, supported and her head pil lowed on the bosom of relatives and friends whom she tenderly loved, who best can speak her worth. Our Association has recently entered into the practice of discussing subjects at the monthly meetings. Themes are at any time sent to the Secretary, whose duty it is to record them in a book designed for that purpose. At each meeting one is selected as the topic for the ensuing meeting. It is optional for the mother to express her views verbally or in writing. We offer a questio to be answered by some association, who are accustomed to such discussions, and request that it may be communicated to us through the Mother's Magazine, viz.-"Is not the power and influence of mothers, in a moral sense, greatly depending upon the virtue, refined taste, and just views of parental responsibility among the community of fathers?" MARY H. COWLES, Secretary. Fredonia, April 15th, 1840. TEMPERANCE ANECDOTE. A Gentleman, not a great while since, in passing through a small village, when on a journey, met with a slight accident to his carriage, which detained him there some time in getting it repaired. While there he entered the lowly habitation of one of the villagers, the occupant of which was an intelligent woman, who was a widow. After conversing some time on various subjects, her own domestic circumstances being alluded to, she said that her family had once been wretched in the extreme; and intimated to the stranger, in a feeling and delicate manner, that her husband contracted, in early life, his habits of intemperance and died under their influence that her son-her only son, followed in the footsteps of his father, and became a sot. After the death of her husband a friend, at a distance, had sent her a little book; after reading it herself with intense interest she induced her son and several individuals in the village to read it also. Her son soon after became a reformed man, and has con tinued so ever since. Such was the case also with others who read it. A temperance society was soon formed, to which a multitude of all classes promptly joined themselves, and this little village experienced an entire moral renovation through the influence of this single book. On being inquired of by the stranger, what little book it was that produced such happy effects, she said, she had kept it very choice in her desk-" For," said she, "next to my Bible, I prize it above all other books." She soon produced it, and taking off the paper in which it was carefully enveloped, presented it to the stranger, who immediately recognized it as a familiar friend. It was My Mother's Gold Ring," and the stranger who then held it was Lucius M. Sargent, the author. What emotions of delight must have filled the bosom of Mr. S. on this occasion! Who would not value such feelings infinitely more than all the unhallowed gains that were ever realized from the traffic in ardent spirits? Before leaving the cottage of the widow, Mr. Sargent presented her with the entire series of his Temperance Tales. LYING IN BED. "No piece of indolence hurts the health more than the custom ' of lying in bed too long in the morning. This is the general practice in great towns. The inhabitants of cities never rise before eight or nine o'clock; but the morning is undoubtedly the best time for exercise, while the stomach is empty, and the body refreshed with sleep. Besides, the morning air braces and strengthens the nerves, and in some measure answers the purpose of a cold bath. Let any one who has been accustomed to lie abed till eight or nine o'clock, rise by six or seven, spend a couple of hours in walking, riding, or any other active diversion within doors, he will find his spirits cheerful and serene through the day, his appetite keen, and his body braced and strengthened. Custom soon renders early rising agreeable, and nothing contributes more to the preservation of health. 1 The inactive are constantly complaining of pains in the stomach, flatulencies, indigestion, &c. These complaints pave the way for many others, and are not to be removed by medicines; they can only be cured by a vigorous course of exercise, to which indeed they seldom fail to yield. It consists with observation, that old men have been early risers. This is the only circumstance attend ing longevity, to which I never knew an exception. SCRIPTURE EXERCISE FOR QUARTERLY MEETINGS OF LESSON 23. HISTORY OF JOSEPH.--GEN. XXXIX. To what place was Joseph brought, by the Ishmaelites? What reason is given why Joseph was a prosperous man? What did Joseph's master discover respecting him? To what station did the Egyptian assign Joseph, in his house? From what time did the Lord bless the Egyptian's house? For whose sake was the blessing bestowed? What did the Egyptian commit into Joseph's hands? What is said of Joseph's personal appearance? Who endeavored to tempt Joseph to commit a great sin? What reply did Joseph make? To whom did this woman make complaint of Joseph ? Did she tell the truth to her husband? What feelings did he manifest towards Joseph when he heard her complaint? What did he do with Joseph? Who was with Joseph, to show him mercy, in the prison? In whose sight did Joseph find favor? What did the keeper of the prison commit into Joseph's hands? Why did not the keeper look to every thing that Joseph did? Who is said to have prospered whatever Joseph attempted to accomplish? Let us turn our attention to another class of animals. The feathered tribes are most of them destined to rise from the earth, and spend a considerable portion of their time in the air. They are also destined to perform rapid and long voyages. And how wonderfully fitted are they for this peculiar mode of life! The first thing that claims attention is the wing. What an ingenious contrivance, and how admirably does it answer its purpose. Look, in the first place, at its quills and feathers. Where is there any human device that rivals in ingenuity the feathers of a bird? How light, and yet how strong-how tough, and yet how delicate! Consisting of a thousand hairy fibres, yet all are so arranged as to lie smoothly down, presenting not the slightest friction to obstruct the flight of the bird. And how wonderfully are these arranged upon the wing! How does the framework of that wing open and shut as the bird whistles through the air, and how magically does that frail and flexible instrument support the ærial voyager in its etherial element, and hurry it forward in its impetuous career! Look at the tail of a bird. How ingeniously is this made, and how perfectly does it serve as a rudder to guide its possessor in all its windings, whether sailing aloft in the illimitable air, or shooting like an arrow through the mazes of the forest. Did VOL. VIII. No. 9. 9 |