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PARENTAL FAITHFULNESS REWARDED.

of the night have gathered around them while they worship. The child is laid upon his pillow, and as he sinks to peaceful slumber, the mother and the grandmother invoke the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, to bless the son of their seed.

Happy mother! Happy woman! Happy child! Let others flaunt in gorgeous apparel at the public spectacle. Let others smooth with down the couch of the infant hero, or flatter into imperial tyranny his youthful pride. The angels of God watch that lowly bed. The God of Jacob pours out his blessing upon that infant heart. Obscure and unknown among the proud ones of the earth, they are the objects of heaven's observance, and Jehovah's

care.

Years have rolled away. There is an unusual movement among the people of Lystra. The streets resound with the cry, "The Gods have come down unto us in the likeness of men." They prepare the garlanded victims for the sacrifice. They surround with acclamations two strangers, who regard their homage with horror. One of them humble in stature, but of noble countenance answers their cry: "Sirs, why do ye these things, we are men of like passions with yourselves, and preach unto you, that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God." Among the astonished crowd is that infant son, now grown to early manhood. With breathless interest he listens to the message of St. Paul. He hears the anouncement that the Messiah promised to his fathers hath appeared-that the Lamb of God, the reality of Abel's sacrifice and Levi's types, hath been slain—that the IMMANUEL, the Virgin Born, hath dwelt among his people. His heart, cultivated by his mother's piety, receiving the word with joy. The Holy Ghost descends upon his soul. He returns gladly to his home, and his mother Eunice, and his grandmother Lois rojoiced in the faith of Christ with their son Timothy, whom " from a child they had taught the Holy Scriptures."

They prepared for the blessed work, Timothy could be no ordinary Christian. He joins himself to St. Paul. He becomes his own son in the faith, and the love of the Gospel. He kindles with a zeal imitative of his masters. Thousands of souls hear the gospel gladly from his lips, they in their turn tell to thousands more the glad tidings of salvation, and the circling influence of him, who first stirred the waters, enlarge from generation to generation, until they break upon the shores of far eternity.

Who can estimate the number of souls that now rejoice, and that will rejoice in heaven, through the influence of that young apostle, who finished his course in martyrdom amid the mob at Ephesus. How bright does he shine amid that starry host "who have turned many to righteousness!"

But will no reward through grace be found for those holy women, who trained him from his infancy to the work? Has his mother Eunice, and his grand-mother Lois in the trophies of his apostleship? Oh! who will say, that woman hath no sphere of glorious achievement in the estimation of God, though the eye of public favor reach her not, in the recesses of domestic duty? How will the blood stained Semiramis, the wanton Cleopatra, Russia's flagitious Catharine, or England's haughty Elizabeth compare with Eunice and Lois, the mother and grandmother of Timothy the apostle? Eternity will roll on,

THE WAY TO TRAIN UP MISSIONARIES.

45

"pouring shame and everlasting contempt" upon those who sought the favor of men rather than that of God; but eternity, as it rolls, will develop fresh glory to Christ from the souls of the redeemed brought to the cross through their faithful instrumentality. G. W. B.

For the Mother's Magazine.

THE WAY TO TRAIN UP MISSIONARIES.

Mrs. W.-I am not myself a mother, but I am a constant reader of your Magazine, and stand in the place of a mother, to a little girl of the age of four years. Under the same roof, and somewhat under my influence is a lad between the age of five and six years. He has a pious mother, but his father until recently, has been an opposer to the truth, and although he ardently loved his little son, he had never felt the necessity of giving him any religious instruction.

One day after reading from the Magazine the article "The future defenders of the faith," I was reflecting upon the influence which mothers are to exert upon the destinies of the world, especially in the conversion of its inhabitants to Christianity. I was led to have some conversation with the two children upon the necessity of early piety. As they were apparently interested in my conversation, I was induced to ask the little boy, if he would like to be a Christian and become a minister? He seemed surprised, and replied that he did not know what it was to be a minister. As he was very attentive, I extended my remarks. I told him if he should live to become a man he might, and perhaps it would be his duty to become a missionary. Possessing an unusually inquiring mind, he asked many questions as to "what he must do" to be a minister and a missionary. I mentioned several things that he would have to do by way of study and preparation, but that first of all he must give his heart to God. I explained to him some of the difficulties, attendant upon missionary labors. He seemed not in the least disheartened by any privations or dangers I had set before him, frequently saying that he had never before thought of being a minister. The little wayward girl appeared solemn and deeply interested, and even gratified when I told her that she too might become a teacher of the heathen. After a silence of some minutes, Henry inquired" has Susan made up her mind yet to be a missionary ?"-saying that he had. Now I am aware that this was only childish talk; but I mention it to show how early and easily the minds of children may be biased by repeated conversations of this nature. A word spoken to a child, at a favorable moment, may give an impulse to the mind, and affect its decisions, so as to bear upon the future destinies of the man. Is it wildness-is it enthusiasm to suppose that this boy, followed up by such repeated lessons, accompanied by prayer, and attended by the blessing of God, may follow in the footsteps of Martyn, Judson, or Newell? Or that the little girl, under similar training may tread upon the shores of India, Siam, or China? Why may it not be true

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THE WAY TO TRAIN UP MISSIONARIES.

in regard to missionary effort, as in other things, that "just as the twig is bent the tree's inclined." I must believe that upon mothers rests in an extended sense the conversion of the world. Children are close observers of their parents, not merely of their actions, but of their motives. To illustrate this, I might refer to the same boy. His father, as I have before intimated, has but recently tasted the good word of life. The morning previous to his conversion the opposition of his heart rose so high, that he refused to be present at family worship! The next morning, his mouth was opened and his heart enlarged, while he led himself the devotions of the family. All this Henry appeared not to notice at the time, but a few weeks after, he related to me the circumstance, in a manner which satisfied me, that he had not been an uninterested spectator of the scene, but had observed it all, and made his own comments. With the same scrutinizing eye are mothers observed by their young children, and their most trivial words and actions, are not without their influence. Children will perceive the bias of their parents' affections, and upon what they are chiefly placed, and will imitate them. If they see their mother indifferent to the wretched condition of the heathen, they will believe themselves to be justified in being indifferent. Mothers, in this respect see to your example. While there is such a demand for missionaries, if you withhold your little ones from this self denying service, these children that you have consecrated, will not the zeal of pagan mothers, in offering up their infants to appease their imaginary duties, rise up in the judgment and condemn you?

A Breckenridge or an Eddy, may do something to bring young men into the missionary field. But had the mothers of the young men, whom they are endeavoring to awaken to missionary zeal, done their duty to their sons, in their childhood, these able advocates for education societies might have been spared this labor. Instead of calling upon young men of full growth to prepare for this great work, they might themselves, have long since been laboring on missionary grounds-and by their hallowed example and influence, have brought many a precious youth into the field of missions. Upon woman will forever rest the foul blot of having been the first in the transgression; but O ! when shall her daughters become enlightened to perceive their superior privileges and advantages for ushering in that long predicted day of millenial glory, by giving their sons and daughters to the service of the church. Then shall be fulfilled the blessed declaration, "where sin hath abounded grace shall much more abound." MARIA.

For the Mother's Magazine.

MADAM.-The following is a question of a serious nature. It is asked by one who is truly desirous to know.

Is the influence of corsets more detrimental to the human frame, than a confirmed habit of stooping?

Boston, 1834.

MARIA.

Will some one of our correspondents have the goodness to reply to the question proposed?

ED.

THE following article was written by the wife of a clergyman in one of the Eastern states. Had it been intended for us, delicacy would have induced us to suppress it; but as it was designed for our readers, we do not choose to take the responsibility of refusing it a place upon our pages. The bare intimation that the Magazine possesses one half the good influence which our unknown friend has ascribed to it, must serve to encourage our correspondents, to increase their efforts to render this little publication still more useful.

THE MOTHER'S MAGAZINE.

Is there in our American Israel, a Christian mother, who is ignorant of the existence of such a periodical as the Mother's Magazine? Probably not one, where an efficient ministry is sustained. Can there be one, at all acquainted with its nature and designs, who does not regard it as an invaluable treasure? and can there be one who would not make any reasonable sacrifice, rather than part with its instructions; certainly not, would be the spontaneous answer of every feeling heart; and to that answer would the writer cheerfully respond, had she not painful evidence to the contrary. Strange as it may seem, there are parents, and those blessed with an abundence of wordly good, and those too who profess to be educating their children for God, who yet shut out from their families, the precious light which beams from its pages. It has arisen and shone perhaps only for a season to illumine their habitations. Languid must be the flame which beams upon the domestic altar, where the Mother's Magazine has been banished. And not unlikely those parents will be heard complaining of their ignorance and of their unfitness to train up their families for Heaven, and perhaps they wonder why their children are so far from righteousness. But is it strange? The parent who from worldliness or indifference, excludes from the family this storehouse of instruction and encouragement, we fear will be heartless in the performance of duty, if not in a great measure ignorant of what is to be done. Will our blessed Savior say of such parents, "They have done what they could!" Ignorance of duty will not be accepted by him as an excuse for neglect, when information may be so easily procured.

The Mother's Magazine, beloved sisters, costs only one dollar a year, besides a little postage. Do not for a sum so insignificant, compared with what you annually expend for the food and the dress of your children, perhaps for their useless and sinful decoration; do not, I entreat you, deprive their precious souls of the wholesome food, thus furnished for their benefit. I believe you cannot do it and be guiltless. If its influence be allowed to bear upon you, it must make you better mothers; then of course, will your children be better. It is rich as well as cheap.

The writers appear to breathe the pure air of benevolence. It comes to you with a message of mercy for your children. Beware then how you treat it. Turn not from your dwellings this friendly visiter. The responsibility of doing so, is great-do it if you will; but forget not that soon the Savior will require at your hand, those priceless souls, which he has entrusted to your care, to train up for usefulness and for Heaven.

In every community there are mothers who know not the value of "the Mother's Magazine;" and others still who appreciate its worth, that are destitute of the means of obtaining it. Highly favored of the Lord, whom I now address," do good to such as ye have opportunity." "Having a price put into your hands to get wisdom, see that ye have a heart to it." And having obtained wisdom for yourself, impart to those around you, more ignorant and less favored than you are. "How much better is it to get wisdom than gold." Especially is this true of that which maketh wise unto salvation, and remember that "the wisdom which cometh from above is full of mercy and good fruits."

And now, mother, I would leave this matter with your conscience to decide. Hear its warning voice and obey its dictates-It will determine in favor of your children's immortal interests. Act then with reference to eternity, and in view of undying souls.

V.

For the Mother's Magazine.

DEVOTIONAL SINGING IN FAMILIES.

Mrs. W.-Dear Madam,-Among the many advantages that arise from the increasing cultivation of music in our country, there is one which I wish to see more extensively realized. I allude to devotional singing in Christian families. In primitive times, this subject was not undervalued, and a paragraph in favor of it, would perhaps have then been as unnecessary, as it would have been to recommend the general adoption of family prayer where it already prevailed. But times have changed. The scenes of family devotion are now too seldom enlivened, by the solemn, yet joyful hymns of praise. Many families appear to know nothing of the sweet privilege of pouring out the soul in united song; and not a few seem erroneously to suppose, that the God of nature has placed it beyond their reach, among the things that are physically impracticable.

But it is not my object to examine such an opinion. I only wish to take advantage of the appearance of a new and interesting publication to recommend to musical families especially, a fresh experiment of the sweet influence which is to be derived from the office of social praise. The work I allude to, is the one recently compiled by Messrs. Hastings, of New-York, and Mason, of Boston, entitled "Spiritual Songs for social worship. It is no catch-penny affair. It has evidently been compiled with much labour, and is got up in the best style. The songs, both as to music and poetry are such as may be safely recommended to Christian families without further comment. Most of the psalmodic specimens that are so effective in church, are of too heavy a character to have a corresponding influence in private families and familiar circles: but the work here mentioned is calculated to obviate this difficulty, and I hope that your readers will be sufficiently interested in the subject to give this little manual a place in their library, and at the family altar. Yours, &c. A READER. P. S. The piano forte will find, kere and there, a choice movement, adapted to its powers.