home and helped her mother with slop-work, and, as some people said, kept her from drinking. Mary had never forgotten her sister Martha's words, or the light that used to brighten up her face when she spoke of the home Jesus was going to take her to, where she would never feel tired, and where she wanted Mary and mother, and her father too, she had added, after a sigh, to come to her. The same Holy Spirit that had taught poor Martha the way to that home, was leading little Mary there; and the child's efforts to keep her mother straight, and to help cheer her, were very touching to notice. Whilst, as there "is no lane so long but has a turning," one can but hope that, under this better influence, Mrs. Brown may yet find that turningpoint in her life which leads into God's appointed road to heaven; but if she happily does so, she will assuredly there learn that method, and order, and cleanliness, and sobriety, are among its by-paths; whilst the study of God's word will show defined rules for every circumstance and calling in which God's children may be placed, and she will be able to see more and more where she missed the right track.

It was "a something gained," which may serve as an example to all parents, when Mrs. Brown remarked to Mrs. Smith one day, not in an angry or vindictive tone, but in sorrowful retrospect of her own bringing up, and her children's failure in life, that, "Perhaps, after all, she had made a

mistake, or rather mother did, you know, Mrs. Smith, in my bringing up; for if mother had only taught me, you see, when I was a young thing myself, to be useful and tidy, like you, and to serve God too, mayhap I'd have known better how to make por John's home more comfortable, and so have kept him from 'The Three Dragons;' and then, ye see, there wouldn't have been no need for Martha and Mary to have gone flower-making, and the boys might have been kept at school till they'd got an edication, and been put out to 'prentice in a regular way; for I see now, 'twas, as you told me, agin nature; besides, 'tis training for useful work they wants, instead of making them work afore they had the training-that I now sees, too."

Re

Dear mothers, if there are any such among my readers, may you learn from this history of Mrs. Brown and her troubled life, not to forget your own responsibilities on the plea that "you must chance the future to provide for the present." member that your child's whole life, here and hereafter, depends on the training you give it now. "In the way," which will lead to respectability here, and life eternal through Christ when this world shall have passed away-a way, defined, clear, and easy, to be learnt by obedience to God's commands. -or "out of the way," in paths of your own making, opposed to God's laws, entered upon without prayer for counsel, or inquiry as to where they lead to which shall it be? On you the decision

rests. But do not deceive yourselves. If you choose the latter, you can never expect to derive happiness or content in your family life, nor look in your old age to be sheltered by those you never taught either to honour God, or keep the laws He has appointed.

Perhaps in the following sketch of how Mr. and Mrs. Smith strove, by God's help, to bring up their children for the duties of this world and for the joys of that which is to come, you may find a friendly hint also; gathering instruction from the forethought and close dependence on God which they practised in the training of their family.

CHAPTER IV.

"A wise son heareth his father's instruction."—PROV. xiii. 1.

IF the sketch given of Mrs. Brown's failure, as regarded her children's training, in our last chapter, was depressing, it will doubtless be more cheering to look into Mrs. Smith's household arrangements, and learn how simple forethought, combined with obedience to God's laws, ensured for their family the requisite training for their success in after-life.

To begin with,-besides the household proverbs already quoted as among Mrs. Smith's golden rules, there were certain accepted regulations which both her husband and herself enforced, both by precept and example, upon their children. These were "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy," "Do unto others as ye would wish them to do unto you," "Honour thy father and mother," "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do that with all thy might." And these Bible axioms proved a good foundation to build and form their characters upon.

I will not say that the Smiths did not enjoy

longer sleep on Sunday morning than on those days when the calls of labour hurried them up, but when they rose from their beds, a Sabbath spirit pervaded the house; there was quiet of body and mind, due preparation having been made for its rest, as God's day, to be looked forward to as one of happy enjoyment. Smith and his family appeared in their Sunday garments, which naturally gave an individual feeling of self-respect. After breakfast, all the children, except Willie, went to the Sunday-school, returning in time to accompany their parents to church; except the one whose turn it was to stay at home with their crippled brother. After church was over, when the weather was fine, the family generally took a walk, or visited Mr. Smith's aged parents, who lived near. The remainder of the day was passed in what may be fairly termed the enjoyment of family life-that safeguard against temptation from without, which the Almighty has provided. Smith liked to talk to and play with his little ones; to read to the elder children; or, gathering all around him, with poor Willy on his knee, he would tell them such stories as they loved to hear, inviting them to make remarks on all he said. By this means he acquired an insight into the opening tastes and characters of his young hearers; and the children, on their part, learnt to know more of "father" than as merely the bread-winner; and thus, when bed-time came, every member of the family had tasted the unappreciable blessing of the day of