The more you can teach by conversation, instead of books, the better, as it generally makes a deeper impression.

Let your rules for children be few; for if you burden them with many rules, one of these two things will necessarily follow you must either punish them often, which will make correction too familiar, and consequently useless; or you must let the transgression of some of them go unpunished, whereby they will, of course, grow contemptible, and your authority become cheap. Make but few laws, and you can the better enforce them. When one is established by practice, you can add another.

It is impossible to gain the confidence of children without conciliating their esteem and affection.

Nothing that children have to do should be imposed as a task. Should they be ordered to practice any amusement at a certain time, every day, they would soon get tired of it.

The thoughts of a child resemble a lighted candle when exposed to the wind-no sooner do they ask a question, than their thoughts and their eyes are wandering elsewhere: if your remarks are to profit them, they must be short and sprightly. Children must be answered briefly and immediately.

Whatever may be the opinion of different observers, on the effect ofemulation, in enlarging the intellectual powers, there can be but one opinion as to the general result of its operations on the dispositions of the heart-for it stimulates and encourages some of the darkest passions of the human mind, and subverts those motives, and undermines those sentiments of affection, which it is one main purpose of christianity to enforce.

Instruct mothers to teach their children; early instructions are SECOND NATURE; or rather, education is the correction of fallen

nature.

The Christian should ever look on the affairs of the poor as his own personal affairs-to express it emphatically, "the poor should be always with him."

Plato says, "he is a cripple who cultivates his mind alone, and suffers the body to languish through sloth and inactivity." The remark includes much important truth and good sense for the consideration of Teachers and parents.

Many useful hints may be given to improve the domestic economy of the families in the course of Sunday School visits, for many pernicious habits prevail, preying on the life and health of the children of the poor: the necessity and usefulness of this is well expressed in the following remarks :-" Though the improvement of the mind ought to be our constant aim, yet as the mind cannot accomplish any thing of worth or importance, without the aid of the body, assuredly it is incumbent on us to promote the health and dexterity of the body, that it may be capable of assisting, instead of impeding its operations.

"The love of nature is one of the best lessons to young scholars to see the grass spring-the plant shoot, and the flower blossom, are among the finest objects of contemplation. What ingenious youth ever heard the birds sing, the lambs bleat, or the noble horse bounding and neighing in the pasture, and warmed not with emotions of a superior kind ?”

A PLEASING REFLECTION FOR RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTORS..

"As you educate these children, they will educate theirs; and, so on till time shall be no more; and if you thus "turn many to righteousness;" when the great shepherd shall appear, you, with other shepherds, will receive a bright and fadeless crown, "reserved in heaven," "for your labour of love,"-how important the charge; the forming the minds of the next generation; persevere then, and so instruct your pupils that they may become a blessing to the world in every station; and bright angels to all eternity!

[From the Trenton Emporium.]

A BRIEF ANSWER TO A VERY COMMON EXCUSE FOR NOT

DOING GOOD.

If I had leisure."—Ah, yes, if you had leisure, what would you do? Why says the man who is engaged in business, "if I had leisure," I'd prosecute this charitable object; I'd aid in such and such benevolent plans; I would do a great deal of good. But I am so much engaged, that I have not a spare moment to devote to any thing but my business:-The man is innocent in his declaration; he really believes what he says. He does not know,

because he never experienced it, that leisure is the mother of indolence, and that if he had plenty of one, he would, ninety-nine chances of a hundred, have the other in exact proportion.

People are very apt to be very much mistaken in this affair of "leisure." There are a very few men that put every hour of their time to the best possible use. Often those who have the

while those who are most

least to do, don't half do that little; engaged do every thing thoroughly! I'll give a plain illustration, drawn from every day's experience. If you want any matter, whether of profit or charity of what description so ever done— done expeditiously-and well done too-go to-not the man who half his time stands or sits with his hands in his pockets, but to the very identical person who, being a thorough business doing man, is always at work ;—that's the man for you.

An idler, from habit, regards every thing that requires a little labour, study, or confinement, as an ant looks at a mole hill— it seems a mountain. But an industrious man, from habit, looks at the labour with the eye of a man, is not afraid of it; and herein lies the secret spring of his ability; he does not loiter or hesitate; he acts promptly-spiritedly--immediately.

SUNDAY SCHOOL FACTS AND ANECDOTES.

RELIGIOUS THOUGHTS OF LITTLE SUNDAY SCHOLARS.

[Communicated by a Superintendent of one of our S. Schools.] MOTHER," said a girl of ten years old-" have you faith, mother?" "My dear child," replied the parent, "that is a great thing to say I have faith." "But mother," she continued, "I want you to tell me if you have enough faith?" [Here the child wept aloud.] "For I thought of it last sabbath, when I saw you sew the button on my belt." "O!" said a younger sister, joining in the conversation," if I knew as much as you did sister Mary, I believe I should not have told that lie I did about the thimble." Here the mother quoted a passage from the parable of the talents, telling them that they would at last have to account for all the knowledge that had been given them; the words not being repeated precisely in the text of the scriptures, the children quickly corrected their mother, saying, "that is not right, mother; this is the way it is in the Biblę :” “ After

a long time the lord of these servants cometh and reckoneth "Oh, what a wicked servant that was," said

with them."

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the little girls; and that steward too was wicked, that did not forgive his fellow servant one hundred pence, when his lord had pity on him, and forgave one hundred talents.” How I pity Mrs. O-," said the eldest girl, and I often pray for her. Why in particular for her?" said the mother. She replied," because she has so many trials." "So do I pray for her too," said the youngest, (seven years old,) “and I don't want any body on earth to hear my prayers."

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Such is the pleasing tenor of the juvenile mind under Bible instruction; and who is not reproved as they are reminded by our little Sunday scholars in their conversation as above related of the following gospel precepts: "What doth it profit if a man say he hath faith and have not works." James ii. 14. "Forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake doth forgive you." Ephes. iv. 32 "When thou prayest, enter into thy closet and pray to thy Father which is in secret." Matt. vi. 6. A practical comment on these scripture texts is found in these religious thoughts of our little Sunday scholars.

MORAL INFLUENCE OF SUNDAY SCHOOLS.

Two boys, who had formerly been very careless and irregular in their attendance at Sunday School, told their teacher (who inquired after their parents,) that they were going in the country for some weeks ;" and are you going too," said the teacher? "No, sir," replied the lads, "we must stay to go to Sunday School."

A LAD, who had been for a long time at a Sunday School, and had greatly reformed in his conduct, was engaged at the store of an apothecary; but his parents finding it hindred his attendance at church and Sunday school, they removed him, saying, we cannot bear to see him lose so much by giving up his Sunday school, for the gain of his wages won't pay for all that."

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SEVERAL Sunday Scholars were attendants at a public garden during the week, yet could not be prevailed on to attend on

not.

Sabbath evening, though threatened to be discharged if they did They were, however, for some time retained, as their decent appearance and conduct made it desirable to have them. Other boys were obtained for the Sabbath evenings, and were called the Sunday Boys. This greatly displeased the Sunday scholars; and as they were often urged to break their good rule, they at last turned from the temptation by voluntarily discharging themselves.

SOME of our lads that are now apprenticed receive the strongest commendations from their masters for their steady habits and strict behaviour. They cannot be prevailed upon to go from home in the evening, but are usually engaged in reading, while their companions are idling their time at the door, or in the streets.

We have succeeded, to the surprise of the parents, in reforming many of our scholars from lying and swearing, and also from the injurious habits of chewing and smoking tobacco; and some of them will not play with any other companions than the Sunday scholars. It is pleasing to notice the restraint of improper conduct, loud and boisterous play, even among the most careless, at the appearance of the teachers. This effect ought to be deemed a token of good, as it cannot arise from any principle but that of a laudable pride to have their good opinion—a prinple too, which if once extinct in their breast, would rapidly lead them to the basest conduct. In regard to such moral restraint as these facts and examples show, we are led to remark to teachers" despise not the day of small things."

THE POWER OF FAITH.

A GIRL of thirteen years old died a few weeks since in our neighbourhood, experiencing the most happy temper of mindbeautifully illustrating these words of the psalmist: "out of the mouth of babes thou hast ordained strength;" and to the many who are disposed to gainsay such excellent displays of divine grace, we would answer in the same words of the Redeemer