Page images
PDF
EPUB

122 ON CULTIVATING IN YOUNG FEMALES A TASTE FOR READING.

untasted; and after awakening the solicitude of her fond parents respecting her health, she would steal into the pantry, and there feast on cake, or something more to her taste than the healthy dinner set before her.

Do you not see, my dear M. the effect of pampering the appetites of little ones with dainties to purchase obedience? When this girl was too old to expect such things from her mother, she stole them! But this was not the worst of her conduct; for she would purchase the silence of the younger sisters by sharing with them; and I have known her to pass a whole afternoon, during the absence of her mother, in amusement, and then plead a bad headache as an excuse why her work was not finished. So deep was the deception in this young person's character, (she was then fifteen) that her parents thought her but little below perfection; she professed to be pious, and while she was pleasing her friends by her devotional duties, I often feared she greatly deceived herself. When away from her mother, she was passionate and overbearing to the younger children, and full of unbecoming levity with her own young companions.

ZELIA.

[To be continued.]

For the Mother's Magazine.

ON CULTIVATING IN YOUNG FEMALES A TASTE

FOR READING.

It has been said by a writer on female education, that there is, among women in general, but little real taste for books.

Observation may perhaps convince most persons that the remark is founded on a knowledge of the habits of females; if so, it must suggest the inquiry, is there not, somewhere, a deficiency in the present mode of educating our daughters?

In the indelicate clamor that is sometimes raised about the equality of intellect in the sexes, no judicious woman will ever join; but, while contented that her daughters should follow her in the quiet duties of domestic life, in a sphere altogether different from that in which their father and their brothers move, she will, if an affectionate mother, be anxious to shed around their retirement every pleasure that is "pure, and lovely, and of good report."

One of the first which will present itself to her mind, is a love for books. If she has been a close observer, she will have learned that daughters of the same family will come into life with great diversity of taste and intellect; and if but one mode of education is pursued, only a part of the interesting group will ever know the benefits or pleasure which flow from a taste for useful reading. One of the number has an exuberance of imagination, quick perceptions, and a great flow of animal spirits; all her leisure will be joyfully devoted to books; but if left to her own choice, they will always be works of imagination, or at best something in the form of a story; and the mother will find that though a taste for reading is formed, it is one which will do little towards promoting the usefulness or the peace of her child; while her sedate and more thoughtful

EARLY CONVERSION OF CHILDREN.

123

sister, always respected for her judgment, and the even tenor of her feelings, will seldom read any thing.

In the two cases supposed above, and they are true to nature, though neither could be said to have a taste for solid reading, in both it could be cultivated; its want of existence does not arise from deficiency of mind, but from habits of intellectual indolence, which this age of lectures, stories, and abridgments, is doing much to foster.

We have at present but little close and independent thinking; few love the labor of analyzing a subject, and few are required to perform it.

A kind and faithful exposition of the dangers which result from novel reading, with a little pains to bring forward in conversation works of a more solid character, together with family reading parties, if the thing be not overdone, will in most instances correct the taste, while nothing will be less likely to be beneficial than a direct and unqualified prohibition of works of fiction.

The nineteenth century presents in the form of journals, poetry, biography, &c. a sufficient number of works of the lighter kind to awaken curiosity, and secure the attention of a mind of the character of the second above mentioned; and such a mind, to be well balanced, requires that the imagination be cultivated by such reading.

Much is gained by making books a subject of conversation in families. The minds of the young do not remain stationary; they are continually taking in something. If mothers would have that something of a healthful character, let them observe and reflect, and in most instances there will be little need of the pen of the moralist. C. L. A.

For the Mother's Magazine.

EARLY CONVERSION OF CHILDREN.

Dear Mrs. W.

I desire to congratulate you upon the success that has crowned the enterprise in which you have engaged, and it is my prayer that the influence of the Mother's Magazine will be as extensive as its circulation. We are highly favored in living at a day when success crowns every effort to promote the kingdom of the Redeemer upon the earth, that is founded in faith and prayer. You will reply, it has always been thus; it then follows that there has been little faith, or little effort, or the face of the world would present a different aspect. It is doubtless unbelief, that heretofore, and in a great measure even at this age of Christian enterprise, paralyzes the efforts of Christians, and prevents the dawn, or rather the consummation of that period, when “all shall know the Lord, from the least to the greatest." - Now if this portion of God's word be true, and if it be also true that with the Lord "now is the accepted time," what but a want of faith prevents the conversion of our little children-prevents the conversion of all this generation of children, that thus the way of the Lord may be prepared? Some little children have been converted; and during the past year, more extensively than in any preceding year, has this interesting prophecy been fulfilled, that "out of the mouths of babes and sucklings" Christ will ordain to himself praise. This fact is, to my mind,

124

EARLY CONVERSION OF CHILDREN.

conclusive evidence that it is faith that is wanting; it is also a pleasing evidence that it is increasing. I mean faith for the conversion of our little children; for I am a mother, and to mothers I would address myself. A mother! what a name author of immortal existence! true, this existence is from God; but this increases our obligation; for he claims it as his own; and as be commits it to us, he says, "Take this child and nurse it for me, and" in mercy "I will give thee thy wages." Our children are then to be educated for God, for happiness, for heaven. This every Christian parent admits, and with this end in view, we enter upon our work. But, lo! at the outset we meet with an obstacle; it is the wicked heart of the child; every step, as we advance, the current of evil passions and propensities, the native selfishness of the heart, threaten to thwart our every effort, and wreck our every hope.

It

It appears, then, evident that the heart must be changed, and that every system of education is entirely defective, that does not aim directly and primarily at the renovation of the heart; and, however perfect in other respects, it is literally beginning with the superstructure instead of the foundation. is true, that by the restraints of education, claiming to be based upon religious principles, children may be preserved from gross sins; they may be virtuous, amiable, and lovely, in the estimation of the world; their minds may be cultivated and refined; they may be extensively useful; they may even have their understanding so much enlightened, and deportment so much influenced by the truth, as to lend their influence in its cause, and by many be accounted the disciples of Christ; at the same time possessing hearts at enmity with God, and entirely destitute of holiness, without which it is impossible to please God. Is there not much hypocrisy in such a character? And will any Christian mother be satisfied with such a result in her child's education? "O no!" every mother will respond, "we know our children must be converted, and we desire to have them early converted. But we cannot change their hearts, and we do not know at what age the Lord will have them converted." So says the convicted sinner," I cannot change my heart; I must wait God's time." Vain excuse, framed by a wicked heart, aided by the "enemy of all righteousness"! Strange that any one should be so easily cheated out of their soul's salvation; but stranger still, that the Christian parent, who has tested the verity of God's promises, should yet be sceptical on a point so clearly revealed. What was the import of the reproof of our blessed Savior, when on earth, to his disciples, as he said "Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven"? And how clearly and repeatedly it is revealed in the word of God, that the children of believers are included in the covenant, and that connected with the covenant are blessings promised, which promises, if laid hold of by faith, and accompanied with corresponding efforts, secure the salvation of the children of believers, not for the parents' sake, but for Christ's sake; not by the efforts of parents, but by the Spirit of God renewing and sanctifying their hearts. I need not here introduce scripture to prove this position. If it then be so, how awfully responsible, and how highly privileged, is the situation of a Christian parent! Let us, Christian mothers, take God a this word, and act accordingly. In simple faith, let us commend our children to his grace, and to the sanctifying influence of his Spirit, as soon as they be born; and let us do it with an

[blocks in formation]

importunity and perseverance that can take do denial. Let us feel that all is involved in their early conversion; the honor of God, the use fulness and happiness of our children, and our own peace. Why should we longer "rob God" and the church of the services of our children; why should we, by our unbelief, sacrifice the first fruits of their understandings, and the beginning of their strength in the service of Satan and the world? Why doom our children to all that remorse of conscience, that bitter repentance and self-reproach, which are the sure consequence of years spent in sin; to say nothing of the power of habits and associations which strengthen with years, and which must be broken when the heart is changed. Shall we longer suffer this reproach upon the religion of Jesus from a scorning and gainsaying world? What do ye and your children more than others? Shall we longer Imit the Holy One of Israel, by virtually saying he has not the power to convert young children, or keep them when they are converted; and finally shall we prevent or hinder the day of millennial glory from blessing our world, by our apathy and unbelief? No, mothers, let it be said of each one of us in relation to the early conversion of our children," She hath done what she could ;" and at the judgment I doubt not we shall be able to say, " Here, Lord, am I, and the children thou hast A. L. given me." Rochester, June 22, 1833.

For the Mother's Magazine.
MEMOIR OF C. C. W.

My dear Mrs. E:

I take a mournful pleasure in complying with your request that I would pre pare, for the Mother's Magazine, a brief memoir of my little son, C. C. W. who died at the age of five years and eight months, now 16 years since. It is well known that at that period the conversion of a young child was a rare Thanks be to God for the cheering prospect which our moral horizon now presents, that such events will hereafter constitute a prominent characteristic feature in the annals of the church of the 19th century.

Occurrence.

In the summer of 1812, the peripneumony made its appearance in the parish of which my husband was then the stated pastor. In a few days from its commencement, death was spreading desolation in our beloved neighborhood, on every side.

Immediate preparation to encounter the king of terrors appeared indispensable. I had been a professor of religion from my early youth, and often felt that I enjoyed its sweetest consolations. Two years before this period, I had been sustained and cheered by the promises of the gospel, when called to resign a precious babe of a few days old to the cold grave, while contemplating an innumerable company of these little ransomed ones, favored with an earlier call to glory, I was enabled to triumph over natural affection, and in a transport of joy I exclaimed,

"And infant voices shall proclaim,
Their early honors on his name."

But now I was in great spiritual darkness. I felt reluctant to disclose to my friends my doubts and fears, lest their partial views of my safety might lead them to console me without that evidence of vital union to Christ which I felt that I must have.

[blocks in formation]

After a few weeks of the most pungent convictions of sin, both of heart and life, I trust that I was enabled to make fresh application to that blood which cleanseth from all sin, and to Jay vigorous hold upon that hope which would prove an anchor to the soul, even when launched upon Jordan's rugged billows. I became a subject of this dreadful malady, but felt sweetly resigned to lie passive in the hands of my Redeemer. It was soon after this time that the subject of this little memoir was entrusted to our care. A few days after his birth, a clergyman and his wife called to see and congratulate us, on the preservation of my life, and the acquisition of such a precious treasure. I inquired of Mrs. S. how many children she numbered in her family? She replied, nine. I looked at this mother with no ordinary emotions; that she could have been sustained under such an accumulated weight of responsibility, seemed greatly to enhance the grace of God. The care and worth of one immortal soul now seemed to me of sufficient magnitude to fill the heart of an angel, with all his superior knowledge and wisdom. I felt that every breath should be prayer; for I was now entrusted with two such treasures. My heart seemed momently uplifted for the renewing and sanctifying grace of God to pervade my own soul, and to rest upon my infant charge. As my health was indifferent, it was four months before I could consistently take my child to the house of God for baptism. He was now at an age to be influenced by every thing that he saw or heard. Soon after I entered the sanctuary, as the singing commenced, he began to cry so vehemently that I was obliged to take him to a neighboring house, and did not succeed in pacifying him, till the services were closed. But such was my intense desire to bring my infant to Christ, that I felt that I could not wait another week, and I took him the same evening to a place of worship; and Oh! the delightful satisfaction I experienced in presenting this little one to that Savior who had spoken such encouragement to parents, when he said, "Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven." Brought into existence under such circumstances, you will not be surprised to learn that the first inquiries of this infant child were about the "great God who made heaven and earth.” His childish prattle was, "Mother, I do not want to be a sinner; I do want to love the Lord Jesus Christ."

I will mention one or two circumstances among a multitude which were constantly occurring, trifling in themselves, but illustrative of the inquisitiveness of his mind, and the objects to which his thoughts were directed, affording to his parents delightful facilities to explain even to their infant child some of the simplest and yet most sublime operations of the God of nature, of providence, and of grace. When Charles was only two and a half years old, he came one day running in from the back yard, almost breathless, exclaiming, "Mother, it can't be, it can't be." "What," I said, "cannot be, Charles?" "It cannot be, mother, that God is every where." "And why not?" I inquired. "Mother, if God was every where, how I could I run out to the barn?" and then, extending his little arms on either side of him, he said, "How could I run here, and how could I run there?" I endeavored to explain to him the nature and capacity of a spirit, to which he listened with deep interest. Shortly after this, as his little sister, a few months old, was lying in her father's arms, Charles took up one of her little hands, after surveying it very intently for

« PreviousContinue »