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twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem, after the custom of the feast, and took the child with them.

When the parents of Jesus had remained there till the feast was over, they returned, but Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem, and Joseph and his mother knew not of it, but supposing he was among the company-for there were a great many people who went up to Jerusalem-they went on a day's journey toward home. When they missed him they were troubled, and they sought for him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance, and when they could not find him, they turned back again to Jerusalem. They knew not what had become of their little son, and were in great distress, as parents always are when they lose their little children. But they sought for him, and after three long days they found him at Jerusalem, in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, who were learned men-hearing them, and asking them questions. All the people in the temple, who heard him talk with the doctors, were astonished that so little a child should understand and answer their questions.

When his parents found him, and saw what he was doing, they were amazed. They did not suppose that he, so small a child, had sufficient wisdom to reason with the learned doctors, and perhaps they feared he had been saying some childish or foolish things; but the doctors did not think so, they wondered at his wisdom.

His mother felt, perhaps, that he had done wrong. She addressed her child as any kind and good mother would have done in such a trial. She said to him, "Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? Behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing." His answer to his mother was a peculiar one, such as no other child would have given. "How is it," said he, "that ye sought did you not know that I must be about my Father's business?" He meant his heavenly Father. They did not understand what Jesus meant by this answer. But his mother laid up what he said in her heart. She thought, doing the will of his heavenly Father. But he went home with his father and unto them, that is, he was an obedient and dutiful child. Yes,

me;

after all, her son was Jesus knew that he was. mother, and was subject

though he was the Saviour of the world, yet he loved and obeyed his mother. And when he was nailed to the cross, and suffering the agonies of death, he remembered his mother. He will love and remember all the little children who love and obey their parents.

"Jesus, who reigns above the sky,

And keeps the world in awe,
Was once a child as young as I,
And kept his Father's law.

At twelve years old, he talk'd with men,
(The Jews all wond'ring stand ;)

Yet he obey'd his mother then,

And came at her command.

Children a sweet hosanna sung,

And bless'd their Saviour's name;
They gave him honor with their tongue,
While scribes and priests blaspheme.

Then why should I so long delay,

What others learn'd so soon?
I would not pass another day,
Without this work begun."

QUESTIONS.

How long did Mary and Joseph remain in Egypt?

When Herod was dead, what appeared to Joseph ?
What did the angel say to Joseph?

What did Joseph do?

To what city did the parents of Jesus return?
What was the Saviour sometimes called?

Why was he called a Nazarene?

Was the Saviour afraid of reproach?

How often did the parents of Jesus go up to Jerusalem ?
Why did they go to Jerusalem?

Did Jesus go with them?

How old was Jesus when he went up to Jerusalem?

What did the parents of Jesus do when the feast was over? What did Jesus do?

Did Joseph and Christ's mother miss the child?
Where did they suppose he was?

What did they do when they could not find him?
Where did they find him?

How long did his parents seek for him?

What was he doing in the temple?

What did his mother say to her son?

How did Jesus reply?

Did he return with his parents to Nazareth?

Did Jesus obey his parents?

Did he love his mother?

What did he do for his mother when he hung on the cross?

Original.

TRIBUTE TO THE MEMORY OF MRS. ELIZA C. ALLEN, ` LATE EDITOR OF THE MOTHER'S JOURNAL AND FAMILY VISITANT.

Written on receiving intelligence of her death.

HARK! hear ye those soft funereal strains

That float o'er the distant seas?

Why sweep they the pines where the Ice-Queen reigns?

Why flow from the South's green

To Burmah's tropical breeze?

odorous plains

They bear, oh, they bear the tremulous woe

Of Western daughters in tears!

For the mother's light, and the youth's bright bow,

Gently illuming home-pathways below,

Has fled to the spirit-spheres:

Ah, mourn, young weepers! for joyous ye flew

To catch the bright leaves she spread;

Yes, mourn, and go crop the violets blue,

And weave them with tears in the fresh spring-dew,

To garland her lowly bed;

For as the pale-eyed silvery flower

Impearls her emerald hills,*

*The silvery Ladies' Mantle (Alchemilla alpina) is found whitening the Green Mountains of Vermont, Mrs. Allen's native State.

So wreathed she the young with virtue's power,
So meekly adorned the mother's bower,

With wisdom's fair leaves and rills.

And ye, pale toilers of lone mission bands!
Weep ye in sorrow's array-

For one who oft-times hath borne up your hands,
While scattering light o'er idol-bound lands,
Alas! no more now will pray:

All bathing in love, she glided away
As the Autumn's snowy pride,

When, gazing the sun's last quivering ray,
It breathes its sweet charms to the parting day,
Then shuts on the waveless tide.

Yet, servant of God!* all reft and alone!
Soft, soft be the trembling sigh;

Thy love is bending before the high throne,
Her brow is entwined with a lustrous crown,
And she waves her palm-branch high :

And far by a stream the glad harpers sing,
All raptured, beckoning "Come;"

They tune their sweet lyres on harmony's wing,

And the golden streets in ecstasies ring,

With echoes of "Welcome home!"

Maulmain, India, May 29th, 1849.

*Referring, doubtless, to the husband of Mrs. Allen, since deceased.-EDITORS.

Original.

EVENING CONVERSATIONS.-No. V.

BY REV. ROBERT SEWELL.

Mamma. As the summer months will soon be here, and as the evening is warm, and the sky beautifully clear, we will take our seats on the verandah, when we shall find abundant matter for conversation, that will be deeply interesting to us all.

Sarah. This being the month of May, when flowers of all hues are expanding and regaling our senses with their odoriferous per

fume, perhaps an hour's conversation on the subject of Botany will be more suitable than any other we can select.

Mamma. I think so, and no theme abounds more with variety and instruction. It is one, too, that especially recommends itself to young ladies. Indeed, the love of flowers, as the poet has said, is an ingredient in our very nature, and we who have advanced beyond our juvenile years, look back, with almost sorrowful emotion, to those happy and guileless days, when our greatest enjoyment was in cultivating our little garden, watching and tending our choice flowers, as they opened their beauties in the spring.

Sarah. Botany is but one division of the mighty whole by which the great Creator has manifested so much of his skill and goodness, in the various operations of nature; but it is the one brought to our very feet, challenging our close attention; so that it is really, in my opinion, a fault to neglect the study of this interesting science.

Mamma. This, like other subjects, young people are not apt to love, from the idea that the vast numbers and varieties of flowers seem to create in their minds a confusion, without order or design; so that they think it impossible to reduce this great carpet of nature to limits and divisions, such as will at once render the study both simple and inviting.

Papa. The whole field of creation is reduced to three grand divisions, or kingdoms; and under them are arranged every production we find on or beneath the earth we inhabit. I suppose the youngest of you can name those divisions.

Ellen. They are animal, vegetable, and mineral. Animals live and move; vegetables possess life only; minerals are matter, without either life or motion.

John. Does not the science of Botany lay claim to a great age? Papa. It has engaged the attention of all nations, by reason of the aid afforded by various plants to mitigate the diseases and pains which afflict the human family. It is, therefore, coequal with the healing art; and it is supposed to have been treated of, as a science, even before the days of Solomon; and a study in which he, the wisest of men, was well versed, as we read in 1 Kings, 4th chapter, 33d verse. "He spake of trees, from the

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