have an interest in our prayers; saying, "It may be the last time." And we feel to request all praying mothers, particularly members of Maternal Associations, under whose observation these remarks may come, to remember her seven motherless children at the throne of grace. Her zeal for the cause of her Saviour was fervent and persevering. Although for several months previous to her death she was unable to attend public worship, yet she breathed forth the aspirations of her heart in hymns and portions of Scripture, sent by her to our weekly meetings. The conversion of the youth was a subject she contemplated much, and of which she often spoke. The Missionary and Bible Societies, the cause of human freedom, and all the benevolent operations of the day, lay near her heart. She was unusually affable, and sympathized with all, from infancy to old age. But she is gone Her "languishing head is at rest," Is heaved by affliction no more." PAULINA PHILBRICK, Secretary. "WHAT A CHANGE IN MY FAMILY!"-We have heard, says the Well-Spring, of an interesting conversion in a Pastor's Bible class in the Sabbath school. A man who had been a Universalist, and a violent opposer of his wife and family, in religious things, has for several months given the best evidence of being born again. 66 What a CHANGE in my family!" now exclaims the happy wife. "He now delights in studying the Bible, and has erected a family altar." O, that an altar might be erected in every family where there is none. "What a CHANGE" would it at once produce in the household! Original. THE INFLUENCE OF YOUTH UPON THE FAMILY CIRCLE. BY REV. H. C. FISH. An impression too generally prevails among the young, that at present their influence is but little felt; and hence they the more readily yield to habits of thoughtlessness, frivolity, and vice. No doubt, in the aggregate, theirs is less than is the influence of those in the full activity of riper years. But that of this class is nevertheless far from trifling in character and extent—it is felt in the family and in the community. Let me address myself to my youthful readers, and beg them, for a moment, to consider the effects of their character and example upon the family circle. Your parents feel your influence. "A wise son maketh a glad father, but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother." Ah, yes; and how often has the proverb been verified! Who can estimate the degree to which parents are made happy or unhappy by their children? And let me remark, that it is never to so great an extent in any other period of life as during that under consideration-that of youth. Parents can patiently endure the petulance of infancy, and the perverseness of childhood; but they feel keenly and deeply the waywardness of youth. They love to behold the smiles of affection on the soft countenance of boyhood or girlhood; but they are filled with joy when the brow of youth is wreathed with the ornaments of innocence, virtue, and respect. A child at this period of life exerts such an influence upon those who reared him, that he can make them well nigh completely wretched. Let the son of virtuous parents become dissipated, intemperate, prodigal, profane-let him eschew good society, and become the companion of fools-let him become rebellious toward his father and mother, and cast off personal restraint; and, in truth, they will feel "How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is To have a thankless child !" O, how miserable does he render the life of his mother, who pillowed his infant head, and of his father, who guided his first tottering steps! He is a viper to the bosom where he was sheltered and warmed, and stings to the very soul! On the contrary, let him respect, love, and venerate his parents, as did the hero of ancient song, who bore his aged father upon his shoulders from the flames of the burning city; or a Solomon, who, though seated on the throne, arose to pay his filial obeisance to his mother; or, like Joseph, "who led into the palace of Pharaoh, and introduced to that king an aged man, in a simple dress, whom he delighted to own as his father." Let him seek the companionship of the wise and the virtuous, and imitate their example, until he is esteemed and loved of all-how rich a source of happiness that son, to those who have nourished and protected him! They thank God for such a child, as he goes out and comes in before them, anticipating their wants, and seeking to do them good; or, if they know of his goodly deportment by the hearing of the ear-or his epistles indited from a heart throbbing with filial affection-their faces, though wrinkled with age, look young. again, as did that of the old patriarch who heard of his son's glory in Egypt; and they descend the vale of life with increased cheerfulness and a firmer step. So sensible and controlling is your influence upon your parents. It next terminates upon the younger members of the family, your brothers and sisters, if such you have. They are, naturally enough, looking to you for an example in almost everything. You are older and wiser than they. They are aware of it, and are shaping their conduct by yours. How hallowed and salutary the example and demeanor of an amiable, obedient, pious youth upon the family group, even to the youngest of its members! And if, instead of such an example, they have placed before them the opposite, how difficult a task the training and guiding in the paths of virtue those who are younger in years! If you seek an illustration of the Scripture, that "one sinner destroyeth much good," go to the family that numbers among the children a depraved, vicious youth. Say not, then, young man, young woman, "My influence is but slightly felt at home, whatever be my course of conduct." It is felt, and in every branch of the household. You are giving character to others-enstamping the impress of your life on those of tender years, of whom you are the older brother or sister, and should be the guide—and rendering happy or unhappy those to whom you are indebted for your existence, and ten thousand benefits which you can never fully reciprocate. Editorial. HOME INFLUENCE. A DYING father, whom we well knew and highly respected, anxiously inquired whether his absent son had arrived. He wished to see that son, before he bade a final adieu to his beloved family; "for," said he, "he stands greatly in need of home influence." The sentiment which this affectionate parent expressed made a deep impression upon our mind, and from personal experience and common observation, we believe that this home influence moulds the great mass of society, controlling the mind through all the varied changes of life. The division of the human race into families-the uniting the branches by the most tender of all earthly ties—is one of the wise plans of our Creator; and, when implicitly acted upon, society becomes elevated, purified, and happy. But the least deviation from this order, brings blight and ruin, not only upon individuals and families, but upon whole communities. Infidelity and seepticism formerly, and in this day Fourierism and Socialism, unblushingly use arguments and satire against the solemn contract of marriage, and would propose, in its place, a connection less binding and sacred, and thus throw society back into a state of viee and brutality. They well know that matrimony, first celebrated in Eden, when God himself gave the bride, lies at the foundation of all morality, and is the very salt that preserves the virtue of society; and hence their unwearied efforts to undermine its influence. We know, from our own experience, that the impressions of right and wrong which our youth receive, under the influence of home, will never be eradicated from their minds. These blessings, to them, are immense, if the parents are faithful. A thought of the past has often served to call back the prodigal child, after years of folly, to cheer the evening of a parent's life with unspeakable comfort and happiness; while others, who with bursting hearts have received the sad tidings of the wanderer's death, perhaps on the stormy sea, or the battle-field, far away from home, have been filled with joy, at the recital of penitential feelings and tender regards felt for those dear parents. All right training and sound morality commence at home. Obedience is here first enforced, from the motive, not of duty only, but of affection-a motive which is, by far, the strongest chain to bind society together. The government of a family is an embryo of that which a nation should be, if it would become a harmonious and prosperous people. The child that is obedient at home finds no difficulty to transfer the same duty to his preceptor at school, or to him under whom he is learning a profession or trade. The influence of his home has been preparatory to the carrying out of this important duty, and renders him, through life, one of the best of citizens; because, from those innate principles which were planted in him at the very dawning of reason, he reveres and respects the laws of his country; and, like the stern Roman of olden story, he would perish in the camp of his enemies, rather than forfeit his word, or tarnish the honor of his country. But it is at home that the tenderest sympathies and the most useful affections of the heart are called forth. If the family is in health and prosperity, how is enjoyment heightened by each one being an equal participator, and where no one wishes to appropriate anything to himself alone! It is thus that we learn to suppress those feelings of covetousness, selfishness, and ambition which have filled the world with crime and blood. But when adversity, affliction, or death first enters the family home, then, how do the springs of sympathy and keen sorrow burst forth, and unite, and bind yet closer, the several members together! Here we learn that even poverty and disappointment |
