racter wishing to ascertain some proof, I ventured to ask her a few questions.

Do you know, Maria, that many people may be doing the same thing, and yet all have very different motives for doing it?

I do not exactly understand you.

For instance, suppose men were digging different parts of that piece of ground, they would be all doing the same thing?

Yes.

But suppose one was doing it for hire, at 2s. 6d. a day, to be paid for his work ;-another was doing it for the profit of the crop that should be produced;-another was doing it to destroy the weeds;-another to ameliorate the soil;another merely out of love for the owner;-and another simply because it was the right and usual way of managing the ground :—these are different motives: but which motive do you like the best?

Oh! for love, to be sure.

When you learn your lesson, and do the thing your mamma bids you do, what is your motive?

Oh! love, to be sure, all for love! saying which, she sprang to her mamma and embraced her in a kind of rapture, which met the return of her mother's embrace, and a kiss on her forehead.

Anna looked at her with surprise.

Why did you ask me that question? Maria said; keeping her station by her mamma's side. I will tell you openly. Because I have been

reflecting lately on the duties of children to parents, which duties I am enabled to inquire into on the foundation of the fifth commandment, "Honor thy father and thy mother," and in the light which is thrown upon it by other scriptures, especially by the Lord Jesus, and by the apostle Paul in Ephesians vi. 1-3.

Maria seemed to have her heart unlocked by this liberty to disclose her motives; and she said, I know the fifth commandment is very good, because it is God's commandment; but I always think (forgive me if I say wrong) that "honor" sounds so cold.

Perhaps, my dear, if you understood it, you would not find it so cold; and Anna may perhaps think it sounds unprofitable, but if she understood it, it would be found to convey some hope of gain; for, (turning to Anna,) it is a commandment with promise, "and it shall go

well with thee;" and another little girl I know would be satisfied, because it is written, Honor thy father and thy mother, for this is right.

I should like, then, to understand that commandment, Maria answered; I did not know it contained so much.

I make a proposal, then, to you and your parents, to meet once a week at my house, for the purpose of coming to an understanding of the fifth commandment; and if the Lord gives us His grace and blessing, I think you will all love to honor your father and mother;" and your father and mother will love the commandment

which maketh wise the simple, and correcteth the heart-will you consent?

All but Anna said-Oh! yes, gladly.

Consent also, Anna; it will agree, you will find, with ornaments and chains.

Very well, she coldly replied. And as it was evident that some conviction had entered her mind, I drew the morocco case out of my pocket-her eye glistened at the unexpected sight, but mortified feeling taught her to disguise her pleasure.

Take it, Anna; this reward for a sum of long division will do to hang on a chain when it is earned by the lesson of music; until you have done something else to earn a garnet cross, which will sparkle more brilliantly than the eyes of this picture.

She dropped her head in confusion; whilst Maria gazed at her with intense earnestness, and Mrs. Aston whispered, O friend, spare her.

My dear Mrs. Aston, I replied, it is a moment worth more than a world: follow it up; from this time cease to offer bribes to your child, and wait until she will find the delight of duty to be its own reward. You are all wrong. Human, selfish, idolatrous motives rule and no love of God in Christ is set before your children as the spring, and motive, and end of love and obedi

ence.

Ah! my dear friend, I begin to catch a glimpse of my error, and thankful shall I be to

see my child well directed, and to be myself instructed.

Mrs. Bennet said, I really do not know what to think; for my own part, I have always thought love the best principle to inculcate; I have found it answer my purpose so far, and can desire nothing better than the effect produced.

Love is the best principle; so far you are right but on what that love is to be supremely fixed, and whence derived, would take us further, my dear Mrs. Bennet, than you are perhaps prepared to go.

I do not understand you.

You would understand when you had to experience that you must, in important circumstances, perhaps have to give place,-to be second only, in your child's estimation, provided an imperious claim were put upon her by a superior affection.

You speak in a kind of mystery; perhaps I may comprehend you better after a few of our weekly meetings. At present, I confess, my aim and my ambition are, that my husband and myself may be the first and principal object of regard in the hearts of my beloved children; for this end we devote ourselves to them, and adapt ourselves in every possible way to be their friends, companions, and even play fellows. They are satisfied with us alone, and never appear to have been so happy any where as with us, always returning, from any little visit, to their parents and their home as to their joy.

CHAPTER III.

I NOW found myself launched on an important duty, through which I felt it would require the aid of the Holy Spirit to guide me with discretion, integrity, affection, and success. The extensive power and influence of this holy will of God in the relative duties of parent and child, filled me with contemplation; and in imagination, I had run through generation after generation under its influence, until I had pictured before me a world full of inhabitants with whom it was 66 GOING WELL." In the midst of this reverie I was interrupted by a voice of vociferous anger, and the scream of terror which burst from a little boy who was, it appeared, endeavoring to run away from his father.

I will, I will! he exclaimed, and the man was answering him, as he struck him some sharp strokes over the shoulders with a rope,

I'll teach you, you young rascal, whether I'll be obeyed or not.

They were soon out of sight, entering their cottage door, and closing it instantly. Thus I was brought back from imagination to painful reality, and was again exercised in reflecting on the origin and causes of the prevalence of disobedience amongst children.

By the time I reached my own home I was impressed with the Scripture, "Thou that teachest another, teacheth thou not thyself?" It awak