THE HAPPY SHEPHERD. His certain life, that never can deceive him, Is full of thousand sweets and rich content; Of troublous worlds, nor lost in slothful ease : Pleased and full blessed he lives, when he his God can please. While by his side his faithful spouse hath place; His little son into his bosom creeps, The lively picture of his father's face; Never his humble house nor state torment him: And when he dies, green turfs, with grassy tomb, content him. P. FLETCHER. THE PRAYERS OF PARENTS. M R. ABBOTT relates an incident of a gentleman of accomplished manners, but an infidel, who brought letters of introduction from England to an American family of Christian philanthropists. That evening, at the hour of family prayer, his host, knowing the scepticism of his guest, intimated to him that though they should be happy to have him remain and unite with them in worship, if he preferred he could retire. The guest intimated that it would give him pleasure to remain. A chapter of the Bible was read, and the family all knelt in prayer, the stranger with the rest. His visit ended, he left for a distant land. In the course of three or four years, however, the providence of God again led to the same dwelling the same visitor; but oh, how changed! He came the happy Christian, the humble man of piety and prayer. In the course of conversation he told his host that that room was the first in which for many a day he had bowed the knee to his Maker. The act brought to his mind such a crowd of recollections, it so vividly reminded him of a parent's prayer, that he was entirely bewildered. His emotion was so great that he did not hear one syllable of the prayer which was uttered; but God made it the instrument of leading him from the dreary wilds of infidelity to the peace and joy of piety. The prayers of parents left an influence which could not die. But observe: the parents of this son might have prayed ever so fervently for him, but if they had not prayed with him, their child might have continued through life an infidel. HINTS FOR THE HOUSEHOLD. ALCOHOLIC DRINKS. TOTAL abstinence from alcoholic drinks and other narcotic substances will greatly augment health and lengthen life. Plenty of wholesome food and fresh air are the best strengtheners; and rest, when we are fatigued, is the best restorer.-Dr. Elliotson. It is remarkable that all the diseases arising from drinking spirituous or fermented liquors are liable to become hereditary, even to the third generation, increasing, if the cause be continued, till the family becomes extinct.Darwin. The drunkard not only injures and enfeebles his own nervous system, but entails mental disease upon his family. His children are likely to be nervous, weak, eccentric, and to become insane under the pressure of excitement from some unforeseen agency or the ordinary calls of duty.-Dr. Brown. It can be proven with mathematical certainty that as much flour or meal as would lie on the point of a table-knife is more nutritious than nine quarts of the best Bavarian beer.—Baron Liebig. FRESH AIR IN TYPHOID FEVER. Dr. Hampton regards the disease as a sort of paralysis or asphyxia of all the vital functions, occasioned by breathing a poisonous atmosphere, emanating either from a typhoid patient or from some other morbid source. By his experiments he has practically demonstrated that great advantage is to be derived from the use of open air in treating the fever. Moreover, he declares that there is absolute immunity from contagion in the open air. The cures which he reports are ascribed mainly to the free admission of out-door air to the patient's bedroom. He argues that the patient cannot suffer from the application of this remedy, either in danger from other diseases, or from the temperature of the atmosphere. If the patient is kept warm in bed by artificial means, the free breathing of pure fresh air will at all times keep up the natural animal heat. TO REMOVE MILDEW. Make a very weak solution of chloride of lime in water (about a heaped-up teaspoonful to a quart of water), strain it carefully, and dip the spot on the garment into it, and if the mildew does not disappear immediately, lay it in the sun for a few minutes or dip it again into the limewater. The work is effectually and speedily done, and the chloride of lime neither rots the cloth nor removes the delicate colours when sufficiently diluted and the articles well rinsed afterwards in clear water. FITS. remain on the ground, provided If a person fall in a fit, let him his face be pale; for, should it be fainting, or temporary suspension of the heart's action, death may be caused by raising him upright, or by bleeding. But if the face be red or dark-coloured, raise him up, throw cold water on his head, and send for a surgeon. FOR DIARRHEA OR SICKNESS. Take of the best Bermuda arrowroot a teaspoonful, cold water a wineglassful. Mix well; then add five drops of chloric ether. To be taken every three hours if required. THE MOTHERS' TREASURY. THE BIBLE IN THE FAMILY. T is only where the Bible is known that the responsibilities of PARENTS AND CHILDREN are understood, and their mutual duties enforced. Nature, it is true, suggests the obligation of obedience on the part of a child; but nature neither defines the proper limitations of parental authority, nor supplies the spirit requisite to the due discharge of the reciprocal offices it involves. The Bible does both these things. A faithful adherence to its instructions would preserve both parents and children from the errors into which they are liable to fall, and greatly increase the number of happy households. Listen to its words: "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honour thy father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise; that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. And ye, fathers, provoke not your children to wrath, but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." This is a sample of its utterances on this specific subject. But the whole spirit of the Bible bears upon this, as upon every other department of life, and is eminently adapted both to guide and assist parents and children in their respective duties. Parents, for example, may injure their children through excessive indulgence. This was Eli's fault: "his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not." David, too, had a pet child, Adonijah, of whom it is recorded that "his father had not displeased him at any time, in saying, 'Why hast thou done so?"" (1 Kings i. 6.) And, as usual with spoiled children, both Adonijah and Eli's sons came to a disgraceful end. These parents were good men, but they could not bear to say "No" to their children. They would on no account "displease" them. Instead of governing them, they reversed the Divine ordinance and were governed by them. Putting away their infallible guide, and following the impulses of a blind affection, they allowed their sons to have their Solomon thought this was a sure method to ruin a child. He wrote a variety of proverbs embodying this sentiment, and recommending a discreet use of the rod. He had seen his brother Adonijah fall a victim to parental indulgence, and he sounded the alarm to other parents. The common feeling in our day seems to be, that Solomon was needlessly anxious on this point; or, at least, that however judicious his maxims might have been in own way. 66 a rude age," they are not adapted to a refined state of society, like that which it is our felicity to enjoy. A large proportion of the present generation of youth are growing up under the benign sway of this improved code, the essential provision of which is, that parents may counsel, but must not command their children. A father is still allowed to say to his son, "I would advise you to do this; " and a mother may still venture to express her wishes to a daughter, "I should prefer your doing so and so; " but it would be very rigorous to put these suggestions into the form of commands. According to the Bible theory, the family has a head; the new theory makes the entire family assessors with the father on his throne; or, in other words, it demolishes the primeval constitution of the family, and turns the miniature monarchy into a democracy. The consequences are just what might be anticipated from this bold attempt to improve a Divine institution. On all sides the complaint is made of increasing wilfulness and insubordination among the young. Disrespect to parents has come to be one of the prominent characteristics of the times; one which stands out so conspicuously that he must be blind who does not see it. It is the injunction of God, "Honour thy father and thy mother." Honour them by loving them. Honour them by confiding in them. Honour them by obeying them. Honour them by abstaining from whatever is disagreeable to them. Honour them by doing everything in your power to promote their comfort and happiness. Reason sanctions this, as revelation commands it. Habitual irreverence and disobedience towards parents affixes a stigma upon the reputation of a child for which no beauty of person, no splendour of endowments, no accumulation of accomplishments can compensate. You may garnish over a character like this as you will; the core of it is bad, radically bad. Whereever there is habitual disrespect to a parent, there are other evil qualities with it. It is as infallible a symptom of disease within as the spots which betoken the leprosy. What avails it that you are all amiableness and complaisance in company, if you can go home and treat an affectionate father or mother with sullenness or indecorum? Your real character is that which you bear at home. If I could whisper a word in the ears of the young men who are casting about for a companion for the voyage of life, I would say to them," See to it that, before you commit yourself, you learn the character of the other party at her own fireside; and let no outward attractions ensnare you into a union with an undutiful daughter. She who is disrespectful to her parents will, after the heyday of marriage is over, be equally disrespectful to you. And as the tedious years go by, time will rob her of the personal charms which won your fancy, and leave you her temper." This counsel is equally appropriate to the other sex. Nothing but the greatest infatuation could induce a young female to ally herself with a man whom she knew to be an unkind son. That she would get a tyrant for a husband is almost as certain as her getting a husband at all. The best guarantee you can have for conjugal happiness is in marrying a man of decided and cheerful piety. Next to this, perhaps the surest pledge you can have lies in strong filial affection. The young man who loves his mother well, and cares for her comfort, will not neglect his wife. It is one of the finest eulogies pronounced in the familiar intercourse of society, when it is said of this or that man, "He is so kind to his mother." And the daughters who are wise, instead of allowing themselves to be fascinated by mere external glances or intellectual gifts, will inquire, before taking that irrevocable step, whether a "suitor is kind to his mother." It must not be forgotten, however, that very much of the prevalent irreverence for parents and for age in general is to be ascribed to the excessive indulgence with which children are trained. More firmness in governing the young would insure from them both more obedience and more affection. Multitudes are ruined through "A kindness-most unkind-that hath always spared the rod; A weak and numbing indecision in the mind that should be master; A moral cowardice of heart, that never dared command." But in shunning Scylla, we must beware of running into Charybdis. "Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged." The sceptre placed in the parent's hands is a sceptre of love. Guided by love and wisdom, it will never alienate nor" discourage" a child, unless that child is one of rare depravity. It is a most disastrous mistake for parents to rule in such a way that their children approach them with the awe felt by Asiatic slaves in coming into the presence of their masters. Doubtless, the severity which repels children from their parents is often undesigned; but the effects it produces when it has become habitual are so pernicious, that we cannot guard too sedulously against it. It is alike our duty and our privilege to win our children's confidence, and to foster in their breasts a tender affection for us, blended with reverence. This is neither to be done by throwing the reins upon their necks, and letting them run whithersoever they will, nor by holding them with an ugly bit, and using the lash freely. Either of these methods will as infallibly spoil a child as it will a horse. There is here, as in most other things, a golden mean, which it requires great care and even Divine assistance to attain; but which, being attained, will usually bring in a rich revenue of domestic happiness. The more we study the Bible, and the closer we keep to its infallible counsels in training our children, the more likely we shall be able to elude the dangers which meet us on the right hand and on the left. Not only is it requisite as an unerring chart of duty, but the earnest and prayerful study of it is peculiarly adapted to foster that spirit of wisdom, love, hope, and patience, which is daily called for in the management of a family. |
