If parents would watch themselves more, they would learn better how to guide their children. The assistance and support of those three attendant graces, "Patience, Love and Hope," are indispensable at every step of our progress. What is youth and childhood?if it was what we wished to make it, it would need no guidance or solicitude; but might be left in its own unaided strength to run the race set before it. Well may those who have the responsibility upon them of training young immortals for eternal happiness or misery, exclaim with fear and trembling, "Who is sufficient for these things?" How much do we need the "wisdom that is from above-which is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy." [For the Microcosm.] MATERNAL LOVE. We have often heard the exclamation from parents, but most frequently from mothers "I love my children too well :"—and as often, perhaps, we have heard it said of this or that friend or neighbor, "she loves her children too much for their good." It is our object to examine, on what this assertion is founded. Whether too much, or too little love, may be most truly predicated of the cases in question. Love, in the highest sense of the term, is a benevolent regard to being. This affection,-which allies man most closely, which alone, indeed, allies him, to the infinite God-is concerned with man, as a rational and immortal being. Under its influence, every thing which is seen to militate against him, as such a being, is avoided or opposed. The highest exercise of this love, prompts to diligent efforts to ascertain what will advance, and what retard, the welfare of its object, as an inhabitant of eternity. The true Christian only, is capable of this exalted love. Another class of emotions, which may be denominated "love of the beautiful"—are induced by the perception or contemplation of beauty, in the moral, intellectual or physical world. The feelings belonging to this class, like the former, are confined to the intelligent creation. They are, doubtless, strongest, other things equal, in the most cultivated. But they are, unlike the former, common to the learned and ignorant, the moral and immoral, the holy and sinful alike. The emotions consequent on perceptions of beauty, are as diverse, in different individuals, as the varying tendencies of their subjects. The man who is governed by the desire to possess-in other words, a miserly man-sees no inherent beauty, in any thing he cannot lay claim to as his own. Whereas, the benevolent and social man, feels stronger emotions when he sees evidence of sympathetic feeling in others. We mention one other kind of love, termed "Natural affection," love of offspring-which leads all the animal creation, to care and provide for their progeny. This instinct-beneficently bestowed on man in common with the lower animals, gives pleasure in its exercise, while it secures to helpless infancy in most cases, the care necessary for continued existence. We have reason to fear that, were there no more powerful principle to be appealed to, in many individuals, than reason and conscience, in favor of the dependent; many a little immortal, for whose dear sake, days of toil, and nights of sorrow, are patiently endured, would languish and die. It would find no maternal bosom on which to repose in confidence, no tones of tender love to soothe its little heart aches. We have said, the highest love of which man is capable is a benevolent regard to the eternal well-being of its object. This, from its very nature, can never become excessive. Let us inquire, if it may not be rather owing to a deficiency of this love, than to excess of any, that the evils, which have occasioned the exclamations at the head of this article, have arisen. And if so, we would urge the mother to exercise the one more, not to diminish the other. All our selfish propensities, it is true, need some curb to their speed, else they inevitably urge us on to excess. What so calculated to check this natural instinct, as the use of reason and conscience. The little being, to whose animal gratification it is so delightful to contribute, is to live for ages, in a world where the animal can find no means of gratifying its lusts. And no kind mother would willingly create wants, which can never be satisfied. Let her then remember the object for which this love was given -that it has to do with the lower the inferior, propensities of man, and is ever abused when not made subservient to his higher nature. Let the child from the first dawn of intellectual being, see that the mother appears to be more pleased with right moral affections, than with any inferior good. Let him know by deeds, not words alone, that she believes her child has an immortal part that must be cared for, and nourished with proper food:-that on the appropriate use of all the powers of his being, her child depends for a happy immortality. Thus mothers "train up your children in the way they should go," and you may love them as much as you please, and fear no excess in your affection. You may then see those now discordant elements, beautifully harmonized, so that, praise to the great Creator shall be rendered, in tones delightful even to angel choirs. For their harps are attuned to the same key; and their rapturous hosannas never flow sweeter or louder than when they receive an impulse from the sympathetic notes of mortal harmonies. A. A. "There is an irresistible charm in the natural, easy, chcerful manner of a well-educated young lady; a fascination that every body feels: but the labor and solicitude that is discoverable in affectation, that would force you into admiration, dissolves the charm, and breaking the talisman, sets the captive free." "The Spells of Home." "THE SPELLS OF HOME." BY MRS. HEMANS. "There blend the ties that strengthen But seek that hidden treasure At home, dear home."-Bernard Barton. By the soft green light in the woody glade, By the sleepy ripple of the stream, To the wind of morn at the casement eaves; By the gathering round the winter hearth, In that ring of happy faces told, By the quiet hours when hearts unite In the parting prayer, and the kind "good night," Over thy life has the spell been thrown. And bless that spell! it hath gentle might, Yes! when thy heart in its pride would stray From the loves of its guileless youth away, When the sullying breath of the world would come, O'er the flowers it brought from its childhood's home, Think thou again of the woody glade, And the sound by the rustling ivy made, Think of the tree at thy parent's door, And the kindly spell shall have power once more. 337 VISIT TO A NEW MARRIED COUPLE. NARRATED TO A YOUNG FRIEND. We now arrived at the large castle in the country, with a party who engaged at the wedding to meet there at the end of the month; and many of the neighboring gentry were assembled to celebrate their arrival. The new-married couple had just arrived before us; and before the usual greetings were well over, "My dear C-," said the lady, "did you ever see such intolerable roads? quite abominable! I protest I am bruised to death! and so dusty, I am quite choaked ; I wonder they don't water the roads; it is quite a shame to poison one in this manner! then that dreadful solemn avenue of trees at the close of such a journey, and those hideous rooks cawing such melancholy forebodings! I had a great mind to tell the coachman to turn about his horses, and leave the avenue and the rooks to enjoy each other, without destroying me with their shade and their uproar,—what my poor nerves will do, I cannot say; but we'll have those hideous trees down,-shan't we, love?" turning gaily to her husband. "I like to see an over-grown, mis-shapen oak, that has held up his proud head to many generations, levelled to the ground; there's a sort of gratifying triumph in secing his length prostrate before me. Oh, pray look at these great elbow chairs! Lord bless me, my dear, how big all your ancestors must have been to fill them! Crimson damask curtains too! bless their heavy hearts, what a taste they had! You have ordered all new, I hope? How many legs have those giant tables?— one, two, three, four; I believe they have forty, if I had patience to tell them"-then with a loud and sarcastic laugh, "Lord bless me, do look at these window-frames! the house-maids must have been a large race too-how could the creatures find strength to throw up a sash? Do, my dear send for the workmen to-night-perhaps they would put new windows in, in a fortnight, and then we might see those ghastly old provoking trees cut down with triumph-why, you don't speak?" "No indeed, my dear," he replied, "I do not know what to say." "Why say it shall all be done as soon as possible. I'll send to mamma's upholsterers in Piccadilly, men of remarkable integ rity and taste; and tell me only what sum you will allow for the furniture of each room, and they will take care of all the rest-but perhaps," she continued, "some of the rooms are less antique; show us the rest dear but you must support me, for I am tired to desperation." "I am afraid our friends are a little tired too," he said, but lent her his arm -they led to the library, through the saloon; some of the company followed, while others, disgusted at her cruel insensibility to her hus. band's feelings, remained in the drawing-room. Fresh tables with horrid legs, now increased to a hundred, were the subjects of her amusement and scorn. I felt it my duty to watch for an opportunity to tell her the precipice upon which she stood-but where was such a moment to be found? As she hung upon his arm, she went on: "We'll change all these old rodomontading carpets for pea-green velvet, my A Visit to a New-Married Couple. 39 dear; sha'nt we? Your hardy race of ancestors never trod upon velvet, love, I dare say?"—"I dare say not,' he said; "but I have a respectful veneration for every thing they did."—"Quite right, my dear; but you must lament they had nct better taste in their furniture." -"No, my dear," he replied; "I like to see the style exactly as they enjoyed it; a carpet they trod upon is dear to my recollection; and the tables, where their hospitality was so frequently displayed, warm my heart whenever I look upon them; and when I bless the Author of all the good things I enjoy, in the very chair in which my ancestors sat and rejoiced in their abundance, I never forget my grati tude to them for transmitting them to me so undiminished, from a source so pure; for they were all men of high honor and respectability; and I trust, my dear," he added with great kindness, "we shall both long enjoy together the fruits of their good conduct." I seized this moment to slip my arm in the disengaged one of her's-" Excel. lent young man! I whispered; "Endeavor, my dear Madam, to deserve him.". "O yes, my dear C-," she replied, "I know you very well, you are always on the strongest side.-Lord bless me!" she continued, turning her eye to the picture of an old gentleman, in a great wig and embroidered coat, "who is that very fine old beau? is that one of my grand-papas?"—" It is one of mine, Madam," he replied; "and I must recommend him to your attention and respect; he sat in nine successive parliaments, and was said to have resigned his seat, when too old to do its duties, with the best judgment and purest conscience of any member who had ever sat there. On the back of the picture is this eulogy, written by the greatest man of his time." "I dare say it is very true, my dear; and don't you think it would be a very good plan to hang the picture with that side outwards, that every body may read such a testimony of his merit." He drew his arm hastily from her's, and stepped to the window; but immediately recollecting himself, before I could recover the surprise her conduct had given me, he reclaimed her arm. "I think you will like the breakfast room," he said; "it has a cheerful aspect, and the varied prospect of the river and its sloping banks are grateful to the eye, and I hope will please you." "I am easily pleased," she said, and went on. The instant she reached the room, she flew to a harpsichord, and find. ing it locked, asked for the key; when, perceiving a paper pasted at the top, she read aloud the following words;-"Touch softly, stranger, these sad chords; the last lovely hand that woke their sweetest harmony, is gone for ever. How beautiful and good! how loved and how lamented!" Every eye filled with a ready tear, except her's who was come to supply the place of such a dear and interesting object; to strike those very chords, and perhaps for as limited a space. The portrait that hung over the instrument was very young and very beautiful. It was no time to make inquiries; every countenance felt, and every tongue was silent. I thought, even a bride, in the exultation of her heart, would have forgotten all her attire and all her ornaments at the moment of such an address; but a selfish woman is enveloped in her own importance, nothing from without can soften her. "Have you found |