It has been often asked in this age of benevolent effort, of what use are "maternal associations ?" Are mothers more faithful, more unremitted and more successful in their efforts to educate their children than were their mothers and grandmothers, who had not the benefit of such institutions? These queries, if they do not cast a reproach upon maternal associations, imply at least a doubt of their utility. To answer these interrogatories, and to state some reasons why they are not so entirely beneficial in their tendency as to preclude all doubt on the subject, is the object of this article. The end aimed at in such combinations is immensely important-that of mutual improvement and assistance in the great work of early education. Such aid no christian, no intelligent mother will deny that she needs. But does she find it in such institutions? Are the means adequate to the end? Many, I fear, would be compelled to answer in the negative. Why is it that an association professedly so important, is so inefficient in its operations, or so inadequate in its effects?

One cause which may be assigned is timidity. A few only of the number who attend the meetings advance any opinions or conduct the religious services. The diffident, who claim exemption from these duties, make no preparation by previous reading and reflection to render these interviews profitable, and were they to seek this preparation, the array of ten or fifteen ladies would put to flight every thought, even if on the point of being uttered. Many a judicious and well timed opinion has been suppressed for want of confidence to express it.

Pride is another impediment to the success of maternal associations. A desire to be thought to know, represses inquiry. To seek information at the hands of others is a tacit confession of inferiority, and unless the inquiry evinced discrimination, or the point was one where a diversity of opinion might be expected to prevail, it would not often be made. It is humiliating to make such an acknowledgement, but the fact cannot be denied.

A third difficulty arises from mutual ignorance of each other and their families. In a society composed of a number of females from the various ranks in life, an intimate acquaintance cannot be expected. The opportunity afforded by occasional meetings is not sufficient to awaken a deep and tender sympathy. There is undoubtedly a general feeling of good will, but that

knowledge of each other which stimulates to prayer and awakens mutual interest, is not imparted.

A fourth impediment arises from the difficulty of applying the knowledge which may be thus acquired. No rules, however good, can be always applicable. What may be very judicious for one, may be inexpedient for anothMany cases of domestic discipline cannot be anticipated, and if they could, no given course could be adopted :-circumstances at the time must dictate, and a judgment formed by the occasion must govern.

er.

I have thus briefly stated some of the hindrances to the successful operation of maternal associations so far as they have come under my knowledge. I would not after all assert, that they are not useful institutions; undoubtedly they are, but their usefulness is impeded by attendant circumstances. It is always useful to meet for prayer, where there is the desire to pray; and there is a good effect resulting from having the subject of parental responsibility presented afresh to the mind by periodical interviews; but how much more good might be effected if the obstacles alluded to, could be removed.

Whether children are better educated with all the advantages of the present day, than they were formerly, is questionable. If they are not, I see no reason why it should be attributed to the partial success of maternal societies. The circumstances under which we live differ essentially. The luxury and prosperity of our country, with the widely extended influence of republicanism, throw obstacles in the way of religiously educating our children which our ancestors were not obliged to encounter; and if the diffusion of intelligence gives us facilities for our work which they had not, we have difficulties to overcome, which did not obstruct their path. I will not however extend the discussion; but conclude with submitting these remarks to mothers, with the hope that some plan in their subsequent meetings may be devised which shall banish timidity and pride, and secure free social intercourse, that the great object which professedly brings us together may be more effectually promoted. A MOTHER.

For the Microcosm.

WE HAVE COME TO WORSHIP HIM.

“They saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh."- Matthew ii. 11.

THE star has shone, the sage has ceas'd to dream;
And speculation is resolv'd in light;

The spirit walks with freedom; and the theme
Christ-the world's Savior, and the Heaven's might.

What anxious hopes then held the wise in thrall;
How dim man's history to the thinking mind:
The soul a problem-plaything to them all,
A tone half uttered-sketch, but half defined.

The weary eye of age saw no repose;

Dark was the future, which their learned revealed;

I was thirteen or fourteen years of age when I exchanged the parental for the magistratical form of government—that is, I was sent to a boarding school. Not altogether urgent for this sudden revolution in affairs, I submitted however to what was condusive to my ultimate benefit, estimating the advantages likely to accrue from this trial as children do their physic, in the ratio of its bitterness. When the carriage rolled away from the door, leaving me among strangers, I did not exactly weep, but a tear would occasionally leak out, which was forthwith brushed away by my hand, not daring to use

a 'kerchief lest it should awaken too plausible suspicion. ('Twas foolish pride! tears keep the heart from petrifaction.) Now a boy's hands you know are seldom fastidiously clean-so that accidentally viewing myself, while promenading to and fro in the parlor, whither I retired from observation-I verily believed my new friends would have to cleanse their mirror.

Time however soon ran away with this sort of trouble. Already I began to "dog-ear" my grammar, and sketch my worthy tutor's profile along the margin, touching with little leniency his harsher features, especially when under the fear of portended discipline. But "intermission" always brought its temporary lethe, and gave us opportunity for storing our desks with candy, apples, etc. against the afternoon's campaign. Besides, numerous were my domestic avocations during these hours-or that blessed oasis in my literary wilderness yclept Saturday afternoon. I had a wheel-barrow to roll, a craft to navigate, and my robin to feed. Ah! he like many of our less candid friends was never opposed to solid civilities. He would come flying and chirping towards me, perch on my shoulder, and like the aforesaid allies, would too if permitted, steal the morsel from one's mouth. Nevertheless, his friendship might have been more lasting than in ordinary cases, but for the interference of a yellow-eyed, jealous looking grimalkin, whose gastronomic propensities, like those of Rosseni, overpowered her regard for music. Poor Rob made her a meal, and me her stern and insidious enemy. She narrowly escaped losing her legs in a spring trap-but was finally suffered to depart, on condition of eternal banishment from our garden paradise; or slighting the terms of pardon-on penalty of such punishment as we read that experienced frogs declared far from agreeable.

Having lost one pet was it not advisable to look about me for another? and could there be a more natural transition than from a bird to a woman. Both made to brighten creation with song and beauty-we never love them half so much as when in our own cages, or ringed and chained by our own fingers. Our teacher with his boarders took also day scholars. Among these was Mary Heartly. She was about my own age-fair and amiable. Her earliest days had been past in the seclusion of this her native village. Cities may boast of gaudier beauties, but innocence and feeling blossom purest in a rural soil. I soon began to feel that esteem for her which was the award of all her companions, and although our desks stood near each other in the school room, the space between grew every day narrower, while interchanges of various commodities in shape of india-rubber, pencils, and not unfrequently billets of colloquial character, were effected under the very eyes of our preceptor; who unconscious of the treason, used to applaud our dilligence, and discourse sapiently upon the emulation produced by collision of talent between the sexes. Would that I dare show the learned reader a pithy extract or so, from the aforesaid correspondence, or perchance a stanza from certain poetic effusions. But suffice it to say, that we were at that happy period of life when a boy feels a bashful delight in the society of a female, and a girl blushes at the homely compliment of a sonnet which rivals Petrarch in nothing but sincerity. Gentle reader, there reposes in this pigeon hole of my bureau, a trusty and weather beaten time piece, now incapacitated (alas the dangers of literature misapplied !) by an avalanche of books, which took place latterly in my study, bearing down said chronometer from a shelf, where it had been most injudiciously disposed-in nautical phrase, carrying away

her upper deck, and damaging her spars and running-rigging-accident perhaps scarce worth mentioning, save in connection with the fact, that this now silent machine, not a little instrumental as a bribe in producing my reconciliation to country residence and school, bears to this date upon its battered casing, in divers places, and in quaint tracery, the well remembered name of Mary Heartly.

But every thing finds a conclusion, however procrastinated. What do we behold that is not passing with the swiftness of an arrow. Trees and flowers become exhausted by the very leaves which cover and the hues which enamel them; the weight which lends strength to mountains, must at last crumble them in dust; the world itself like some huge wheel is rolling onward to its final evening, and moments of happiness seem to unite all the fleetness of time with the frailty of nature. I once looked forward to my deliverance from academic retirement, with a thrill of satisfaction. What variable creatures are we! how easily joy trembles into sorrow! I left with regret more poignant than I had entered it, the rural solitude of Mary's village.

Years elapsed before I revisited the little town; and well does my Riosinante -provided he yet perambulates this sphere of clover-remember the pitiless velocity with which he bore his quandam Jehu to the frequented inn. Every object seemed to hail my return. Our old friend and preceptor had a line or two of time's pencilings on his brow, but the mansion of my youthful seclusion rose familiar to my eyes. Perhaps the shrubbery had thickened somewhat in the green court yard, and I could not fail remarking the paucity of foot prints in the broad alley, and the silence that brooded over the long garden, so different from the mirth and bustle of my school days; when its proprietor (now weary of such thankless toil) held sovereign sway over fifteen or twenty of the most turbulent fellows that every congregated in one seminary.

A clump of tall trees, under whose shadow I used to recline and watch the fantastic clouds that scoured along the summer's blue, waved their branches slowly in the breeze as if soliciting a social glance from their ancient lounger. It was here that I shortened a new penknife in carving two favorite initial letters. M. was still perfect, but a wide chasm in the bark had almost obliterated the nicely proportioned H. and extending with cruel indifference to labors of the sculptor, had produced an irreparable fissure between a pair of hearts, erst blended like twin soap-bubbles, and distorted a motto of unchanging constancy. Always sentimental, these mementoes of young feeling seemed to breathe over my manhood the freshness of early life, and awakened emotions which protracted absence from the exciting cause, had rendered dormant. The decaying embers of affection thus stirred, an interview was only necessary to urge them into flame, while a knowledge of my weakness but sweetened the temptation. "Let me surprise her in the snug little parlor, by the lilac sheltered window, so often the arena of our childish coquetry. I wonder if the sparrow yet builds her nest there? or the old button ball towers by the gate? or the porch is festooned by the honey suckle? She must be a stout girl of two and twenty-ah me! it won't do to run in and blindfold her with my hand, and-and-yes, kiss her till she guessed the rogue. I wonder if she'd mistake as often, struggle so gently, be as angry yet forgive so very easily. How I long to know if the good squire yet smokes his pipe, talks about pints and plaintives, or reads the 'last week's newspaper?' The parson too, the everlasting guest, with the same