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form, is of the highest importance to my pupils, and the careful and varied modes which I adopt in furtherance of this end, I do not yet feel assured that I can guard effectually against all the subterfuges of the deceitful. Suffer no false excuses to go without rebuke-nor let the common form of vindication after a failure, "I did it as well as I could," or, "I learned it as well as I could," pass without holding it up in its true character, as a positive falsehood. It is not strange that truth is so rare a virtue, since it requires to be so watchfully guarded, and receives so little care. It often seems quite a new idea, when first I endeavor to inculcate it, that there are acted as well as spoken lies; that one may be guilty of a lie by a wink, or a nod, even; and that there is more meanness in the acted than in the spoken lie, because less liability to detection. There seems to be a fascination to some young people in doing forbidden things, just because they are forbidden-for the pleasure of successfully escaping detection. It is well, therefore, to declare occasionally, "Do not imagine that I suppose I can know all the wrong things you do; I am fully aware that this is quite impossible." This has the effect, that the stopping short, or turning aside of the pursuer, has on the energies of the pursued.

Sometimes I have been in the habit of having a printed Bible motto for the week, put upon the

wall of the school-room. After a while, this practice fell into disuse; and I revived it again, in consequence of being told by an old pupil of mine, that she thought that custom, in my school, had had more to do with the formation of her religious character, than anything else. Sermons, she said, were apt to be vague; but by this means, her attention was called to the cultivation of particular virtues and graces. I never shall forget how I was affected by a lovely niece of mine saying to me, "Aunt Lizzie, do give us a hard motto next week, for the last was not hard at all." It was the golden rule, and it was true, it was not hard for her; but she was perfectly unconscious that she was saying anything remarkable. It is well to remind the young, frequently, of their accountability to God, it is well to enforce upon them the belief that the faithful performance of the duties of the week, is a more acceptable offering to Him, than the imperfect worship of the Sabbath, so desirable on our own account. It is well that the school should be opened by reading of the Bible, and by prayer— not as a form, but in furtherance of the highest end of education. It is lamentable that so little is often known of the Bible, even by the children of Christian parents, and that it is read and studied, often, with so little interest. Say to your pupils occasionally, something of this sort: "I do not read to you this book every day, as a mere observance, but

because it is one from whose treasures you should begin early to draw, and which the study of a lifetime will not exhaust. The old Testament is worthy the attention of all scholars, as an ancient book, containing the history of an ancient and very remarkable people—the most beautiful poetry ever written, and the sublime utterings of inspired men, whose souls were touched with a coal from the altar of the Lord."

The new Testament is the guide, the handbook of travellers on life's journey heavenwards, who, without it, will generally mistake their way. It contains the gospels, the "good news," of peace on earth to be wrought out, amid perpetually recurring strife, by the religion of our blessed Saviour, and good-will from Heaven to man, in spite of his sinfulness, waywardness, and disobedience. It also contains, most important of all, a record of the life of Jesus, who came upon the earth to save us from our sins, to reveal God as a Father, and to exhibit in himself, a model for our imitation, which we should study most carefully, and keep ever before us. It has, besides the writings of some of his immediate followers.

You may think that all this is too obvious, too well known to need suggestion; but you must remember that though habit is necessary in every important pursuit and duty, to induce facility and regular observance; yet that very facility

may sometimes be detrimental to true earnestness, and thorough conscientiousness of action and purpose. When Silvio Pellico was first imprisoned, he was allowed to have for his use, a copy of Dante; and tried to divert his thoughts from his intolerable condition, by committing it to memory. Very soon, however, the process became so easy that he could learn long passages by heart, without any interruption to the sad train of his melancholy thoughts. I think that one reason why the Bible is so much less to its readers than it ought to be; why it remains, to a considerable degree, a sealed book though so often opened is, that having it placed in our hands when we are children, incapable of comprehending it, we acquire the habit of reading it mechanically.

Take particular pains, therefore, to have the reading of it with your pupils, a living process. Keep them attentive and awake, by comments and by questions; and explain, carefully, everything that, possibly or probably, they may not fully understand. In regard to the prayer, make them comprehend, if you can, their relation to God, by that which they hold to their earthly father, so that they may see by the unfitness of making hollow professions, and insincere acknowledgments, or unmeaning requests to the latter, the dreadful mockery of a heartless form of petition, and profession to the great Father of all.

CHAPTER X.

MARRIAGE.

MANY are disposed to laugh at the fact that young ladies think and talk so much upon the topic of marriage, and to contemn those who present the subject to them. Whether this ridicule and this condemnation be just, depends altogether upon the spirit in which these discussions are carried on by the juniors, and the motive which leads to them, on the part of their elders.

Marriage and maternity being the God-appointed destiny of women, their education would certainly be very imperfect, if they were not trained with direct reference to it; and this could not be, unless when the proper time arrived, their attention were distinctly turned to it, in a way to enforce the preparation it requires. Be assured that when this is done, wisely and rationally, the best possible safeguard is provided against the low and frivolous views of this institution, which the thoughtless and the ignorant are apt to take. The absurdity of the opposite course is not greater than would be that of carefully excluding a student at law from all mention

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