their roof; but it is not always yielded as readily and as uniformly as it ought to be. Regularity is at all times desirable; and as people advance in life, it becomes of more importance that they should take their meals and retire to rest with punctuality. But it sometimes happens that young people, through thoughtlessness or indolence, do not make their appearance at the breakfast-table in time to relieve the mother of the fatigue of presiding, and to cheer both parents by their affectionate salutations. The dinner, perhaps, is kept waiting, because they have not been punctual in returning from a walk, or are detained by some frivolous morning visitor; and the supper is delayed, or the evening hour of worship infringed upon or interrupted, by their unseasonable detention at some evening party; or companions have been introduced uninvited, whose presence was an intrusion on the rest and quietness which the parents wished to enjoy. In all these, and many other particulars, seemingly trivial, but on which much of the comfort of elderly persons depends, the young ought to accustom themselves to cheerful compliance and conformity.

Young females, as they grow up, should relieve a mother of her household cares, not thrust her out of the office she has long filled, or by impertinence and self-conceit give cause to feel that her superintendence is regarded as an intrusion, but with delicate respect receive her directions, and esteem it a privilege to lighten her fatigue, still appealing to her knowledge and experience for direction, and exercising authority only as delegated by her. A mother at no period of life.

should be suffered to feel herself a person in the way, or that matters would go on quite as well or better without her. She can never lose her importance in the family circle, except by the imbecility of second childhood; and even then she should be soothed and gratified by being consulted as far as possible; and the respect to which her former services have entitled her should be perpetuated when she is no longer capable of rendering these services. But while a mother retains her faculties, her grown-up daughters ought, as much as may be agreeable to her feelings, to spare her from bodily fatigue and exposure, and at the same time to prepare themselves by initiatory practice for the direction of a household; yet still deferring to a mother's wishes, and seeking instruction from a mother's experience.

A word of caution may not be unnecessary to young persons who have been favoured with a better education (in the common sense of the word) than that which fell to the lot of their parents. Perhaps the parents, conscious of and lamenting their own deficiencies in this respect, have generously exerted themselves to the uttermost, perhaps endured many privations, to confer on their children that of which they have appreciated the value by feeling its want; and shall such kindness be requited by upbraidings, or scorn, or ridicule for their ignorance, or by insolent displays of fancied superiority, in their children? A very moderate portion of good sense, delicacy, and gratitude, will suggest quite a different course. Any display of acquirements that would place a parent in a situation of painful inferiority will be carefully suppressed; and

to promote a parent's gratification, or to conduce to a parent's interest, will be regarded as one of the most legitimate and delightful uses to which knowledge can be applied.

It may be proper here to remind young females

under these circumstances, of the importance of frugality in their personal expenses. Parents, perhaps, in early life have toiled for the comfort of their infant offspring, and straitened themselves to afford their children a good education. Their period of activity is now perhaps on the wane; their resources are limited, and their prospects uncertain; possibly their minds are not strangers to anxious forebodings lest their supplies should fail them in the time of old age. Yet they are indulgent and liberal, and wish not to restrain their children in any innocent gratification that they can command; such generosity should be met by delicate consideration and frugal care on the part of the young. They should not gratify every expensive whim, or eagerly follow every costly fashion, merely because a too indulgent parent does not absolutely forbid or refuse; but they should accustom themselves in all things to practise moderation, and to consider whether the indulgence they desire may not entail self-denial or anxiety on their parents; and if so, whether it is not their duty to do without it; and, indeed, whether they shall not derive greater pleasure from foregoing than from gratifying the expensive wish. It may be that young persons who have received a somewhat superior education, may be required to assist their parents in business: to this they ought with cheerfulness and humility to con

form, glad of an opportunity of making themselves useful, and by no means considering it any degradation or disparagement to their attainments to assist in prosecuting that business, from which has arisen the means of conferring on them the advantages of education. It can be no disgrace to a well-educated young woman to be seen behind her father's counter, or assisting in any female department of his business; nor will it disparage her in the esteem of any sensible and judicious man, who might be turning his attention to her as a partner for life. Her duties may be carried a step further; they may extend even to her personal exertions for the support of her parents, when they are past labour; nor ought she to consider it a hardship to be called upon thus to requite the obligations of her infant years; nor ought she to form any engagement that would deprive her of the ability to discharge this sacred duty. It may involve great self-denial, but it will assuredly meet an ample reward; and she who is enabled cheerfully and affectionately to render this honour to her parents as unto the Lord, may confidently rely on the fulfilment of the promise. She will, in one way or other, live long in, and enjoy much of the land which the Lord her God has given to her.

But we return to the more ordinary circumstances of young females, resident under the parental roof, after having finished the term of their education; and observe, that their conduct should be marked by a soothing forbearance and tenderness towards the infirmities of their parents. Deafness, lameness, dim-sightedness, and other

infirmities of age, circumscribe their pleasures, and perhaps a degree of fretfulness is sometimes observed. But a dutiful child will be fertile in expedients to extend their pleasures, to alleviate their privations, and to bear with and soothe their infirmities. The prompt eye will discern their needs, and anticipate their wishes. The needle will be threaded before the eye aches with endeavouring, and before the sigh is excited by inability to accomplish it; or, by gentle and playful persuasion, the needle-work will be exchanged for knitting or netting. The leg-rest, or the footstool, will be presented or exchanged before complaint of uneasiness is uttered. The large printed Bible and the spectacles will be placed at hand; the dim columns of the newspaper will be read aloud; the inquiring eye will be answered by a repetition of the conversation, or of the sacred address, which, uttered by a stranger's voice, had passed over the dull ear and in the most exalted sense the benevolent pleasure will be enjoyed of being eyes to the blind, feet to the lame, ears to the deaf, and causing the trembling heart to sing for joy.

It may be added, that young persons in the circumstances supposed, should be intent on deriving instruction from the wisdom and experience of their parents: treasuring up their sayings, observing their practices, and thus gathering up a treasure of wisdom for future guidance. It is very possible, that in some respects you may now differ from them, and be ready to charge them with prejudice and narrow-mindedness; but a few years may convince you of the correctness of their sentiments and observations. Endeavour