which a mother enjoys with her infant, I should by no means limit it to the first three months. The whole season while it is deriving nutriment from her, is one of peculiar, inexpressible felicity. She has it in her power so immediately to hush its moanings, to sooth its sorrows, to alleviate its sicknesses, that she is to it as a tutelary spirit.

Dear friends, be not anxious to abridge this halcyon period. Do not willingly deprive yourselves of any portion of the highest pleasure of which woman's nature is capable. Devote yourselves to the work. Have nothing to do with the fashionable evening party, the crowded hall, the changes of dress that put health in jeopardy. Be temperate in all things. Receive no substance into the stomach that disorders it; no stimulant that affects the head; indulge no agitating passions. They change the aliment of your child. They introduce poison into its veins, or kindle fever in its blood. Experienced medical men will assure you, that its constitution through life is modified by the nursing of the first year. One of the most illustrious living physicians in Paris, while testing the pathology of disease in the thronged wards of the hospitals in that metropolis, always questions the new patient, "were you nursed at the breast of your mother? and how long?"

I would say to every mother, study the constitution of your babe. If it have any morbid ten

dencies, either heritable or accidental, bear steadily upon them with the regimen best adapted to their cure. Let it be your aim to use as little medicine as possible, and not causelessly to trouble a physician, for those trifling ills which your own patience or firmness might obviate. Suffer me to repeat it, guard your own health, and serenity of spirit, for the child is still a part of yourself, as the blossom of the plant, from whose root it gathers sustenance. Breathe over it, the atmosphere of happy and benevolent affections. Surely, you cannot fail to thank your Heavenly Father for this "unspeakable gift," and as you lull it to that sleep which knows no dream of sorrow, lift up the prayer, this soul, so lately divided from mine, live before thee, Oh God!"

"let

As this fragment of yourself advances toward the properties of a sentient being, you will naturally vary your mode of treatment. The expanding muscles require more exercise. The perceptions shoot forth, like timid tendrils under the vine-leaf. It loves to inhale the fresh air, to be carried out beneath the shade of green trees in summer. It regards the brilliant petals of flowers, and the perfume of the rose. It listens to the shrill note of the bird, and looks with wonder upon the leaping, tuneful brook. It is fitting that it should find a place among the beauties and melodies of nature, itself more beautiful than they. If your situation

allows you thus to give it exercise, in fine weather avail yourself of the privilege. If not, furnish it the best mode of recreation in the open air which is in your power. But avoid all undue excitement. Its nerves are still as a harp imperfectly strung, and liable to dissonance.

During this first sacred year, trust not your treasure too much to the charge of hirelings. Have it under your superintendence, both night and day. When necessarily engaged in other employments, let it hear your cheering, protecting tone. Keep it ever within the sensible atmosphere of maternal tenderness. Its little heart will soon reach out the slender radicles of love and trust. Nourish them with smiles and caresses, the "small dew upon the tender grass." When it learns to distinguish you, by stretching its arms for your embrace; when on its little tottering feet it essays to run towards you; above all, when the first effort of its untaught tongue is to form your name, mother, there is neither speech nor language by which to express your joy! No, no, the poverty of words will never be so unwise as to attempt it.

Do you ask, when shall we begin to teach our children religion? As soon as you see them. As soon as they are laid upon your breast. As soon as you feel the pure breath issuing from that wondrous tissue of air-vessels which God has wreathed around the heart.

The religion of a new-born babe, is the prayer of its mother. Keep this sacred flame burning for it, in the shrine of the soul, until it is able to light its own feeble lamp, and fill its new censer with praise.

As the infant advances in strength, its religion should be love. Teach it love, by your own accents, your countenance, your whole deportment. Labour to fashion its habits and temper after this hallowed model. Let the first lessons of earth, breathe the spirit of heaven.

When the high gifts of speech and thought are given it, point it to Him who caused the sun to shine, and the plant to grow, and the chirping bird to be joyful in its nest. Teach it that it is loved of this Great Being, that it may love him in return. Mingle the majesty of His goodness with the elements of its thought. You will be surprised to see how soon the lisping lip may learn communion with the Father of Mercies.

"Teach me to pray, instruct me in religion!" said a young prince to his tutor. "You are not yet old enough." "Ah, yes! I have been in the burying ground. I have measured the graves. There are some there which are shorter than I.”

Mother, if there is, in your church-yard, one grave shorter than your child, hasten to instruct him in religion.

LETTER IV.

FIRST LESSONS.

WATCH for the time when your little one first exhibits decided preferences, and aversions. The next letter in the alphabet, is obedience. It is its first step towards religion. The fear of God must be taught by the parent, standing for a time in the place of God.

Establish your will, as the law. Do it early, for docility is impaired by delay. It is the truest love, to save the little stranger in this labyrinth of life, all those conflicts of feeling, which must continue as long as it remains doubtful who is to be its guide. As the root and germ of piety, as a preparation for submission to the Eternal Father, as the subduing process, which is to lead it in calmness through the storms and surges of time, teach obedience.

It is a simple precept in philosophy, that obedience should be the most entire and unconditional, where reason is the weakest. Its requisitions should be enforced, in proportion to the want of intelligence in the subject. The parent is emphatically