A Mother's Duty

Wluit ;i aacred dnty is placed within tlie hands of a mother to perform; how slie must watch over the fovm of her sleeiing babe or romping, frolicking child to keep il from harm. I -w mach care and thought she must. bestowoa Miem in all their trials and teinptationg; for we know there are manj snares 011 evcry hand to lure the yonng; many that eutanpjlo older and wiser ones, So, mothers, watch carefully over your ohild, unceasingly, uncomplainingly, for mach dependa upon yourwatchful care and good training. Theywilbe either like the serawny, good-for-nothing plant, nncultivatoil, or like the plant carefully tended and nursed by kind and loving hands. Says Dr. Tal-, mago: "Mothers, you ure hoisting a throne or forging a chain; you are kindling a star or digging a dungeon; that little hand on your face muy yet bc liftcd to luirl thnudrrbolts of war or drop benedictions." Mothers, you are the very gidding star of your offapring; you can lead tliem in pleasanf vaüeya or ia a barren desert ; yon can help to build up for them a life of happiríess, ora life of sorrowand woo. You wül be of inrtnence to them one wñy, and which shall it be? But lo not wait till that inflaence is beyond control before you attempt to nse it. There sliould be thorongb confidence between mother and child a mother i the best eonfidential friend one can have. Many children becomi involved in a great deal of troiible through not letting "mother" mta their secreta. Jf mothere wouhl converse more tnvly with their children on topics of interest and trv to intluence them to higher and nobler aims in life there would be lesa of these frivolous, thrown-away lives that we daily come in contact with. We sbould trv to exert as great an influence for good over our children as we possibly can. Then, when years bave come andgone, and recollectiona of past scènes seem dear, the thoughta will linger round the! childhood's home with sweet mem-' ories of I. ys, and the blessed; precepts tHught by a dear mother will' nevpr be forgotti y 1). Thomas,' in llurul New Yorker. ■ - "I wouldn't be a fooi if I wi you," said Jones to a friend. "Ifyoa; were me you wouldn't be a t'ool," was; tlie reply.