MOOHE'S RURAL HEW-YOHESH. 



mm 11. 



r doll.- 



i?liP 



WHO LOVETH BEST? 



il jillgrlmftRt' t'flow 



Plain Talks to American Women.--No.12 



We have alluded in Ihe foregoing number, i 

 method of instruction adopted to infamy. It baa 

 come to bo a well-settled opinion that children' 

 minds should not be precociously developed ; that 

 until the constitution is well established, it is physi. 

 cally injurious to urge them rapidly forward. And 

 where sufficient opportunity for mental cult 

 enjoyed later iu life, a few years delay in early 

 childhood in undertaking the study of books, 

 found to be no obstacle to ultimate success, 

 deed, it is even ad\ ruilugcous, for the vital energies 

 become so strengthened, that the brain may after- 

 wards work more steadily and intensely, and 

 the mind make more rapid advancement. 



It ia very pleasant to mothers to know thai 

 children are "smart," and gratifying to their 

 pride (o have their infant minds crammed with 

 knowledge, but when this is gained, as it most 

 likely will be if the result of implication to letters, 

 at the expense of physical deterioration, and of fu- 

 ture imbecility, it should be a source rather of sor- 

 row than of pleasure. 



Rather send the child of three or four yems out 

 into the sunshine, to studi Hie brooks, Hie pebbles, 

 the flowers, the trees, and tbe birds,— to chase the 

 butterflies over the walks, and pluy at hide-nnd- 

 sc 1: amiinj; tho shrubbery of the lawn, than keep 

 him in the house upon a cbair at your side to learn 

 the strange diameters of the alphabet, ond com- 

 bine them into those unmeaning syllables, so often 

 the first succeeding lessons, called o-b-abs. He 

 will learn mure from the book of Nature, — learn 

 it with greater delight, and with less injury In his 



ter course is unnatural, Childhood loves to be 

 free. The fresh breezes and playful exercise, which, 

 if unrestrained, it Mill be sure to enjoy, paint the 

 roses of health upon tbe cheeks, and pour int 

 soul a full stream of gladness. 



The 



ttbat 



mply i 



the acquirement of knowledge, so extensively pre- 

 vails, that many poor babes of three or four years 

 are sent to spend several hours of the delightful 

 days of summer, ond even the short, cold days of 

 winter, in some uninviting place dignified by the 

 name of school room, and the excrntiali:ig tortures 

 which they there often undergo, are known only to 

 the experienced. How the bones ache, with sitting 

 upon the hard benches! How the tongue uches to 

 speak, and tho limbs for a run upon the green 

 turf, or upon tbe snow banks ! How tho eyes ache 

 witbguziui: at tbe blinding letters' How dues the 

 h*art often ocbe for the love of home, all unaccus- 

 tomed as it is to the coldness, the repulsivencss, 

 the uukindiicss, which it sometimes meets with 

 from one who has assumed the place of teacher. 

 What compare can the advantage gained by tbe 

 memorizing of a few letters, or even a thus early 

 power to read monotonously simple sentences, 

 when acquired under such circumstances, bear to 

 that derived from the boisterous, happy freedom of 

 a natural childhood ? 



Oh, mothers, if you love jour babes, don't send 

 them to the schonl-room as soon ns they can walk, 

 to have their brows marked with lines of care, their 

 dispositions soured and rendered melancholy, their 

 cheeks paled by confinement, and their minds con- 

 taminated by evil associations! Keep th 

 you till they are six or seven years old at least.— 

 Gratify their curiosity, and feed their minds 

 suggested in the last number, but make not su 

 instruction a task 1 If you have leisure — and if a 

 mother should have leisure for anything, should it 

 not be for the training of her child r 

 daily companion in little pleasure e: 

 with them into the field, and show them how hay 

 is made, how wheat is harvested, how the corn and 

 the potatoes grow ; go with them into the forest, 

 and point out the various species of birds, and their 

 methods of nest- buil ding; the different 

 trees and their peculiarities; gather 

 wild flowers for the pitcher on the mantel, ami tbe 

 vise on the parlor table ; go with tbem to the lake 

 shore, and the river' I side, end study fishes, and 

 shell., and pebble* ; tell tbem stories as you go, 



names, and let her play teach them to 1 

 When you are sure she knows them all, place tbem 

 together, and tell her what they spell. Perhaps 

 the word is "Mo." That would be a very inter- 

 esting word for an affectionate* child to commence 

 with. How her eve- «iii brighten when you tell 

 her that the letters she has been playing teach with 

 dolly, spell " Jft ."' Talk with her then about lov- 

 ing Ha, and trying to please her; let her name the 

 letters a few times iu the order in which they occur 

 in this word, then place tbern together In her play- 

 house again for a large picture, and will she ever 

 forget ihem T 



Various similar expedients can the ingenious 

 mother adopt to teach the alphabet, and the read- 

 ing and spelling of simple, common words, and no 

 others should be taught for some time. When a 

 little skill in the new art la acquired, card, with 

 short words combined into scutences expressing 

 some moral sentiment, Bible precept, or pleasant 

 truth, may be hung up in the nursery, and tbe in- 

 genuity of tbe child exercised in Ascertaining what 

 it is; but he should not be allowed to become in 

 the least discouraged. Help him just at the point 

 where help is needed, but not before. A triumph 

 in such an undertaking will be a stimulus to suc- 

 ceeding endeavors. 



In teaching children to read, be sure that they 

 acquire from the commencement, the habit of read- 

 ing naturally; that they adopt, and continue, so 

 for as possible, the convcrsotionol style. Insist, 

 from .the first, upon correct pronunciation; give 

 them nothing to read which they are incapable of 

 understanding, and be cerium thai tbey do under- 

 -i in, I ,t, before anew lesson is given. It would bo 

 well that the import of every lesson should bo 

 fully comprehended from the explanations of tea- 

 cher, before being read. Afterwards there should 

 be close questioning, nnd tbe child allowed and 

 encouraged to repeat it3 substance in his own lan- 

 guage. This will cult i vule u facility for tbe expres- 

 sion of ideas, and if sufficient care is taken, greatly 

 increase the pupil's knowledge of tbe construction 

 and use of language. 



When you have taught your child to read, you 

 huve placed in its hands a most efficient means of 

 mental and moral culture. You have, as it were, 

 given him a lever with which to pry into the mys- 



Icncs r.ij' N.iiure, and draw IV her secret store- 



I ,■ ■ :■ h uiul rure gems. Hut you have afforded 



it a means, which, if perverted, may become in- 

 strumental in its destruction. Let a taste for rend- 

 ing be cultivated, but by all means, let it bo a taste 

 for pure and noble reading! The mother should 

 inowwhatis the mental aliment which is offered 

 to her young children. Nothing of an immoru 

 tendency should betoleraled for an instant. Til 

 stream of pollution once having opened a crevossi 

 into the mind of childhood, spreads with a rapid 

 wild and (Viirl'iilemirse, destroying the fair garden: 

 of truth, and the pleasant fields of wisdom, as oulj 

 error can destroy. 



And what is given the child to read, should bi 

 simple — not puerile and trifling, but noble trutl 

 simply expressed, and in an entertaining manner 

 by placnif 



WHY I LOVE HER. 

 Foa her dark bright cyei of bro« 



MEMORIES OF A SABBATH. 



It was the Sabbath day; not the calm, quiet 

 Sabbath of Slay or June, but a stormy, blustering 

 one iu November. The rain had descended in tor- 

 rents since morning, and the winds whistled 

 through the bare brunches of the trees that sur- 

 rounded a little chinch in a quiet country village. 



Hut though the slortn-king raged in all his fury, 

 even the aisles and galleries of that house of Gon 



wded, l 









dutiful s 

 Will not yo« 



Will tbey „ 



, lore 





children hue you for such 

 loam to prefer your soeiely lo any- 

 home whose guardian angel 



bestows such bt< 



And when von some i„ „;,-„ _ not 

 ..... * , ouu > ,J 6"e y,..ii! little ones an 

 introduction to tin- niYslon*. „r ..i u i .. 



. 'jsicnes of book-1. jirning, 



let the instruction still be gi Tcn iri ,,„.,, , m-B J r 



that there shall bi round I .othlnii renuhtiv. 



brehtod awakened eo intcreet a desire 

 Tor tho attainment, bj ■ reprenaentetioo of the 

 increased happiness which it will bring, ,ei« ^o,, 

 the most propitious moment to oonunenet the work 

 Attempt but little at a lime. Git e y our ij tl j c 

 daughter, for insUnce, a few letter blocks or cards 

 w.ttiwhicli lo adorn ber play-house. Letbcrhong 

 Uiem up for picture*. Select such letters us will 

 form a familiar word. Acquaint her with their 



digest, dry treatises, winch being incomprt 

 ble, are therefore uninteresting. Children love 

 stories, and are easily influenced by them — it 

 natural. The impressions conveyed lo their mini 

 by a representation of scenes which might ha' 

 occurred, or which have occurred in actual life, uj 

 in general more vivid tbau the mere relation of 

 obstruct truth. Tell a child that "Honesty 

 best policy," that falsehood brings disgraci 

 how indistinct will be the impression, compared 

 with that winch will be received by tracing c 

 effects of these causes in a well-written story. The 

 lutter will ba /tit; it will be engraven upon the 

 mind us pictures are engraven upon eoppa -phiic. 

 id remain there ready to be transferred at plea- 

 re to somo blank page in tbe intellect of another. 

 e would not encourage an exclusive attention to 

 is kind of reading, but it may be permitted us 

 ice to more solid food. 



Blessings upon Peter Pari.kt who lias written 

 much and so beautifully for children ! No esti- 

 ate can be made of the influence of " Goodrich's 

 brain" upon the youth of our country. May his 

 when dropped from his shoulders, fall 

 gracefully upon those of some apostle of Nature, 

 ,nd lover of children, who shall open for them 

 another casket of diamonds, equally brilliant, and 

 equally valuable! 



One of the best little libraries for children wilh 

 which we are acquainted, is the series of "Rollo 

 Books." Finely illustrating many of the princi- 

 ples of Natural Philosophy, there is conveyed bo- 

 lides a fund of other knowledge, in a manner so 

 igreeoble as almost surely to secure attention, and 

 become stamped upon the mind. Parents, buy 

 such books for your rising families. If you give 

 them not in your own homes that which will inter- 

 est their mentality, they will be impatient to seek 

 it elsewhere. Give them access to newspapers, 

 magazines and new books. Retrench as you may 

 your expenses iu other directions, keep up, if pos- 

 sible, a full supply of entertaining literature. If 

 you are unable to purchase, encourage the free 

 use of public libraries. 



What a vast difference there is between a ren 

 ing family, and one in which is cultivated no tie 

 for such employment! What a difference in int 

 refinement nud domestic happines 



and fairest daughters of our village 



were to receive the holy ordinance of baptism. 



The gray-haired minister had descended, the 

 group of young men and maidens bad gathered 

 round the altar ; the baptismal vows had solemnly 

 been spoken, and tho angels had swiftly borne 

 them to the car of Him, to whom those youthful 

 ones bad consecrated their lives. 



All hearts were uplifted in silent prayer that they 

 might always be led by the Good Shepherd '• into 

 gTeen valleys and beside still waters;" and that 

 when they walked through the "volley of the 

 shadow of death," tbey might "fear no evil," but 

 have tbe rod and si nil of I lie Almighty to lean upon. 

 All was silence, when suddenly tho door opened, 



Advancing to the altar, he whispered a few words 

 to our pastor, and then withdrew. The people 

 gazed wonderingly on Ihe man of Goo, until he 

 arose, and with tear-filled eyes said, " My children, 

 your former pastor, How Aim PuEi.rs.is dead. The 

 Loud Rare, and the Limn lutth taken away; blessed 

 be the name of the Lord." 



Old men aud women, young men and moidens, 

 and even gentle childhood, bowed their heads be- 

 neath this great grief; and a low wail from all 

 hearts ascended as tbey 

 gave, ond the Lono hath t 

 be the narne of the Lord w 

 their faith to utter, at this 

 reavement. Sub ,iI'i.,t sob 



ned hi< 



who but a few i 



The Lord 



away," but !,/,., ,,;i 



a great a trial for 



cnt of sudden be- 



uly they 



nee hod 



left I 



apparently a 



to minister to a congregal 



In the prime of manhood, 

 prospects of long life as any 

 for tbe last time. And now he was numbered with 

 the dead! Oh, it wo3 too much for our bleeding 

 hearts to say, "Thy will be done," for he 

 to manhood among us ; hud addressed li 

 course to the some congregation now assembled 

 rejoiced with us iu prosperity, ond in adversity hud 

 led us to tbe Say: 

 nut realize he had passed li 



■I ;r«« u 



THE PLUCKED LLLi. 



tho pearly marble: 



"ELLA!" 

 " Our Lovely Lily.' 

 Yes, how lovely. Sweetest and mc 

 of (lowers was tbe lily which bloomed 

 den of our hearts. Wo watched it \ 

 bud, leaning on its mother stalk. Ah 

 it shed a genial warmth oa all around, 

 as it unfolded its petals, innocently t. 

 Watched it ns nature moulded nnd perfected. — 

 Beautiful! Beautiful! oft rose to our lips while 



i personal 





still new charms were unfolded U 



Beautiful indeed, she was— not alon 



charms; she possessed deeper, purer 



these— heart, soul, spirit, bouyant 



love aud beauty. She was an angel among 



star to guide us on our dreary way. For fourteen 



summers did she bless our hearts, imparting 



fragrance "all her own." For fourteen summe 



did wo see her loving form, as in innocence ai 



glee she bounded to our arms, presenting son 



choice plucked flower— pure emblem of herself. 



But ah, sho was too pure to breathe this taint. 



atmosphere. Her spirit longed for more congeni 



climes. Aye, metbiuks, even now I bear th 



sweet, eloquent voice, as, wilh soul-filled joy, she 



asked to go " home to Jesus." 



one like her should depart, wh< 



gan to fade, and cast their petoh 



It were mete that tho autumnal 



the wailing, of our hearts, in long i 



requiems for the dead. It were met 



ture be arrayed in sombre robes, fur 



our lily. Her gentle spirit passed in 



lovely [lowers. But her pure spirit is at res 



mourn not " ns those without hope," for the 



" weep not, I'm going home," are ever with 



in the hour when with Heaven beaming in her 



i the flowc: 



o the ground. — 



inds echoed 



id mournful 





she i 



-red 



I Oft 1 



wander to this sacred spot, ' 



the cud,/, we feel the bngh 



Jesus' brow the gem sparkles the " brighi 



bright," aud back to us, in echoing ausw 



that glorious laud, there comes a voice 



plunked your lily." Tears dim our eyes, yet 





/,riii 





Casting the eye of faith towards 



transplanted in the garden of Paradise, and bloom. 



ing with heavenly beauty, Our Lovelt Lilt. 



THE VALUE OF A BIT OF KNOWLEDGE. 



Ini: 





(in-, i 



i earth, nod forever. 



In tin cliuri'hover which 



And what f 

 the m.-mbe 

 spending t 



■ ■ the full,, 



,,11,, 



.' tl,c float ing gossip of the 

 mother, with 1„m knitting 

 the cues of Ihcduv, ,m,| 



joins in the relation '■■( th,- 

 s So .n,,l Sm says Mrs. \„. 



around the 

 talleelnal employment, win 



" ioying a 



l.i.'l,ts 



faces with joy. 



past, Iit the reudingaloui 

 Family, PrbJcu is frequently and pleasantly di 

 tied with questions, explanations nnd rem 

 low swiftly the hours fly awav! All too 

 >meathe signal for retiring. Each gather 

 lie kind adds a new link to the bond of I 

 Dion, and when those youth who have thus 

 •.ted beneath tbe ••roof-tree" of home, go 

 i the world, will it not be to build up the vt 

 their lota may be cast, to n 

 ie sunbeams of intelligence and domestic 

 'to the bosoms af other families, and give i 

 npetu, K» tb e onward-movin. car of Scienci 



Again, another sec 



presided at (he time of his death, was o much 

 lurger assembly than we first saw, for the two con- 

 gregations were together mingling their tears over 

 his coffin. The hymn, the prayer, made our hearts 

 bleed afresh, for we could only think of tbe depart- 



1 as dead ; but when the words were announced, 

 To Him that overcometh will I grant to sit with 

 icon my throne," then we received consolation, 

 ir we knew he had overcome, and we could look 



up wilh spirit-eyes and behold him with the Dlessed 

 spoke this precious promise, 

 they laid him to rest, quietly and peace- 

 fully, while we shut down the wailingof our hearts, 

 miring, "Itiswell." Wildly thewindsbrieks 

 his grove to-night, but his spirit is enjoying 



I of h 



Veroi 



Whai 





Good Pkriodical Mat Do.— Show us 

 an intelligent f.miily of boys and girls, and we 

 shall show you o family where newspapers and 

 periodicals are plentiful. Nobody who has been 

 with, ml these silent ]>m ate tutors, can know Ibeir 

 educating power for good or evil. Haveyou never 

 thought of the iunumbcroble topics of discussion 

 which they suggest at the breakfast table, tbe im- 

 portant public measures with which, thus early, 

 our children become familiarly acquainted; great 

 philanthropic questions of the day, to which un- 



their attention is awakened, and tbg 

 general spirit or intelligence which is evoked by 

 these quiet visitors? Anything that mokes home 



pl >'.' heerful and cbntly, thins the haunts of 



vice, and the thousand and one avenues of tempta- 

 tion should certainly be regarded, when we con- 

 sider its influence on the minds of the young, as a 

 great moral and social blessing.— A"m«vo». 



came across the following good story, whi 



tratcs the value of a bit of practical information, 



when applied at the right time: 



In the Plaza before St. Peter's, at Rome, slam 

 tbe most beautiful obelisk in the world. It wi 

 brought from the circus of Nero, where it had loi 

 buried for many ages. It was one entire piece of 

 Egyptian marble, 72 feet high, 12 fcetsq 

 the base, and 8 feet square at tbe top, aud 

 puted to weigh about 470 tons, ond it is supposed 

 to be 3,000 years old. Much engineering skill was 

 required to remove and erect this piece of art; 

 and the celebrated architect, Pominico Fontaue, 

 was selected and engaged by Pope SixtusV., to 

 carry out the operation. A pedestal, 30 feet high, 

 was built for its reception, ond the obelisk brought 

 to its base, Many were the ingenious contrivan- 

 ces prepared for tbe raising of it to its last resting 

 place, all of which excited the deepest interest 

 among the people. 



At length everything was in readiness, and a 

 day was appointed for the great event. A great 

 multitude assembled to witness tbe ceremony, and 

 tho Pope, afraid that the clamour of the people 

 might distract tbe attention of Ihe architect, issued 

 in edict containing regulations to be kept, and 

 imposing tbe severest penalties on any one who 

 should, during the lifting of tbe gigantic stnne, 

 a single word. Amidst suppressed excitc- 

 of feelings and breathless silence, tho splen- 

 did monument was gradually raised to within a 

 few inches of the top of the pedestal, when its 



could not be ga! further; the tackle was too slack, 

 and there seemed to be no other way than to undo 

 the great work already accomplished. The un- 

 noyed architect, in his perplexity, hardly knew 

 how to net; while the silent people were anxiously 

 watching every motion of his features to discover 

 bow the problem could be solved. 



In the crowd was an old British sailor; he saw 

 the difficulty and how to overcome it, and wilh 

 stentorian lungs he shouted, " Wet the ropes I"— 

 Tho vigilant police pounced on the culprit and 

 lodged him in prison; tho architect caught the 

 magic words, be put the proposition in force, 

 and tho cheers of the people procloimed tbe suc- 

 cess of the great undertaking. Next day the 

 British criminal was solemnly arraigned before 

 his Holiness; his crime was undeniably proved, 

 and the Pope in solemn language pronounced bit 

 that he should receive a pension 

 annually during his lifetime. 

 These little facts stored op from observation, 

 in never do (lie owner any harm, nnd may some 

 day bo of great utility ; and this Story only proves 

 ' remembering small things as well as 

 for there is nothing that is too insigni- 

 ficant for man to know, and there is no knowledge 



NATURE AND FAITH. 



Ihe ctinnKo with aidneat ; 

 [ilntei It with gladncM; 

 ir« ;/.n' (A gives meekness 



THE FOREST FUNERAL. 



She was a fair child, with masses of long black 

 hair lying over her pillow, ller eye was dark and 

 piercing, and as it met mine, she started slightly, 

 but smiled and looked upward. I spoke a few 

 words to her father, and turning to her, asked ber 

 if she knew her condition. 



"I know that n 

 a voice whose mcl 

 You may imagine that tbe answer startled me, and 

 with a very few words of tbe like import, I turned 

 from her. A half hour passed, and she spoke in 

 the same deep, rich, melodious voice— 



" F.ither, I am cold— lie down beside me;" and 

 (be old man lay down by his dying child, and she 

 twined her arms around his neck, and murmured 

 in a dreamy voice, " Dear father, dear father!" 



" My child," said the man, " doth the flood seem 



" Nay, father, for my soul is strong." 



j green with 

 .mortal verdure." 

 " Hearcst tli-m the voice.- of its inhabitants?" 



" I heai 



; the ' 





falling from afariu the still and solemn night-time; 

 and they call mc — her voice, too, father, oh, I 

 heard it then." 



" Doth she speak to thee ?" 



" She speaketh in tones most heavenly." 



" Doth she smile?" 



" An angel smile ! But a co'd, calm smile. But 

 I am cold, Cold— cold! Father, there is a mist in 

 the room. You'll be lonely. Is this death, 



" It is death, my Mary." 



"Thank God!" 



Sabbath evening came, nnd a slow, sad proces- 

 sion wound through the forest to the little school- 

 house. There, with simple rites, Ihe good clergy- 

 man performed his duty, and went to the grave. 

 Tho procession was short. There were hardy men 

 and rough, in shooting jackets, and some with 

 rifles on their shoulders. Ilut their worm hearts 

 gave beauty to their unshaven faces, t 



e by the gravt 



The i 





ured, and the birds sung, and so we buried ber. 

 I saw the sun go down from the same spot— -and 

 ie stars were bright before I lelt— for I always 

 id an idea that a grave-yord was the nearest 

 heaven on earth— ond, with old Sir Thoin- 

 n, I love to see a church in a graveyard, 

 for even as we pass through the place of graves to 



through the grave to tbe Temple of God on high. 

 —SiUeUd. 



Tun Blesseu Countky. — So much as moments 

 arc exceeded by eternity, and the sighing of a man 

 by ihe joys of an an^el, and a salutary frown by 

 the light of God's countenance, a few frowns by 

 nud eternal hallelujahs, so much arc 

 of the godly to be undervalued in re- 

 spect to whut is deposited for them in the treasures 

 of eternity. Their sorrows can die, but so cannot 

 their joys. And, if the blessed martyrs and con- 

 asked concerning their past suffer- 

 ings, aud their present rest, and the joys of thoir 

 rtuin expectations, you should bear them glory 

 nothing, but in the mercies of God, and in tho 

 >ss of the Lord Jesus. Every chain is a ray of 



Ugh!; 



, and ( 



>ry lot 



if a kingdom, and every nffront 

 is an eternal honor, and every 

 day of sorrow is a thousand years of comfort, 

 mltiplied with a never-ceasing numeration ; days 



ithout nights, joys without sorrows, sanctity 

 ithout sin, charity without staiu, possession 

 ithout fear, society without envying, 

 cation of joys without lessening; and they 

 dwell iu a blessed country, where an enemy 

 entered, and from wheucc a friend never 

 away.— Jtremy Taylor. 





• ■Ilibl.lCc 



, no morality, i 





Thb NKDMOirf or Bn 



nessor culture of intelle, 

 culture of health— no we 



votiou of the physical system from all deteriora- 

 tion, and its cultivation to the highest perfection, 

 will ever lost long. No nation or people will ever 

 preserve tho weight of influence to which they 

 were naturally entitled, among others, without 

 manliness of development as the onlr reliable 

 foundation of manliness and reliabity of charac- 

 ter. All that tends to produce that is so far a 



RbasOSS 1-On DBIKO nOLV,— A man who has 

 been redeemed by the blood of the Son of God 

 should bo pure. He who is an heir of life should 

 bo holy. He who is attended by celestial beings, 

 and who ia soon, he knows not Uovr soon, to be 

 (ronslated to heaven, should be holy. Are angels 

 my attendants ! then I should walk worthy of u 

 companionship. Am I si 

 DDgels 1 then I should t 



.1 the 



throne of it- 

 deemer t 1 



should be pu 



and dwell with 

 Are these feet 

 ? Is this tongue 

 ■enly beings in praising 



■nal glor.v< BB< ' on tne amended Itc- 

 ien these feet, and eyes, and lips, 

 c nnd holy ; and I should be dead to 

 I live for heaven.— Albert fiarn**. 



easure of loving God, is to love him 



:^^zx^ 



