ignorant, in comforting the sorrowful, and in extending the kingdom of Christ.

We are encouraged to ask this service because of the good which has been done by "THE MOTHERS' FRIEND" in years gone by, and we believe that it will yet produce glorious results, "Give me," said the late celebrated Cardinal Wiseman, “Give me the training of the children, and I care but little who has the education of the adults." The Cardinal was a man of very wide observation, and he recognized the great importance of lessons to the young. This, then, is one of our principal objects; to help mothers to teach their children how to live and how to die. In the year now before us we shall endeavour to discharge this duty in dependence upon the Spirit of truth. The results of our toil will be made manifest at the last day, when the secrets of all hearts shall be discovered. Surely among the countless millions who will then receive the "Well done," from the lips of the Master, the Christian mother will not be forgotten; her reward will be great indeed, for she has trained her little ones for immortality. Her reward will also be ours, if we are able to help on the greatest work of this or of any agethe bringing up of children for God. "May He help us to do so!"

It may not be out of place in sending forth this new volume to the world, to issue with it a recommendation of our Magazine which has been kindly given to us by the highly honoured President of Regent's Park College, the Rev. Joseph Angus, D.D., M.R.A.S. :

"This monthly has a clearly-defined field, and cultivates it with assiduity and skill. The Editor has wisely adopted the pictorial style of treating her themes, and illustrates nearly every truth with a story. I shall be glad to hear that the volume finds a place in every family."

December, 1867.

THE

MOTHERS' FRIEND.

THE NEW YEAR.

IN offering our congratulations and wishing our friends a happy new year, we would go beyond the ceremony and form which custom prompts, and blend with our words the yearning of a full heart, that blessings rich and abundant may cluster around their pathway. But we should do sacrilege to our feelings, if from this point of observation we raised no note of warning-if on this rock in the sea of time we left no record of the past to serve as a beacon-light amidst the mists of the future. Doubtless few family circles in which our little magazine has been received during the past year, have been exempt from some change. How many have been sent by separation and death until only a remnant remains to reveal the desolation ! Our greeting falls sadly on many a widowed heart, which a year since thrilled at the utterance of living love, and many parents are sighing in bitterness as they look at the empty crib and deserted fireside. The sire with bowed form and whitened locks has looked a last adieu to long familiar scenes, and descended to the grave. We would weep with those who weep while we share the joy of the rejoicing. But on this gala-day in the year our thoughts are especially with those who are young, whose morning of life is bright with hope, and whose new year opens on an enchanting scene of pleasure and delight. We would not darken your sky by a single cloud of imaginary gloom, nor dissipate one ray of positive joy by sad forebodings; no but, if possible, place the objects and realities of life in their true light before you, that their enjoyment may be enhanced while you avoid their

scorpion stings, and you be prepared to meet unharmed its certain conflicts. We remember the bright sunny faces of many who commenced the past year, that are now hid from our view in the dark grave; their expressions of earthly hope silenced for ever; their gushing sympathy for friends chilled at life's fountain. They laid off the robes of beauty, and gathered the drapery of death about them, and have exchanged the gaiety of the new year festival for the hush of death. With these scenes of the past before us, our young friends will allow us to mingle some sadness in our anniversary greeting. The new year upon whose threshold you now stand is all unknown, but from its events you cannot retreat. Pause you cannot. Your own beating pulse will tell each moment till they are numbered, and time with you is eternity. To-day you live, but where is to-morrow? Will it not be for your highest pleasure then to seek first of all a preparation of heart for the most trying scene that may await you ?-seek for a readiness to meet the grim messenger who with stealthy tread may arrest your next tread. Until this is done you are unprepared for life, for its most satisfying pleasures and highest happiness; go to what source you may for enjoyment, it will prove unsatisfying and vain. “ Time is the warp of life,

Oh! tell the young, the gay, to weave it well."

The future, the unknown future, wisely shut by an Almighty hand from our eager view, still undisclosed lies before us. Behold in the year which is now commenced, another page in the history of man. Behold in the commencement of this year the foundation of a mighty monument of time springing up beneath his tread; and, rising high, as day on day of his strong masonry is added to the pile, until the close of another year shall cap its summit. The fair unsullied page has been unrolled on which our actions will be written. Shall it be the record of time well spent, or virtue shunned and disregarded? Shall we hand the undying page, foul and blotted by our acts, to posterity, whose legacy it is? Shall we be the will-o'-the-wisp to lead them in an erring course o'er rugged paths and dangerous swamps of life?—or shall we rather be a beacon light, or polarstar, by which they may steer into the port of happiness? Let

the monuments which another year shall raise bear the records of time well spent, of virtuous actions and of noble deeds. Let it be a living monument, on which our virtues, like the glittering stars of heaven, shall glow, a beaming light, when we shall be no more, to guide succeeding ages on the way of life!

FOUR SISTERS IN HEAVEN.

OUR friends will no doubt remember reading Louis Cavenal's history, lately published in our pages, and they will readily believe that the Christian mother who took so much interest in the poor orphan and so much pains to teach him the way to heaven, would seek to bring up her own children in the fear of the Lord, and pray for them fervently and without ceasing. Four of her beloved ones have been taken from her, and the following memoirs will show how Mrs. D--'s supplications were answered and her endeavours blessed, and how she herself was supported umder the heavy strokes.

Elizabeth-the first who passed from earth-the gentle, amiable little Elizabeth, until she was six years old enjoyed the most perfect health. She was remarkably full of gaiety and life, and at the same time so gentle and good that all loved her. She was intelligent, too; when three years old her parents began to teach her her letters, and she was so fond of her lessons that she was the first to remind her mother if she forgot them; and at four years and a half she read with ease, and begged that she might be allowed to read in her turn at family worship. She was fond of reading tales, but nothing pleased her so much as the Word of God, and she would often learn five or six verses at a time without moving from her seat. She had such desire for instruction that she would often sit near her elder sisters when they were having a lesson that seemed above her capacity, and she would often answer intelligently questions which were addressed to them. Elizabeth had commenced writing, drawing, and arithmetic, and had no less aptitude for needlework, so that at the age of five years and a half she could knit and sew very well. When six years and three months old she was attacked with brain fever, to which she fell a victim after nine days of

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FOUR SISTERS IN HEAVEN.

the most violent sufferings. The following summer her sister Emily, who until she was eleven years old had been educated at home, was taken to a Moravian establishment at some distance, where she was to remain for three years. This term having expired, the dear child rejoiced at the thought of returning to the bosom of her family; but she was now only fourteen, and her education was unfinished. Her parents resolved therefore to leave her there one year longer; the lady at the head of the establishment told them that Emily had always got on well, but would probably make more progress during the last year than she had in the preceding ones, and that it would be a great pity to take her away now from school, and that she would not advise them to have her home to see them; it would be a great loss of time, and Emily was always very happy and cheerful, so that they need have no uneasiness on her account. Mr. and Mrs. D felt it would be a great sacrifice to remain so much longer separated from their dear daughter, but they resolved to bear it. They wrote to Emily to tell her that she would not return home for another year. She answered submissively that it would be very long, but she hoped that God would give her strength to bear the privation, and to see that it was for her good. continued to work to the satisfaction of her instructors. was remarked at school for her order and application, and especially for her eagerness to attend public worship, and her attention while there. It wanted only about six months to the time when the parents of Emily should go to fetch her home, and there was not now any doubt in her family as to her return, when a letter from Mademoiselle Curie, the directress of the establishment, announced to Mr. and Mrs. D— that Emily had been for some days confined to her bed with headache, but that her cheerfulness and her appetite kept up, that the doctor saw no reason for uneasiness, and that they might rely upon her being better if they heard no other news. On going into the sick room Emily had said to one of her companions, without appearing to be at all affected, "I am sure I shall no more return among you ;" and when her friend refused to place any reliance on the assertion, she said, "I am certain." Eight days passed before the second letter arrived, saying that although she was no worse the

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