beautiful scenery and pure atmosphere, it would be well to search out the spot, where our army were encamped, during that severe winter.

It would be cheering to those who have borne such hardships, to know that the children of that country, for whose liberties they toiled, remember their services with gratitude.-Become acquainted with the forms in which their patriotism was tried; that you may be able to tell your own children, how the blessings of our free government were purchased. Yet while we praise the patriots of our revolution, let us never forget that war is a great evil. It must ever be considered so, when we take a serious view of the miseries that it occasions. Pain, mourning, and death, the interruption of the honest pursuits of industry, and those arts of peace, which constitute the prosperity of a nation, are in its train.

Such wars as are rendered necessary for self-defence, or the preservation of liberty, cannot be reprobated like those which spring from the promptings of ambition, or the desire of conquest. Let us pray that our beloved country may be kept from the evils of war, and that we may be enabled to show our patriotism, not in the field of battle, but by setting an example of every virtue, as good and peaceful citizens.

THE ONLY SON.

FRANK WILSON was an only son. His parents were among the most respectable people in the

town where they resided. They were very indulgent to him. He was a well-disposed, affectionate boy, and did not abuse their kindness.

He went cheerfully to school, and came regularly home, and was content to do what his father and mother thought best. This good conduct gave to his countenance, an agreeable expression; so that people were in the habit of saying, they had seldom seen an only child so obedient and happy.

He had an unmarried uncle, who was very fond of him. He was quite rich, and had said something about making Frank his heir. So, the parents frequently consulted him about their son, and he was pleased to give advice respecting his education.

Once, the uncle said, "I think you had better send Frank from home." The father replied, "I do not see the necessity of it. Our schools here, are considered among the best in the country; and boys are sent to them from other States."

"That may be," the uncle answered, "and yet he ought to go from home. He is not as manly as other boys. I see him sometimes putting his arm around his mother's neck, or sitting with her hand in his, which is very childish you know.”

So, Frank felt under restraint when his uncle visited them. He was afraid to show fondness for his parents, or to express his affectionate feelings, on other occasions, lest it should not be manly.

At length, the uncle prevailed on the parents of Frank, to have him sent from home, for two years before he entered college, engaging to pay the expenses of his board and tuition, at a celebrated academy, in a distant State.

But the mother had many misgivings. She said, "I now know, at least, that my boy is not in bad company. This, I cannot know, when he is away from me. While he studies his lessons by our fireside, in the evening, I feel that he is not exposed to evil example; and he is always contented with me."

"That is the misfortune, sister. He is altogether too contented with you. Your husband is a good deal occupied with his business, and boys brought up by women, are good for nothing. He must be sent from home, or he will never be a man."

It was in vain, the mother argued, that when the home was a good one, and the school a good one, and the boy making good progress, and in good habits, that a change might be for the worse. Her objections were supposed by the uncle, to spring from unwillingness to part with her son, and as the father had consented, she at length consented also.

Frank was pleased at the thought of seeing new places, and making new acquaintances. The preparations for his wardrobe, and supply of books, being on a more liberal scale, than he had been accustomed to, flattered his vanity, and kept him in good spirits.

But when the last trunk was locked, and he sat between his father and mother, expecting every moment, the arrival of the stage-coach, tears came so fast to his eyes, and he felt such a pain at his heart, that he could scarcely heed their parting counsel.

The sound of the wheels was heard at the door, and he wished to throw himself on his mother's neck, and weep. But his uncle, who was to accompany him, jumped out of the coach, and came in.

So, he said in a hurried voice, "good bye, dear father, dear mother! You shall hear from me, as soon as I get there."

He dared not look back, until the roof of his home, and the elm-trees that overshadowed it, were entirely out of sight. For he felt such a choking sensation, that he feared he should burst into tears, and he dreaded above all things, lest his uncle should call him "Miss Frances," in the presence of strangers.

In a large school, he found more to try his temper than he had expected. He wished to be distinguished for scholarship, but there were many older, and more advanced than himself, and when he had been once or twice disappointed, he did not put forth that energy and perseverance, which are necessary to se

cure success.

He suffered from that loneliness of heart, which a stranger at school, and especially an only child, feels, when first exiled from the sympathies of home. In the turns of head-ache, to which he had been subject from childhood, he painfully missed maternal nursing, and tenderness.

But to these trials, he gradually became accustomed, and having a good temper, was rather a favourite, among his associates. At length, his roommate was changed, and a bad scholar, and a bad boy, was placed in this intimate connection with him. It was found that he had not moral courage enough, to say no, when he was tempted to do wrong, and a sad change in his behaviour soon became evident.

Frank had not firmness enough to reprove his

companion, for what he knew was improper or wicked; and he who is constantly exposed to evil example, and does not resist it in the fear of God, will be but too apt to follow it.

The first wrong step was to neglect his lessons, and waste his time. His room-mate taught him to laugh at the censures that followed, and to ridicule in secret, the teachers whom he should have loved. He induced him to read foolish and hurtful books; and there they were making them. selves merry, when their distant parents supposed they were diligently acquiring knowledge.

When Frank came home, at his vacations, his uncle exclaimed, "how improved! how manly!" He had indeed, grown very tall, and bid fair, to possess a fine, graceful form. But his parents scrutinized him more closely, and feared that every change, was not an improvement.

Simple pleasures no longer satisfied him. He insisted on having the most expensive articles. He ceased to ask pleasantly for what he needed, but said through his shut teeth, with a face partly turned away, "I want such, and such things. All the other boys have them."

The mother was alarmed at the habits of reserve and concealment, which had grown over him. She had early taught him to speak freely of all his concerns to her. Now, she felt that she was shut out of his confidence, and that her influence over him for good, must of course decline.

She endeavoured by every means in her power, to re-instate herself in his affections. Still he kept the veil close about him, and a son who treats kind pa