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FAMILY COUNCIL.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE COUNCIL.

We have no longer to complain. The letters of the month are marked by considerable improvement, and would lose nothing in comparison with the best of the past. We are gratified that our recent observations on your epistolary efforts have had the effect of quickening your interest in the subject, and arousing your usual devotion to the standard of excellence. Besides those names distinguished as the best in our last, and that may be classed amongst the best in the present Council, we have much pleasure in adding thereto the names of Anna Grey, Minima, Snow, Miranda, Ethol, C. Aston, Rosa, F., and Nina Gordon. These are each in their way admirable compositions, and only inferior in want of concentration to those selected for publication.

LETTER FROM A PARENT TO A MARRIED DAUGHTER ON THE INDIFFERENCE DISPLAYED BY HER IN THE EDUCATION OF HER CHILDREN. MY DEAREST CHILD,

It is with the utmost reluctance I now write to you; but I fear I should not do well to keep silence on so important a subject; and as you have from infancy ever listened to a mother's advice, I feel encouraged to write, hoping you will receive it in the spirit of love in which it is written.

I have, for a long time, imagined that you did not manifest that anxiety about the education of your children which every mother should feel. There are many different methods of educating children, varying according to their stations in life; but all should be taught not to live for themselves only, but to be useful to their fellowcreatures. The minds of children are like young twigs, growing whichever way they are bent. Seldom will they grow straight of their own accord. They must be bent; and these immortal twigs are in your hands, my dearest Ellen, to be bent for time and eternity. Then, again, if their lives are spared, they will take their position in the world. You have often condemned the giddy, thoughtless girls who can talk of nothing but dress and parties, and the foppish young men who cannot converse for five minutes on anything interesting or instructive; and I have often told you the fault was in their education: they had never been taught that they had a nobler end to live for. Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. Remember, my Ellen, God has committed these little ones to your care; and He will Himself demand how you have fulfilled your trust. Think not slightly of it. A mother's cares are very great, but her joys are as great also. In you were all my doubts and fears, my hopes and joys, centered; and you have exceeded all my expectations, and my anxieties are more than compensated in the love and confidence you have ever bestowed on me. That you may also obtain a mother's recompense is my earnest prayer; but, remember you cannot obtain it without a mother's care, and the care must come first. You will need great patience and perseverance; but you will obtain strength from on high, if you earnestly seek it, to

guide you in guiding your children in the right way. Store their minds with useful knowledge, and then they will not feel awkward in the presence of educated persons; and, above all, dear Ellen, teach them to love and reverence their Maker: they may not always have earthly parents, therefore impress upon their young minds the necessity of early seeking the Lord; and then it may be said of you, "The children arise and call her blessed." Oh, do not neglect this important duty any longer, but from this time see to the of God attend your efforts. With kind love, I reeducation of your children; and may the blessing main, my dearest Ellen, your affectionate mother,

MY BELOVED DAUGHTER,

ANNIE LINTON.

With deep concern, I have observed your almost utter indifference on the subject of education. Very unwilling have I been to admit the existence of the fact; a mother's partiality was not likely to peer into failings with an eagle's eye, and yet it dares not wink at a neglect, which, if not speedily repaired will be productive of the most deplorable consequences. Perhaps, my dear Mary, you may think I am too serious, but, believe me, it is a serious matter; and if you refuse to treat it as such now, by-and-by, when it is too late to reform, you may have to lament in bitterness of soul.

Do you think the precept is no longer of any force, which says, "train up a child in the way he should go?" or while leaving the objects of this training to their own sweet will, are you assured, that in your case, there is no danger of "a child left to himself bringing his mother to shame?" But, my dear Mary, I cannot believe you err from intention; surely you have not deliberately con cluded the subject to be unimportant, but be warned, I entreat you, or the effects will be the same as if you had. Depend upon it this is not a matter on which it is safe to be passive or indolent, and that mother would be unworthy of the trust committed to her charge who would begrudge any personal sacrifice in order to secure to her children that greatest boon of life-a good Education.

It is thought by many parents that the business of education may be delegated, and that when they have engaged competent instructors for their children, their duty is performed. Now this is a sad mistake; though far be it from me to disparage the high calling of a teacher, yet I can by no means yield to it the duties and responsibilities that belong to the still higher vocation of a mother. The one is a valuable auxiliary, not a substitute for the other, and hand in hand they lead to a noble result.

It is obvious that the ideas of many persons on this grand subject are far from adequate to its comprehensiveness; this would not signify if the matter was merely speculative, but the mischief is, they act upon these narrow one-sided views, and hence we have so many specimens of halfeducated people. But to come at once to the point in hand, let us enquire what education really is; I think we may answer, it is that process by which the precious germ of an immortal flower is helped to expand itself in reference to its twofold destiny, so as to realize to the utmost the

intentions of its Creator while in this earthly soil, and become fitted for transplanting, to the unfading "bowers of bliss." It begins with the first dawn of intelligence, and continues to the close of life-thus you see it is ever progressive, never a. work which in this state of existence can be said. to be finished, and it is a question, if even in that higher state, we shall not still be its subjects, learning still, and ever as its endless ages roll developing new faculties, and acquiring higher and nobler ideas of the depths and heights of its sacred mysteries.

However, it is not. my business, now to be speculative, but practical; "things secret belong. unto God, but things that are revealed belong unto us and to our children;" now the duty of parents to their children in reference to education, is plainly one of the things revealed, not by nature only, but also by the clear light of the Sacred Word.

Viewing, then, our dear little ones as treasures committed to our trust by our heavenly Father, we should regard Him as saying, in reference to each, "Take this child, and nurse it for me." This, then, is our high and holy work; and surely the motive is strong enough to sustain the most unwearied diligence. Ours, emphatically, is the

"Delightful task to rear the tender thought, And teach the young idea how to shoot ;" ours the important office to plant the good seed in the yet unsown soil; and thus, by pre-occupying it with good, to form the most effectual barrier against the entrance of evil. And though, we may sometimes have to complain that we see but few buds of promise, yet let us have patience, and not "despise the day of small things." The mighty river, at its source, is but a trickling streamlet; and the possessor of the sublimest genius was once a little child lisping his first lesson at his mother's knee. By the way, I would remark, that the majority of those who stand foremost in the ranks of the great and good have been blest by the dews of maternal instruction, and have been trained to walk in the pleasant ways of wisdom by the loving guardian of their early days. Encouraged by such considerations, and urged by a sense of responsibility, let us use our influence wisely and prayerfully; and, by gentle words, giving "precept upon precept, and line upon line," let us ply our most earnest efforts; and though the effect may not be immediately perceptible, yet still we may hope; for the droppings of maternal instruction, accompanied by the powerful sway of a holy example, sink deep into the soul; and by-and-by, perhaps, when no. longer a child, the power of the mothers's influence shall be felt as a defence from the deforming allurements of evil; and her voice, though hushed in the silence of the tomb, be heard winning back the wanderer to the paths of piety and peace.

You see, my dear Mary, I have made no reference to any particular branch of instruction. My object has been to exhibit to you the importance of the subject as a whole, and point especially to its moral bearing; and where this is practically acknowledged, there is no fear but that all the dif ferent departments will receive a due share of regard.

Trusting that what I have said may be the. means of arousing you to a sense of your duty,

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A quality for which lovers' lips are remarkable. -H. A. J.

Universal sticking plaister.-DAISY H. "Birds of a feather flock together."ALPHAS The ivy clinging to the wall.-J. C. L. The cord, which binds two kindred hearts toge then-CHARLOTTE.

Prepared glue in partnership with prepared wood, R.D. H.

Mutual dependence. R. MS...

The essence of sympathy in nature.-A. C. M. J.. A limpet adhering to a rocki-EMASSER.. The friendship that adversity will not sever W. H. H

The relation of a stamp to its envelope.-MAR

GUERITE.

A mother-in-law.-JUANITA.

STEPHANIE and ETHOL.
The force of habit on the powers of the mind..

Sitting on a newly-tarred gate.-C. L. J..
EXPRESSION.

A spark of the soul flashing, out from the eye
LILY H..

The painter's last touch to his favourite picture.. -M. W. M.

That which no feathered songster fails to give. to his song.-H. A. J.

The twin sister of thought.-W. Y. S.

A lambkin's frolickin' joy-ELSPIE.

A direct voucher of the mind sometimes falsified.. in the presenting.-J. C.

Sunshine lighting up an old ruin.-DAISY H.
The language of the eye.-EUREKA.

The chief excellence.-J. C. L., CHARLOTTE, and ROSEMARY.

Good portrait.-ALPHA.

That which lends a charm to the plainest coun.. tenance.-AMELIA.

Squeezing the hand of the person you like.

W. H.

The poetry of the countenance.-A..C. M. J., Nature's hieroglyphics.

A lover's oratory.-F. S. M..

Italies, periods, and long dashes.-NELLIE.. That which we all see in the features of those we love.-W. H. H..

A crying child.-PROVIDENCE

The index to the head.-JUANITA.

That which makes beauty lasting.-WILHELM | to take leave of me. I opened my book, and was and NINA, L.

The rippling stream over the smooth pebbles of the brook.-STEPHANIE.

The soul of music.-FANNY and ETHOL. Cæsar's look when he beheld Brutus amongst the conspirators.-C. L. J.

INDUBITABLE.

A mother's love.-D. M. R.

already deeply engaged in a description of the famous city of Hong Kong, when the vehicle stopped at the town to which I was going: Dinner was ordered, and I was just going to partake of a fine dish of mushrooms, when I discovered the cook had by mistake, dressed some Toadstools. I reached London in safety, and was requested. by some friends to visit Italy, in hopes of finding some valuable works, said to have been lately dis

An oasis of truth on which the bird of faith covered there. nestles and is refreshed.-J. C.

Some years had passed, and I was still in Italy.

The basis of rectitude on which a man's credit I was saddened, for my mother's death had cast a. rests.-J. T.

A demonstrable fact.-LILY H. The power of love.-M. W. M.

Cloud over my youthful gladness. I received an invitation to spend a few weeks with Count Marini, at Rome; wishing to be present at some of spacious, but, to an English eye, uncomfortable.

The improved appearance of the Family Friend. the Feasts, I accepted it. The Count's palace was

-ALPHA

The doom of the confirmed drunkard.-CHAR-In many places the Plaster had fallen off and left

LOTTE.

Thy word is truth.-ROSEMARY:

A lady's right to wear crinoline.-A. L.,
I'm sure it is!-W. H.

Mental ideas in substantial form.-A. C. M. J.
Too plain to need proof.-L. W.
British bravery.-NELLIE.

A woman's will.--JUANITA.

The eternity of the soul.- NINA G.

That too much crinoline is worn.-STEPHANIE. The rifle corps enthusiasm.-WILL-O'-THEWISP.

Where there's a will there's a way.-ЕтHOL.

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The Rambles of a Student. When a poor student of Mathematics, the desire of travelling seized me, and I resolved to see the world. The Omnibus passed our door every morning, at eight o'clock; I took my place in it to the nearest market-town, my travelling companion was a new novel, entitled the China Jar, then much in vogue. The Omnibus soon after stopped at a cottage, to take up an inside passenger. My new friend, though of the fair sex, was certainly not possessed of a Nymph like form, and on her arm hung-a basket of Cabbages! I looked complacently at my Damask rose, the last gift of my fair cousin Emma, who, with her father, had that morning driven over in their new Curricle,

bare walls, and there was a want of comfort which contrasted strangely with the Alabaster Vases which decorated the rooms. The Count was well acquainted with the English language and litera ture. Judge of my surprise one morning, on en-, tering the room, to find him attentively perusing the Chimes, by Dickens, which he had just received from an English friend. In the evening, I went with him to see a favourite Danseuse; he advised me to beware of going out late alone, as there where even then many bravi in Rome. We next visited a popular demagogue, who, from his blustering speeches, was known to the English inhabitants by the nickname of Boreus. Count also showed me the model of a Railroad, which was projected between Rome and Naples. We then visited a Capuchin Monastery, where, I had been given to understand, I might find some rare Manuscripts, but my search was fruitless.

The

On leaving the monastery, we conversed on many subjects; among others, on the power of the Italians in preserving appearances. "Yes," said my host; "They starve at home, to blaze in jewels before strangers. For example:-Do you see that lady with a Parasol, though no one else thinks it necessary to-day ?-observe how splendidly she is dressed-what a princess she appears. Do you see that wretched cabin, nay, Hovel, near the ruins of the Capitol P-that is her home."

The next day I quitted the Count's hospitable mansion, and write this on board the Victory, looking forward in a few hours again to see Old England.

ALLITERATIVE POETRY.

WHEN a twister a twisting will twist him a twist, For the twisting his twist he three times doth entwist;

But if one of the twists of the twist doth untwist,
The twine that untwisteth, untwisteth the twist.
Untwisting the twine that untwisteth between,
He twines with his twister the two in a twine;
The twist having twisted the twines of the twine,
He twisteth the twine he had twisted in twain..
The twine that in twisting before in the twine,.
As twines were untwisted, he now doth untwine;
'Twixt the twain intertwisting a twine more. be-
tween,

He twisteth his twister, makes a twist of the twine.

answers to the name of-Do you double up your Perambulator ?

CURIOUS CROSS READINGS. FOUND, on Monday last-The heads of several respectable firms in the Borough-Whom we have the pleasure to announce-Were brought up to Marlborough Street, charged with obstructing-for the championship and £10 a side, will take

Mr. Albert Smith in the performance of Mont Blanc.

A lady of the highest respectability-Who absconded from her employment with a quantity of -Luxuriant hair, whiskers, moustaches, &c.-Was found drowned on Saturday last-In a cab at the Eastern Counties Railway.

A Meeting was held the other evening on behalf of-Lord John Russel-A gentleman labouring under insanity, who-Is stated to have realized a considerable fortune in-The sale of spirits without a license.

Notice is hereby given, that if the proprietor does not remove-The Nelson column-A postmortem examination will be made-And the whole will be sold at a considerable reduction -In canisters of 3 lb. and 4 lb. suitable for invalids.

At a Vestry Meeting of the Parish of Fulham, it was resolved that-The Crystal Palace-Be removed to Exeter Hall, Strand-To be hanged on Friday, for the wilful murder of-The Great Eastern.

A lecture on the injurious practice of smoking was delivered by-The shareholders of the London General Omnibus Company-At the Court of Common Pleas, where-All the Year Round, by Dickens, is published once a week, price 3d., postfree.

At a Meeting on behalf of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals-The Chair will be taken by a lady-Who left her home under very suspicious circumstances -And the owner can have her, on paying expenses, by applying to-The Board of Inland Revenue, where-Sims Reeves continues to sing his much admired song-Do you beat your carpets?

The advertiser is desirous of obtaining-Ten years' transportation, or--Five years' imprisonment with hard labour-For further particulars, apply to-The Sanatory Commissioners, whoHave great confidence in recommending Glenfield's Patent Starch, as the best-Food for children.

Don Juan, the performing bull, is to be seen daily-In a family where a footman is kept, andChildren are taken in to nurse by-A solicitor of extensive practice, in want of Dr. Locock's Pulmonic Wafers, in boxes, at 1s. ltd. and 2s. 9d. each. This is to give notice, that an alarming collision on the Midland Counties Railway-will positively take place on Thursday next-And a lecture in aid of the above, will be given by-The late talking and performing fish-About to be erected in Trafalgar Square, where good black and green teas may be had-At 2s. 6d. per yard.

As groom, where a stable-boy is kept, to-Ask for Rowland's Macassar, and-Keep a large assortment of fancy stationery, for the use of-The Fire King, now performing at the Surrey Gardens, where-They pride themselves on the quality ofHolloway's Pills, and for which-No Irish need apply.

Lost, a purse, containing a gentleman well to do in the world, who desires to borrow £50, and will give as security-A Newfoundland dog, who

A young man of thorough business habitsLeft his home, the other evening, in company with The Great Globe in Liecester Square-A fight place, on which occasion-Mr. and Mrs. German Read- Who committed suicide During the Christmas holidays-With a view of supplying the best Newcastle coals-In sealed packets, signedWhat will you take with your chop?-G.M.F.G.

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ENIGMAS, CHARADES, &c.

62.-HISTORICAL ENIGMA.

a. The king who was forced Magna Charta to sign, Or his crown and his kingdom for ever resign; b. The term that fair England with Scotland did join,

And the rose and the thistle agree to entwine; c. No king can I find that will give my next letter, So think of an admiral, can you do better? Then think of the Trafalgar hero, whose name Stands high in the records of glory and fame; Then the pride of Old England, that queen who alone,

d.

Well guarded her rights, and protected her own; If you join the initials, perhaps you may find, A month in the year when bright Phoebus is kind.

63.-CONUNDRUMS.

1. What part of the church is most noted for staunch Protestantism?

2. Why is a person who habitually associates with the master of an inn, through love of drink, likely to become a papist ?

3. What diet do we all wish to avoid?

4. What is that which a lady never had, and never can have, and yet she has it in her power to present to another?

5. Why is a piece of widely-spread news like a cigar?

6. Why is the sun like a troublesome or disobedient child?

7. In what case did Adam place all the animals when he named them?

8. Which renders us the most valuable services, a lawyer's clerk, or a "counsel ?"

9. Why are landed estates like hasty travellers? 10. Why may John Bull be deemed a hypocrite? 11. If a sermon has a good practical conclusion, why should we pronouce it good throughout ?

64.

The tired and weary I restore,
Behead, and I'm of use no more;
Behead again, a colour then
That act will bring within your ken.

65,

My first is a pronoun possessive,
My next a political man,
My whole is a drama of life,

MICA.

Which with interest and profit we scan.
G. GUYON.

66.

Leave me alone, and I shall starve you; behead me, and I will enrich you.

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There are four letters that will show,
The absence of all light below;
But if these letters you divide,
And only put the first aside.
Five hundred will be there descried;
While the remaining three disclose,
A place of safety and repose.

72.-MENTAL SCENE FROM ENGLISH HISTORY.

It is in a scene of festivity that we now find ourselves. A person of high rank is giving a banquet to the nobles and gentlemen of the state; the door opens, and a stranger enters, and uninvited, takes his seat amongst the noble assembly. Their host commands him to retire; but his orders not being obeyed, he rises and seizes the intruder by the hair, who, in an instant, to the terror and consternation of the whole company, plunges a dagger into the breast of their noble entertainer.

73.

My first is never placed behind;
My next a tiny verb you'll find;
My third is nothing but a part,
Though perfect it may be in art;
Now, as a whole, my aid I lend,
To every volume of "The Family Friend."
MARY DAVIS.

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Hail, beauteous Spring! what pleasure sweet,
Thy presence doth impart;
Thy coming gladdens every eye,
And cheers each drooping heart.
To every weary child of earth,
Thou seem'st, methinks, to say,
"Cheer up, ye troubled ones, I've come
To banish care away."

The flowers that gently ope' their leaves,
The birds that sweetly sing;

Seem, each in their own way, to give
A welcome to the Spring.

Welcome, fair Spring, our hearts respond;
Come quickly on thy way,

And with thy bright and cheering beams
Dispel cold Winter's sway.

58.-HISTORICAL ENIGMA.

a. Janus b. Ambrosia. c. Nectar. d. Ulysses. e. Achilles. f. Rhodes. g. Years-January. 59.-A PRECEPT CONTAINING EIGHT WORDS AND THIRTY-ONE LETTERS.

What is truth? were the words of the Judge. He who never lied, has given this answer. The I word of the Lord-that is truth. Let then your whole heart be set on Him, and He will sustain thee.

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart.
60.-Hen-bane. 61. Pan-try

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