The fragrant waters on my cheeks bestowed
By thy own hand, till fresh they shone and glowed;
All this, and more endearing still than all,

Thy constant flow of love that knew no fall,
Ne'er roughen'd by those cataracts and breaks
That humour interposed too often makes;
All this still legible in mem'ry's page,
And still to be so till my latest age."

Of Sir Walter Scott, it is said by his sonin-law, who wrote his lifting up his desk, we found arranged in careful order a series of little objects, which had previously been so placed there, that his eye might rest on them every morning before he began his tasks. These were the old-fashioned boxes that had garnished his mother's toilette, when he, a sickly child, slept in her dressingroom; the silver paper-stand which the young advocate had bought for her with his first five-guinea fee; a row of small packets, inscribed with her hand, and containing the hair of those of her offspring that had died before her; and more things of the like sort, recalling the old familiar faces."" And it is related of Lady Flora Hastings, that when life was ebbing fast away, she stretched out her hand, saying, "Lord, I am coming;"

but with her latest breath she uttered the tender word, "Mother!"

George Washington, of whom you will read much in the history of America, when a youth, was about to go to sea as a midshipman; the vessel lay opposite his father's house; the little boat had come on shore to take him off; and his whole heart was bent on going. His trunk was carried down to the boat, and he went to bid his mother farewell. She said nothing to him, but he saw the tears bursting from her eyes, and he feared she might not be happy again. Immediately he turned round to the servant, and said, "Go, and tell them to fetch my trunk back; I will not go away to break my mother's heart." His mother, struck with his decision, replied, "George! God has promised to bless the children that honour their parents, and I believe he will bless you."

The conduct of this youth would have been pleasing, if he had cared but little about the service on which he was about to enter; it was especially so, when his whole mind was intent on going to sea. strong rope or chain can only be broken by

As a

greater strength, so the ardent affection he bore to his mother appears in the readiness with which he gave up his own desires. His mother presented him on this occasion with a knife, which is now preserved in the museum of Alexandria, in the United States,an interesting memorial of his filial regard.

I have often thought, when I have witnessed the want or the delay of prompt and kind attention to a parent's wishes-and I have noticed it, and been pained by it, when some of my young friends have supposed that Uncle William did not observe it at all—I say I have often thought how they were rebuked not only by such instances as these, but by many of the young whose advantages are much fewer than their own. I will mention a case of this kind. A poor widow had lost all her children but one, and he, poor fellow, was almost an idiot. Jack, as he was called, was tall, and he had fine features, but it was said they were only capable of expressing his helpless affection. Most touching, indeed, were his love and tenderness to his mother. "They call my boy a fool," she would say; "but his folly is sweeter to me than all the wisdom of the

world." Troubles increased upon her; she became blind; she was turned out of her wayside hut, because she could not pay the rent of a few shillings required for it, and the blind widow was led for alms from house to house by her idiot son. She might thus be observed standing meekly before a window, her white hair combed carefully back from her high, wrinkled forehead, her hands crossed upon her chequered apron; and if the rain fell, or the sun shone, Jack was busy with her hood, which he would immediately draw over her head. Whatever was bestowed on him, he instantly gave to his mother; nothing was reserved for himself; though he would pick up the crumbs of bread or potatoe she dropped while eating. If she had not forced him to take food, it is said he would have starved himself to death. When she died, it was piteous to see him so lonely and desolate during the few weeks he survived her, and after fading gradually, he was found dead on her humble grave!

In connexion with such facts as these, it should be constantly remembered, that no duty is more pleasant than that of filial affection, and that there is none the neglect

of which is more heavily punished. Under the law of Moses, a disobedient son was to be stoned to death; and all who resembled him, though not thus visited now, are exposed to the displeasure of the Almighty. An apostle has said, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.” Let these words be written, then, on the fleshly tables of the heart. And never let it be forgotten, that when our Lord and Saviour hung upon the cross-a sacrifice for the sins of men-he thought with the tenderest affection of his surviving parent. Mark the words of the inspired evangelist: "When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home." John xix. 26, 27.

Affection, when rightly cherished for parents, will pervade the whole domestic circle. I have witnessed many instances of