may eventually be inclined to imitate their unhallow ample. :

And what is the cause of these extended evils? is the husband or wife not happy in the midst of t mestic circle? Why is it that a secret worm, wh concealed because it cannot be removed, is eating and destroying the welfare of so many families? L perience answer.

nhallowed ex

evils! Why dst of the do. orm, which is

eating away s? Let ex

STEP PARENTS.

On that day of terror and persecution, when Christ was suspended from the cross, and his wounds were streaming with blood, he saw around him many of his dearest kindred and friends, who were unwilling to separate from him even in the hour of death. Among them was his weeping mother, whom he must now leave behind. He turned to John, his disciple, whom he tenderly loved, and said, “Behold thy mother ;" and to her, "Woman, behold thy son." Henceforth he was to her as a dutiful child. He protected her, provided for her wants, and shared with her his dwelling.

1

This simple event awakens many sober and profitable reflections in the minds of christian parents. It reminds them of the agony they must undergo, when the hand of death is laid upon them, and they are obliged to separate from their children. Hearts that are thus united, cannot easily be severed. Hear the mother upon her dying couch, she gazes for the last time upon her tender offspring: "To whom must I now consign you? Who will take care of, and provide for you as I have done? Upon whose breast will you now weep away your grief? or who will comfort you in your troubles and afflictions?" But we trust that her fears are unnecessary. Who is there upon earth who

as

when he earns for himself such a glorious title by be
ing its protector? It is a truth deeply to be regretted
a child is often the most miserable under the care of a
father or step-mother. In all languages these name:
proverbial to express something that is detestable.
it should be the duty of those, who have assumed the
pellation, to conduct themselves in such a manner as r
deserve the odium which is generally cast upon them.

But whence arises this apathy; this unkindness, w is so often manifested by step-parents towards the chil of others, which they must necessarily adopt? It is ea explained. Let us observe for a moment, a family wh in this evil prevails. We will find it is owing to the creased love which the father or mother very natur feels for his or her own immediate offspring. Heretof the son or daughter-in-law may have received the utm kindness and attention; but suddenly this affection cea and it is lavished upon one of their own descendants, wE seems to be the exclusive object of their care. There nothing left undone to render it happy. They love to it caressed and flattered by others. But if the step-cl is admired for its amiable and agreeable qualities, t their envy, hatred and jealousy are excited. There i wonderful deterioration of its supposed excellencies; the faults which they hitherto endeavoured to forget amend, have now become insufferable. They see in eve little offence, a great crime; in every action, a secret malicious design; in every tear, deceit, hypocrisy, a wickedness. Thus, by the imprudence of a parent, w

e by becomgretted, that are of a step

e names are

ble.

Then

med the ap er as not to them. ness, which the children

It is easily .mily whereig to the inery naturally Heretofore,

ed the utmost ection ceases, ndants, which e. There is

may be estimable in every other respect, the peace of a family is forever broken up and destroyed.

Let us trace the cause of these melancholy results. Do they appear at once in all their enormity; or are they the growth of years? In the first place, we find that parental love is chilled, and then it degenerates into hatred and persecution. Tenderness for the step-child is sensibly diminished, indifference follows, and in their turn, malevolence, injustice and cruelty. Consequently, all domestic happiness is at an end. Discord arises between the husband and wife. The former sees the child of his bosom iniquitously neglected or despised by the latter; or the mother is compelled to notice without a murmur, the inhumanity which her offspring, of a former marriage, are obliged to endure. At first they kindly remonstrate with each other; and then a quarrel ensues, which terminates in unceasing strife and contention. Relatives engage in the dispute. Older brothers and sisters are also enlisted in the contest; and they sometimes uphold the caprice of their parents and imitate their example, until their own hearts are alike wicked and corrupted.

Every casualty that may happen to a child, will sooner or later pass away unremembered; but the cruelty which is inflicted upon it in its helplessness, will never be forgotten; it will remain deeply engraven upon its heart, even to the latest period of existence.

If God has entrusted to thy care an orphan, be unto it what the worthy disciple was unto the mother of Christ. Then thou hast given an evidence that thou aut aided

the wisdom and goodness of God; that thou art not t numbered with those who so wantonly abuse their pare authority. If thou hast united thyself at the altar to whose children require thy friendly attention, remen the solemn promise thou hast made, to atone as far as sible, for the irreparable loss they have sustained. to them in reality, a kind and benevolent parent.

Be

Supposing the angel of death should summon thee av and thou hast children who must fall into the hand strangers? Wouldest thou not pray to the Almight shield them from cruelty and oppression? Then, why thou treat thy step-child with so much scorn and negle Do not forget that the eye of the omnipotent is upon -that he sees all thy actions, both good and evil. therefore, and fold in thy embrace the weeping and wr ed orphan, that it may have confidence in thy affect Look with indulgence upon its faults, which may h been the result of thy own unkindness. All the thou canst bestow upon it, will not repair its incon able loss. Be thy love ever so pure, it cannot gush f the same deep and hallowed source, as did that of the ceased father or mother.

Is it impossible for the wife to conceal the fond which she may feel for her own, in preference to her s children? She should at least, make every effort to complish it. She will, thereby, not only secure the spect, but the higher love and admiration of her husba The child in its infancy has but few objects to claim attention, and every smile or frown of its parents is clo