paid me for many years voluntarily a sum which he had no right to pay; be you the guide of my son, and all I can do for your child is too little.” “ Dear kind friend, madam, you have always been to me, and I am sure your son will not need any one to guide him, for his own principles appear correct and excellent.” “ Ah!” said Mrs. Finch, smiling, “ you and Jemima have managed him your own way; but no matter, he is a good boy, only rather strict, and hardly thinks his mother can go to heaven." "Ah, dear madam, there is but one way for us all.” « Well, well, said Mrs. Finch, “I hope we shall all meet at last, Mr. Kemp, but no matter which road we take, you know.” This was spoken rather too quickly, and it went to Michael's heart; and he replied with much solemnity,“ There is no other name under heaven whereby we may be saved, but the name of Jesus Christ." This closed the converse for that season.

Now, in the guidance of these two infants, Jemima and Moss, for that was the name of the youngest boy, Michael was determined to begin from the beginning, and though he was surrounded by many

who respected his principles, andjoined with him, yet they thought that he was beginning too soon. What could such young infants know? But this Christian father was immoveable -his children should be trained in the way they should go, that was his part—that he would perform—he left the rest with him whose promise never fails. Any thing like petulance was met with a very grave countenance, and if a sturdy resolution to have its own way appeared, it was seated safely and quietly, but never yielded to. Those who at first thought “he is a young father, we shall soon see; these fine new ways can't come to much ;" even these were convinced, and ended with saying, “ I could not have thought a child could have so much sense, they be uncommon children, just like the father and mother.” And one day, when this was said in Mrs. Kemp, his mother's hearing, she said,

Not a bit like our Michael; for when he was a child, there never was a more obstinate untoward boy.” Michael laughed. “ Do you remember about your little kite when you was only four years old ?” “ Yes indeed, mother, I do.” « What was that ?”

. said Esther, laughing. Why,” replied his mother, “he had a little kite made for him by his father, in imitation of one which pleased him very much: it had a fine red star upon it, and Michael wanted to have a red star, but his father had given him a blue star, and endeavoured to persuade

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him it would do quite as well. But it was • No, no, that would not do ;' so he went to bed very much out of temper because of the red star; and in the morning, when it was just light, the sturdy little rebel was seated on the ground with his little knife in his hand, pulling off the blue star." From that time it was a constant joke with Esther: when the children were obstinate, she would whisper, “ My love, remember the blue star.” And Michael would reply, “Yes, I know what stuff they come of, we shall have blue stars and green stars too, if we don't take care.' Nevertheless, this dear young couple drew together very happily, and when this good young woman ever differed in opinion from her husband, she never forgot that the husband was the head of the house, even as Christ is the head of the church.

However people may laugh at the strictness of the Bible Christians, only let them enter the house of one under these principles; let them dwell there for a short season, and they shall see these sweet principles flowing like a river, and giving birth to all that is pure and excellent; they shall feel the calm of such a house, and own that none but He who made the heart could thus frame laws to regulate every action, and give peace to every

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bosom. Yes, reader, I am persuaded, that were the word of God the standard of any one's actions, earth would be converted to heaven ; with only this exception, that here this mortal must bow, there shall be no more change. Dear Fanny and Stephen, who had often laughed at Michael's bachelor's management, were convinced that he was right, and took many a silent lesson for the training of their own infants, as they watched the silent progress of this wise father's plans ; but Fanny, we must own it, though now a mother of four, had still something of playful gaiety left, and she could not help giving the dear children some indulgences when they came to her house, which were denied at the Brow, such as sitting up to the tea-table, and putting the spoon into the brown sugar basin, and so sweetening the sweet in all the wild revel of infantine excess,

It chanced one day, that Michael came in the midst of one of these visits; the sop was made in the saucer, and the sugar was spread at the top, and the little fat hand was going again; the father stood quietly by for a minute, then putting his arm over Jemima's shoulder, he took up the little mess, and having tasted it, put his babe on his arm, and said, “ My little

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Jem, (which was the abreviation given this infant,) do you mean to eat all that mess? if you do, when you go home your father must give you one cup of camomile tea.” Poor Jemima had often tasted this beverage, which was a favourite remedy of her father's, and which he always administered himself; because, kind as the mother was, she could not give medicine --they were sure to conquer some way, and put by the nauseous draught. Little Jem allowed her mess to be lowered in sweetness, and very happily finished her tea on the knee of her father—as happily as though she had been suffered to satisfy her little palate to the utmost. But it was not all over, for Michael took his naughty Fanny aside, saying, 6. It is not kind of you, my dear, my precious Fanny, to make the necessary restraints of home disagreeable to these children.'

Fanny had never viewed it in that light, but had considered every gratification she could bestow on these young things as proof of her love to their parents ; but she was a persuadeable creature, and had such a veneration for Michael, that when she saw he was really in earnest, she never contended; but uncle Brownrigg was not so manageable, lie would please the pretty brats, as he called them in his own