the counsels of a pious mother—­the precepts of a kind father, and the determinations which a son may have formed in view of those counsels and those precepts, may be easily undermined and destroyed by the flattery or the ridicule, the reproach or the banter of some subtle or even of some thoughtless companion.  To those who may read these pages, and who may at any time be tempted to seduce others from paths of virtue, or to break over solemn resolutions which they may have formed as to an upright and commendable course of life, let the injunction of old Zachary, the Mohegan sachem, not come in vain.  “Never tempt any one to break a good resolution.”

G.

* * * * *

Original.

DESPONDENCY AND HOPE.

AN ALLEGORY.

BY MRS. J. NORTON.

  In a lone forest, dark and drear,
  Stood wrapt in grief a maiden fair;
  Her flowing locks were wet with dew,
  Her life was sad, her friends were few.

  A sparkling light gleam’d distant far,
  Like twinkling faint of evening star;
  Quickly it spread its brilliant ray,
  Till forest drear looked bright and gay.

  And on the wings of love and light,
  A radiant figure, pure and white,
  Approached and spake with accents mild: 
  “Why so despondent, sorrow’s child?

  “When thy lone feet the violet press,
  Its perfume rises still to bless;
  While groves and lawns, with landscape fair,
  Are bathed in healthful mountain air.”

  “Ah, friend! thy path shines bright and clear;
  Daily thou breath’st the mountain air;
  But mine is in the barren wild,
  Where naught looks bright to sorrow’s child.”

  “Then take my arm, pale sister, dear,
  With you I’ll tread this forest drear;
  When guided by this light from Heav’n,
  Strength and peace will both be given.”

  They journeyed on through glade and fen,
  ’Till passing near a rocky glen,
  Mild Patience came and sweetly smiled
  Upon the path of sorrow’s child.

  The measured way still brighter grew,
  ’Till cares and griefs were faint and few. 
  Thus, Hope and Patience oft beguiled
  The toil-worn path of sorrow’s child.

* * * * *

Original.

THE MOTHERS OF THE BIBLE.

THE MOTHERS OF ISRAEL AT HOREB.

There is no path of duty appointed for man to tread, concerning which the Almighty has not expressed his will in terms so plain that the sincere inquirer may always hear a voice behind him saying, “This is the way, walk ye in it;” nor are there any relations of life, nor any human affections which he has not constituted, and bestowed, nor any disappointment of those affections for which he has not manifested a sympathy so sincere, that the desolate and heart-stricken may always say, “Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal.”