such and such a store", mentioning the place where James is employed. "I know that there is scarcely a form of vice that is not familiar to them." Alas, for the boy whose mother is not very much worried over him, when he wishes to spend all his evenings with "the boys"! But this is the harvest-this worry is the beginning of the harvest that naturally enough follows upon the sowing of six years ago. Some one has said that all material spoiling of children is accomplished between the ages of three and five. The child has a right to learn the lesson of thorough obedience before he is five years old, and no mother has done her duty who has not taught this lesson before five years have passed over the child's head. It is a lesson to WITH the utterance of the words "Thy will be be learned particularly from the mother. Pitiable is it to hear the silly confessions of weak mothers. Not long since I heard a young mother say before a bright little fellow of four years: “I can't do anything with him. He minds his father, of course. I guess he's afraid of him, but he's beyond me, already." Oh, ye mothers! Do you think for a moment what a harvest of "worry", of misery, ye are sowing for yourselves; to say nothing of the wrong done to the child who is not taught obedience to his mother, and that respect which must be the ground of his love? Listen to the maxims on this point, never outgrown, of Rousseau: "It behooves you always to grant to a child, at the first sign, whatever you do not intend to deny him. Do not be lavish in your refusals but do not recall them. "Let the particle 'no', when once pronounced, be a wall of brass which a child, after he has tried his strength against it half a dozen times, shall never more endeavor to shake." The young mother above referred to, who so recklessly confessed in the hearing of her boy that she had given up the reins into his own hands, was the same mother who, when a lady said to her, "You have only two children, I believe' Mrs. A.," replied, "Only two, thank Heaven!"-and overhearing this, I could only say in my heart, "and Heaven grant you may never have any more !" Oh, ye mothers! Why will ye despise the crowning glory of a woman's life, and not lift your hearts on high for strength and grace to train the baby soul that is given into your keeping, until it can be the noblest work of God, a self-controlled, pure, good man or woman? "O'er wayward childhood wouldst thou hold firm rule done” our entire responsibility does not end. "Line It is our duty to carry the thought further and try to discover by what means, through what instrumentality, the Father's will is to be carried out. And in connection with this wish for the reign of heavenly law we ought to look upon ourselves as the agents by whom this will is to be interpreted in so far as our understanding of it goes. Suppose for a moment that each one of us should resign our own selfish ends and aims, and act out practically the thought "not my will but Thine be done," what a calm would succeed the stormy contentions of the world. Now while we have no faith in the miraculous birth of a millennium, we hold firmly to the belief in a gradual conquest and possession of this promised land. upon line, precept upon precept" says the wise man of old; and why must the precept be repeated? Because the first utterance failed to bring the right result. So we must accept failure as a part of the discipline which is to bring about a right condition of things. Individuals fall short of their ideals, yet a present failure does not mean that success is impossible, but it sends us back to the source of help for renewed inspiration. In the intercourse of Jesus with his disciples, we remember how many times he went apart that he might renew his strength at the fountain of all strength. And those disciples who walked and talked with him who witnessed his great works and shared in his ministrations, needed his counsel repeated again and again, and even after the most patient and blessed instruction had only grown strong enough to bear a portion of their lesson; for he said to them, “I have many things to tell you, but ye cannot bear them now." Forty years it is said Moses struggled in the wilderness with the ignorant and seemingly hopeless people whom the Lord commanded him to lead. Alone upon the mountain top he sought the counsel of the Most High, but he carried his message down to the struggling multitude to work it out among them, preparing them to be more fully the Lord's people. The aspiration arises, "Thy kingdom come," "after ward the inspiration is given which develops our faith unto works. With regard to the choice of duties Thomas Carlyle says: "Let him who gropes painfully in darkness or uncertain light, and prays vehemently that the dawn may ripen into day, lay this precept well to heart: 'Do the duty which lies nearest thee,' which thou knowest to be a duty. Thy second duty will have already become clearer." DEATHS. PEARSON.-Seventh month 22d, Sarah T. H. Pearson, of Kennett Square. PHIPPS.-Seventh month 10th, of pneumonia, in Highland township, Chester county, Pa., Sallie R. Phipps, aged 38 years, wife of John C. Phipps, and daughter of Thomas E. and the late Matilda P. Bennett of Philadelphia. STAPLER.-Seventh month 21st, at Yardley, Pa., Joseph B. Stapler, in his 62nd year. TOMLINSON.-Seventh month 18th, William Tomlinson, in his 71st year. WALTON.-In Londongrove, Chester county, Pa., on Second-day, Seventh month 20th, David Walton, in his 83d year; a member of Londongrove Monthly Meeting. WARE.-Seventh month 22d, at Salem, N. J., Beulah, wife of Elijah Ware; a member of Salem Monthly Meeting. HOLMES.-Dr. Jesse Holmes was born Eighth month 2nd, 1813, and died at his home in Lincoln, Neb., the 7th of Seventh month, 1885, from spinal injury and paralysis, the result of a fall. It was with comfort that I recently spent several days with this dear friend and his family, feeling the warm fellowship of his spirit and listening to his earnest expression of hopefulness for the growth of our religious faith. For many years and until quite recently a minister in our Society, he had labored for this growth; and while lying on the bed of suffering, seemed to desire recovery only for the renewed opportunity it might give to work for the cause in and around his western home. Calm and confident under a sense of our Father's" love and mercy, death was looked to as a welcome messenger to release him from his long continued and at times intense suffering. CHICAGO, Seventh Month 22ď. IT CORRESPONDENCE. NOTES FROM NANTUCKET. J. W. P. T would be difficult to answer properly the question: "Is Nantucket a pleasant place at which to spend a summer vacation?" The answer would depend upon the taste and habits of the inquirer. To those who seek for the summer a gay "place, where frivolous amusement and dissipation are the attraction, Nantucket must be very uninteresting. But, if But, if one wishes to breathe air that, from whatever quarter it may blow, nas "the odor of brine from the ocean; if one has the taste and sensibility to appreciate the past, to understand a people entirely unique, to enjoy driving and riding over the coarse grass which covers this wind-swept heap of sand, to sail or row over the blue waters of this little harbor where so many Quaker whalers once rode at anchor-if these are one's tastes, a summer at Nantucket is an experience of unmixed delight, to be remembered always with pleasure and to be repeated whenever opportunity of fers. This, say well-informed observers, is the most intelligent community of its size in the world. The fishermen, spreading their nets upon the sand, use such good English that it is a pleasure to listen to them. The nasal twang, so unpleasant in many parts of New England, is never heard here-at least from natives of the Island. To a stranger the speech of the people is always a pleasant surprise-it seems almost incredible that every one should make such a good choice of words, and enunciate them so clearly. The devotion of Nantucket to religious and political freedom has been too well told by Whittier in that exquisite poem "The Exiles," to need recapitulation here. It may be interesting to some however to learn that while the rest of New England went with the Orthodox branch in 1827-28, this place long contained a meeting of our body of Friends, believed to be the only one east of the State of New York. It was laid down a number of years ago. Now, there are two Friends' meeting-houses here—“ Wilburite" and" Gurneyite," as they are commonly called. There are, I believe, but three adult male Friends belonging to the "Gurneyite" branch now living here, one of whom is Matthew Barney, a well-known citizen, whose wife, formerly Elizabeth G. Macy, was for some time teacher of elocution at Swarthmore College. It may be interesting to remark here that Mary Austin, long assistant professor of Latin at Swarthmore, is descended from Nantucket stock. At the "Gurneyite" meeting, last First-day, quite a number were in attendance. The speakers were Anna Ray and William Foster Mitchell, the latter a brother of Maria Mitchell, the famous astronomer, professor at Vassar College. William F. Mitchell's discourse is said to have been forcible and excellent. For two First-days I have attended the "Wilburite" meeting, which meets in the old Friends' meeting house here, in which it is probable that Lucretia Mott often sat. The usual attendance is from three to six persons, but on the 12th inst. there were seventeen present, two of whom, young women evidently unaccustomed to Friends' meetings, left before the sitting closed. The meeting was silent. Last Firstday eighteen persons were present. Hepsabeth C. Hussey spoke. She began her discourse with these words: "Amid much that is changeable, one thing remains unchanged," and continued by declaring that this was the word of God, which, though the heavens and the earth pass away, shall not pass away. Quoting the text: "What is it, O man, that thy God requireth of thee, but to deal justly, love mercy and walk humbly with thy God?" she enlarged upon the importance of a broken and contrite spirit as an acceptable offering to God. Except for the expression our blessed and holy Redeemer offered up his life as a sacrifice for the sins of the world," the discourse differed in nothing from many that are delivered among our Friends. The speaker's words were well chosen and her thoughts weighty and excellent. As is too often the case, the past and present of the Society of Friends upon this Island afford a mournful contrast. The Island is full of traditions of Mary Starbuck, a most notable woman, through whose agency, mainly, great numbers of the people were convinced of the truth of Friends' principles, most of the people having been Baptists for a long time after the island was first settled. It was remarked after meeting last First-day that, of the eighteen persons present, eight were descended, in different generations, from Sylvanus Hussey, a highly esteemed citizen and Friend who lived during the early part of the eighteenth century, and whose descendants are now scattered all over the United States, and, it may be, for Nantucketers are great wanderers, even to distant portions of the globe. NANTUCKET, MASS., 7th mo. 20th, 1885. M. G. the site of the old school-house, where with Whittier he went to school. The house itself was burned some years ago, but, around its site the sumachs grow, the blackberry vines are running. In front of this gentleman's house, is the great elm tree under whose boughs the poet told me he often played. Captain Ayer seems to take pleasure in showing one who admires the poet; around the Whittier home, and pointing out places of interest; and to him I am much indebted for information; and indeed I might say without his assistance and pleasant reminiscences of his boyhood days with the poet the pleasure of our visit to John G. Whittier's birth-place would have been.much less. Amherst N. S., 7th mo., 5th. JOSEPH G. CRroasdale. NEWS OF FRIENDS. THE SITUATION OF FRIENDS IN THE WEST. A VISIT TO WHITTIER'S BIRTHPLACE. Thinking that perhaps a short account of a visit which I have made to John G. Whittier's home, might interest readers of your paper, I send it in hopes of publication. I arrived in Amesburg Miss., on the evening of the 13th inst., and at once went to the house of the poet. It is situated on one of the main streets of the village, and is a plain farm-house, nicely finished, with the grounds about it arranged in such taste as might be looked for in one of such refinement as is possessed by Americas first poet. Although an entire stranger, I was received very kindly, and after passing an hour with our venerable friend, who invited me to call again in the morning. I returned to my hotel, much pleased with the visit. Next morning I called and invited the poet to accompany me to his birthplace, which is about seven miles away, on the road leading to Haverhill. He said that he would be glad to make a visit to the old farm with me, but suffering much of late from neuralgiac pains in the head, he would have to decline going. I, therefore started in the stage alone; passing through Merrimack, a delightful village situated upon banks of the river of that name, and shaded by such fine old elms as only New England towns may boast of; four miles beyond this; the driver stopped the stage and told us that the house in our front, was the birth place of the poet. Here I stood for some minutes viewing the old house and barn: with a feeling near akin to reverence. I then passed down the little hill to the bridge which spans the brook where the judge met Maud Muller, and where the scene is laid of the "Barefoot Boy." On we went to the house not more than seventy-five yards distant, and were kindly administered by the lady in charge to the different rooms. The first is that in which the poet used to sit and write; ths next is the old kitchen wherein that happy family were gathered on the night of the storm in "Snow Bound." Two windows opposite the large old fire place, the pantry, the floor, etc., are the as in the poet's boyhood. The adjoining room is that in which he first saw the light; the same windows and doors, fire-place, etc., are here. In the yard is still the old well and sweep. I used the latter to draw water to quench my thirst. The path to the brook, the old stepping-stone, the path leading from this stone to the gap in the wall can be as plainly seen as in the days of the poet's boyhood, andwhich he has immortalized in his beautiful lines. I went to the house of Captain Ayer by the poet's direction, who very kindly invited me to dinner. and who accompanied us to It is situated on one of the A private letter from a prominent member of our religious body in the West refers thus to the situation of Friends in that section of the country: "Looking over the field, I see more ground for hope from one stand-point than I had anticipated, and less from the Society probabilities,—at least here in the West, or from Ohio westward. We are so completely under the cloud which habits cause, so wanting in intellectual and financial ability, and so unused to aggressive work, that with thousands ready to gather to the standard of a spiritual and practical religion, there seems to be practically no one to open the doors. Yet with two or three who could devote their time fully to the work for a few years there is no doubt in my mind but that thousands could be added to our fold on the ground of intelligent conviction. Some experiences have seemed unaccountable to me except on the theory that our views are so true that people from opposite stand-points can recognize them as so, and accept them, if we will let their old frame-work stand a little while, until the truth itself crumbles it by its growth in their minds.” THI WESTERN QUARTERLY MEETING. HIS was held at Londongrove, Pa., on Third-day, Seventh month 21st. In the religious meeting Daniel H. Griffen, of New York, spoke. Our duty, he said, is shown to each one individually. “It is shown unto thee, O man, what the Lord requireth of thee, which is to do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with thy God." God himself is the teacher of his people. The woman of Samaria was told that the time had come when the Heavenly Father was to be worshipped in spirit and in truth. Not at Jerusalem only, not in this church or that ceremony; but, “Come unto me," is the injunction," and be saved." So may we gain an inheritance among those that are sanctified. William Way, of Nottingham monthly meeting, used these words of Scripture: "Repent ye, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand," and spoke at some length. Abel A. Hull, of Little Falls, Md., followed. "Paul may plant, and Apollos may water, but God alone can give the increase." Let us endeavor to be spiritual worshippers of a spiritual God. His dis course was weighty and of length. Lavinia P. Yeatman added a few words of earnest exhortation. Just before the shutters were closed, Robert Hatton spoke briefly; he said he had two subjects of concern upon his mind. One of these was the necessity for a division of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, and the other that Friends of our body should look forward to the resumption of a correspondence with the Yearly Meeting of London. In the meeting for business, minutes from their respective monthly meetings were read for Daniel H. and Amy Griffen, Abel A. and Almira Hull, Isaac Hicks, and William Way. The committee on circular meetings reported that they had held three satisfactory meetings, and had appointed three others in the Eighth, Ninth and Tenth months. The report of the committee on Intoxicating Drinks was read. The labors of the old committee being satisfactorily concluded, a new one was appointed, and encouraged to continue the work as truth may open the way. Many Friends spoke in encouragement. Upon the suggestion by Robert Hatton that the committee report but once a year, instead of quarterly, considerable discussion arose. Levi Preston and others thought young Friends were interested in the Temperance work, and were drawn to meetings on account of it. Margaretta Walton laid before the meeting her prospect of paying a visit to Friends abroad, with which the meeting feelingly sympathized, and she was left at liberty to pursue her journey, as way might open. In women's meeting the reports of the two committees above noted were read and approved, and new appointments made. Isaac Hicks paid a visit to the meeting, and spoke acceptably. A portion of the extracts from the proceedings of the yearly meeting was read. The meeting closed in harmony of feeling. CONCORD QUARTERLY MEETING. This was held at Concord, (Delaware Co., Pa.,) on the 28th ult. The attendance was as large as usual. Abel A. Hill and wife, of Little Falls, Ind., and William Way, of Nottingham were present, with minutes from their respective monthly meetings. In the meeting for worship, David Newport of Abington, spoke first, dwelling at length upon progress in recent study of the Scriptures. William Way and Abel A. Hill spoke also, and just before the closing of the shutters, Lydia H. Price had a brief communication. In the meeting for business, the report of the committee upon the attendance of meetings was presented, and the committee kindly released. The temperance committee also presented a report, and they were continued. The men's branch named Jonathan Travilla to receive and forward this quarter's quota of the Yearly Meeting stock. After the business had been completed, the shutters were reopened, and a joint session held, the men and women's clerks sitting at one desk. A sub-committee of the Yearly Meeting's Committee of Fifty, (on visiting meetings, etc.), was present, and concern in their behalf was presented by Samuel S. Ash who stated that the Quarterly Meeting was desired to appoint a general committee of three or four from each monthly meeting, to co-operate and assist in the Yearly Meeting Committee's work. After some discussion in which a very candid and interested feeling was manifested, this was fully united with, and the committee appointed. In a short sitting afterward, at the rise of the Quarterly Meeting,-Clement M. Biddle explained that no immediate action would probably be desired of the Quarterly Meeting's committee, but that its members could be called on from time to time. It was also stated that the Yearly Meeting's sub-committee for this quarter designed as a beginning of labor, to pay some visits to Providence Preparative Meeting, where way seemed to open for them. THE EDUCATIONAL. WORK IN NEW YORK YEARLY MEETING. HE report of the Committee on Education of New York Yearly Meeting to the recent session of that body is.extended and interesting. Assistance has been given to Chappaqua Mountain Institute, by the part payment of the tuition bills of 14 pupils, and to Marshall's Seminary, at Easton, similar aid to 22 pupils. This feature of the work is said to be especially encouraging, as it shows that a comparatively small amount of assistance either from the meeting or from interested Friends enables not only a large number of desirable pupils to receive the educational advantages of our schools, but also, by thus materially increasing the attendance at the schools renders these self-supporting. Encouraging progress has been made in the direction of raising the necessary funds to rebuild Chappaqua Institute, which it is estimated will cost $27,000. $14,500 of this amount will be derived from the insurance on the former building. Of other schools, the report states: "While no other Friends' schools than the two above mentioned have received financial aid from this committee, some attention has been given to investigating the condition of the Yearly Meeting as to the facilities for the education of its members at schools conducted under the care of Friends. "The reports from the Quarterly Meetings have informed the Meeting of the present conditions of the schools in New York and in Brooklyn under the care of the Monthly Meeting of Friends of New York; of the boarding schools under the care of Purchase Quarterly Meeting; of the day schools under the care of Purchase Preparative Meeting; and of the day and boarding schools under the care of Easton Monthly Meeting. "Besides these, the following schools are directly under the care and control of members of our Society, though not under the official care of a Meeting, viz: "A school at Locust Valley, L. I., under the care of trustees, who, (according to the directions of the will of Gideon Frost, founder of the school), 'shall be members of Westbury Monthly or Quarterly Meetings of Friends, exemplary and concerned to support the practical principles of the Society, and who shall, so far as practicable, imbue the minds of the teachers and pupils with a due regard for the same.' This school has accommodations for twenty male and twenty female boarders, and as many more day scholars. A school for boarders and day scholars, opened last fall at Moore's Mills, and conducted under the care of Charles Palmer and Mary Darlington, members of our Society. The building in which this school is held is situated upon the grounds of Nine Partners Quarterly Meeting. The average attendance at the school has been about fifteen." The total sum placed in the hands of the Committee was $1207, and the total expenditure $979.50. "It is the hope of the committee that the Yearly Meeting will feel inclined to continue its labors in the encouragement of schools for the education of our children under the care of Friends; and the committee requests that an appropriation of eight hundred dollars be made by the Meeting for the furtherance of the educational interests of the Society." FRIENDS SCHOOLS AT FIFTEENTH AND RACE STREETS. THE HE past year has been the most successful in the history of the schools. Every department was filled to its utmost capacity, and over 100 pupils were rejected for want of room. As many are not aware of their size, it will be interesting to note that during the year there were in the Kindergarten thirty-four (34) pupils, in the Primary one hundred and thirty (130), in the Special Department fifty-two (52), in the Intermediate two hundred and twenty-six (226), and in the Central or High Schools four hundred and ninety-seven (497) pupils. In the new department organized by the Committee on Systematic Work, of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Committee on Education, there were thirty-eight (38) pupils, making a total of 977. During the year the yearly meeting committee organized a new department to work in conjunction with the other school committees and to enable them to give systematic aid, by way of lectures and substitute teachers, to all the schools under the care of Friends within the limits of the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. This department has employed eight regular, and six special teachers, and has furnished courses of lectures on Science and Literature to the schools at Germantown, Fourth and Green streets, Seventeenth and Girard avenue and Thirty-Fifth and Lancaster avenue, Philadelphia; Abington, Byberry, Darby, Gwynedd, Horsham, Kennett Square, Londongrove, Newtown Square, Sugartown, Valley and West Chester, in Pennsylvania; and to Camden, Medford, Moorestown, Salem, Upper Greenwich, Westfield in New Jersey; Wilmington in Delaware; and Easton, Maryland; besides sending teachers of special branches to several of the schools outside of the city. These schools have long held a leading place among the educational institutions in Philadelphia, and during the present summer further improvements and additions are being made with a view of enlarging the capacity of the schools, and for increasing their efficiency. A large building is being erected to give additional class rooms for the Primary and Intermedi ate schools. Realizing the importance of physical culture, the committee propose devoting the whole of the first floor of their new building to the purpose of systematic physical training, under the charge of a competent teacher. A laboratory is being fitted up for the individual use of students in chemical analysis; and a new room for the classes in drawing. The property at the southwest corner of Fifteenth and Race streets has been leased, the old building torn down, and a new building is being erected which will be used by the Friends' Book Association in connection with the lunch room and department of school supplies. HIS COMING. "Therefore be ye also ready; for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh."-Matthew xxix., 44. HE will come, perhaps, at morning, When to simply live is sweet, There may shine the strange, new beauty Or it may be in the evening, If he only finds us ready In the morning's happy light, -New York Observer THE HUMMING-BIRD. HERE is a silence in this summer day, THERE And in the sweet soft air no faintest sound But gentle breezes passing on their way, Just stirring phantom branches on the ground; While in between the softly moving leaves, Down to their shadows on the grass below, The brilliant sunshine finds its way and weaves A thousand patterns, glancing to and fro. A peace ineffable, a beauty rare Holds human hearts with touch we know divine, |