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THE PARENTS.

PARENTAGE! To what shall we liken it, or with what words shall we approach this so beautiful and sacred theme?

Incomprehensible in mystery, Inspiration has yet clotaed it with power, acknowledging it human; universal in inluence, Humanity has ever loved its rule, attesting it divine. Its law is the law of liberty; its life is the life of love. To the whole world of society, parentage is as the principle of gravitation to the whole world of matter; to the individual member of society, it is as the law of attraction to the atom; to both the bond, without which the reign of confusion would usurp the reign of order.

When the Divine Author of Creation had finished his handiwork of the material sphere-had laid out and fitted up the home of the family of man, and all was good and fair to his beauty-loving eye, there yet remained another, and the noblest of his creative acts to be performed. The Parents of the human race-made in his image, and clothed with his divinity— this was his last, best, perfect work, before he became, to an intelligent universe, the God of Providence. But there is no need that we go back to that first fair home and sinless pair for our conception of the beauty of the one, or our model of the excellence of the other. Homes of to-day! Are they not lovely as were ever Eden's bowers? Hearts of to-day! Are they not pure as when parental love kissed the first-born of time?

Right steadily the world has still been moving on, and through all the centuries of change that lie between us and that distant time, parentage that was, is yet the first and finest type between the human and divine. In all the universe there is nothing that so symbolizes the loving kindness and watchful providence of God for man, as the ceaseless care and affec tion of the parents for the family. This relation of parentage is at once the most dignified and the most tender of which humanity is capable. Its exaltation to the nature it ennobles, is of the moral, the intellectual, and the affectional; its satisfaction is the same. While it confers authority, it teaches submission; where it prompts to justice, it counsels also of mercy; where it must be firnest, it may yet be kindest. All that is beautiful in the life, all that is blessed in the heart is called out, and takes part in the fulfillment of its duties and the exercise of its privileges.

The history of the social condition of the world at any period, shows, as general experience proves, that to have become a parent is to have been a more valuable member of society-a more self respecting individual. And this, in the very nature of things; for the estate of parentage not only refines and elevates the emotions, it also invigorates the moral sense of justice, clothes anew the beauty of truth, quickens the perceptive by stimu

lating the observing powers of the mind-thus giving to the whole man and woman a broader, as also a happier range of being.

As parents, the husband and wife have added to the circle of their loves the last completeting link. That which was impossible has been made possible, and is as the cup already full receives the more, baptizing their souls into a yet Ligher life, and holier love. How pure and how deep is the happiness of well-mated parents! Measured only by the care that is ceaseless, co-equal with the value of the treasure it would guard. Yet is the burden light; and care, and toil, aye the veriest drudgery of life is sweet when the parent's heart is full of love and hope.

Fatherhood and motherhood? O how "sweeter than life and stronger than death" is the gush of that joy when the blossom of a heaven-made union becomes immortal fruit; when first unto the clasping arms and closer clinging heart is revealed the mystery in which its love believedthe new-born baby soul! What a world of hopes, and fears, and loves come rushing up, as the consciousness, at first shadowy and dim, begins to to apprehend, and with adorning clearness takes at length upon itself this new reality. So human-so 'divine-so self-related, yet so individual the life, that, from its first pulse-beat and tiny form, defies the comprehension of those to whose compassion it so tenderly appeals. Now, those who were twain are indeed one in "a deeper care and a higher joy," since unto them it has been given to be Father and Mother of an existence that is heir to a development, evermore approximating the Infinite in beauty, goodness, and power.

To have been Parents. Wonderful and beautiful relationship! Unrivalled in its purity and wealth of affection, let the heart be holy that would taste all its sweetness and depth; unequalled in its demands for self-knowledge and control, let the thought be wise that would contemplate its needs, or assume its responsibilities.-Mrs. HOYT.- Wisconsin Farmer.

MILITARY PUNISHMENTS.-In 1856 the total number of punishments in the navy amounted to 1,897, total number of lashes inflicted 44,492; highest number of lashes, 50; lowest number of lashes, 1. The prevailing offenses were desertion, drunkenness, theft, insubordination. A similar return for the army states that the number of persons flogged at 64, and the number of lashes inflicted at 2,751. The offenses were insubordination, theft, disgraceful conduct, violence to superiors. The highest punishment was fifty lashes. The majority of regiments a 'ree from the stain.

HARD TIMES.

We hear all about us the cry of hard times, and it is weighing heavily upon our Common Schools. There will be shorter terms this winter in most of our schools. It is much to be regretted. What the tobacco used in a single school district would cost for the winter, would lengthen out the school, at the least calculation, one month for every three. When will men be wise and curb appetite, instead of robbing the minds of their children.

It may be of interest to some to make a calculation to corroborate the above.

No cigar smoker will deny the justice of charging to him an average of two cigars a-day, at five cents each, which in three months would amount to $9,10. Any man who smokes a pipe may not use up, in the same time, the same value of smoking tobacco, but will use nearly the same amount in both smoking and chewing. It will be fair, at any rate, to charge, as an average charge, $25 a-year to each person using tobacco, or $6,25 for three months. Observation has taught me that there are as many tobacco-users in any district as there are families. Each family sends, on an average three pupils to school. For a school of fifty-one pupi's there are seventeen families. Such a district will use up, then, during three months, tobacco to the amount of $106,25. The expense of keeping up a school of fifty-one pupils will be much less than $100 per month!! Said I not wisely, then, that money used for tobacco in any district, would keep up a school one month additional for every three ?

P.

LETTERS TO LITTLE FOLKS.-No. 3.

You

MY LITTLE FRIENDS:-It is now 1858. The year 1857 brought to you many joys and many sorrows. You had nice presents a year ago. have had fine times playing with your skates, your tops and your dolls. Perhaps your toys were broken, and then you felt very badly for a time. You have had kind playmates, and dear little friends whom you loved to associate with. Perhaps some of these have been taken from you, and you have felt your little hearts swell with grief on account of their loss. These are but samples of your joys and sorrows. These same feelings will continue for years to come. As long as you live on this earth you will have at times joys and pleasures, and at times pains and sorrows. joys will be made doubly sweet, and your sorrows less severe, if you have

Your

a mind well-stored with useful knowledge, and a heart full of love to God and man. This love to God will teach you to do many things that are right and to avoid many things that are wrong. One of these many things which, perhaps, many of you are liable to indulge in, is that of SWEARING. Little boys sometimes swear. I hardly believe that any boy who swears, thinks of what he is doing. He hears men swear, and thinks it will make him a man to swear. He thus forms a habit, and can not

You all love to hear of George Wash

always avoid it when he wishes to. ington. When he heard of the habit of swearing that some of his soldiers indulged in, he said, "We can have little hope of the blessing of Heaven on our arms if we insult it by our impiety and folly; added to this, it is a vice so mean and low, without any temptation, that every man of sense and character detests and despises it." George Washington is good authority, and one whom every one of my little friends should strive to imitate in his regard for truth, as well as his hatred of swearing. When you hear any person swear again, think of what George Washington said, and show that you are possessed of sense and character by detesting the habit. In this way you may secure to yourself the respect of others, and add to your happiness for the year 1858. January, 1858.

ONE WHO LOVES LITTLE CHILDREN.

AWAY! AWAY TO SCHOOL!

HARK! the bell is ringing, ringing—

Away! away to school!
Always prompt and always early,

Is the scholars' rule.

Pick up your marbles and your ball,

Put all your toys away—
Let us be prompt to duty's call,
As we are prompt to play.

I love my books as well as my play,

I will not be a fool;

The bell is ringing, ringing, ringing

Away! away to school!

When school is out we'll be about,

All brisk and bright for play;

Well jump and run, and have good fun,

As happy children may.-Merry's Museum.

[graphic]

THE above cut is a view of the Waukesha Public School Building, erected in 1854. It is a substantial and beautiful stone edifice, two stories in hight, and 40 by 60 feet in size, inside the walls. The lower story is divided by a cross partition into two main rooms, the one in the rear occupied by the primary, and the other by the intermediate department, the entrances to which are at the sides of the building. The space in front of the intermediate department is occupied by the entrances to the second floor, and a recitation room between them.

The whole of the second floor is devoted to the principal department, excepting 16 feet in width across the front, which is occupied by the stairways, and two recitation rooms, 12 by 16 each. The pupils are seated with their faces toward the rear of the building, and the teachers desk is placed upon a rostrum six feet wide, and extending entirely across the room. Surmounting the rostrum is the black board, which also extends the whole width of the room, One hundred and sixty Pupils can be seated in the principal department, and the whole building will accommodate over three hundred. The upper room is seated with double desks and seats, the frames being of cast iron, which are screwed to the floor. Mr. Ira Colby is Principal, assisted in the higher department by Miss Dorr and Miss C. M. Willie. Miss A. Sickles, Principal, and Miss Foster, Assistant in the intermediate, and Miss Proctor, Teacher in the primary department. The house and ot are valued at $8000.

We are indebted to Mr. A. A. Griffith, who was the first principal of the school, for the cut and description of the building.

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