stop a child's cries for a short time, because the pain they occasion his senses draws his attention from the pain which first induced him to cry, but they do not comfort or soothe him. Besides the pain given to the mind, violent measures are dangerous to the bodily senses. Deafness and weakness of eyesight may no doubt often be attributed to such causes as these; and physicians are agreed that water on the brain is often occasioned by violent rocking.

Attention should be early aroused by presenting attractive objects-things of bright and beautiful colours, but not glaring, and sounds pleasant and soft to the ear. When you have succeeded in attracting a babe's attention to any object, it is well to let him examine it just as long as he chooses. Every time he turns it over, drops it, and takes it up again, he adds something to the little stock of his scanty experience. When his powers of attention are wearied, he will soon enough show it by his actions. A multitude of new playthings crowded upon him one after another, only serve to confuse him. He does not learn so much as he would do from a few toys, because he has not time to become acquainted with the properties of any one of them. Having had his little mind excited by a new object, he should be left in quiet, to toss, and turn, and jingle it, to his heart's content. If he look up in the midst of his play, a smile should be always ready for him, that he may feel protected and happy in the atmosphere of love.

It is important that children, even when babes, should never be witnesses of anger, or any evil passion. Above all things, therefore, those who have the charge of chil dren should keep their own spirits in tranquillity and purity. A mere babe will grieve and sob at the expres sion of distress on the countenance; he cannot possibly know what that expression means, but he feels that it is something painful.

As the first step in education, I have recommended gentle, but constant efforts to attract the attention, and improve the bodily senses. I would here suggest the importance of preserving the organs of those senses in full vigour. For instance, the cradle should be so placed that

B

the face of the infant may be in shade. A strong light is dangerous to his delicate organs of vision; and if it be allowed to come in at one side, he may turn his eyes in the effort to watch it.-Mrs. Child.

THE ENGLISH COTTAGE DOOR.

How lovely is a cottage door,

At sunset's dewy close;

How sweet, when labour's toils are o'er,
The scenes each hamlet shows.

Then manhood's brow throws off its care;
Woman puts on her smile;
And sportive infancy doth share

The joys of home awhile.

And happy, smiling faces meet
The rustic porch before;

While playmates fond cach other greet
Around the cottage door.

Ah! who would leave our happy land,
Where peace and plenty dwell,
To roam upon a foreign strand,
Whose wonders travellers tell?

The orange sheds its sweet perfume
Beneath Ausonia's skies;

But we've the apple's clustering bloom,
The orchard's rich supplies.

The cocoa and the date-tree spread
Their boughs in India's clime;
The yellow mango hangs o'erhead,
And stately grows the lime.

But we've the cherry's tempting bough,
The currant's coral gem;
What English child will not allow

That these may vie with them?

Italy boasts its citron groves,
And walks of lemon-trees;
Ceylon its spicy nuts and cloves,

That scent the summer breeze;

But we've the peach and nectarine red,
The ripe and blooming plum,
The strawberry in its leafy bed,
When holidays are come.

The purple vine its harvest yields,
France, on thy fertile plain;
But we've the yellow waving fields
Of golden British grain.

The swelling fig from Turkey comes,

And China sends her tea,

Well known to all our British homes-
The Congou and Bohea.

The East and Western Indies give
The sugar's useful cane,

Whose culture makes the Negro live
Too oft a life of pain.

Each climate bears the varied fruit
Best suited to its soil;

God sees what every race will suit,

And fits them for each toil.

Heaven on our favoured land hath smiled;
From want and war we're free;

The noble's heir, the peasant's child,

Alike have liberty.

Here no conscription doth alarm

The trembling mother's heart;
Here no oppressor's tyrant arm
Tears son and sire apart.

Grateful, we'll praise the Mighty hand

That sheds such blessings here,

Protecting still our native land

From ills that others_fear.

Still let us love this spot of earth,

The best, where'er we roam,

And duly estimate the worth

Of a true English home.-Mrs. Wilson.

ON ATTENDING THE SICK.

THE Comfort, and perhaps the life of patients, are often, humanly speaking, more in the hands and at the mercy of the nurse, than of the physician; and yet, when we would give directions to nurses, we almost hesitate to dwell upon the trifles that present themselves in the discharge of their duties. But, to one who is condemned to long illness, trifles become great events. A good nurse will acquire a tenderness for her charge which will lead her to be very considerate, in order that she may add to the comfort of the sufferer.

In watching over the sick, nurses should endeavour to accommodate the minds as well as the bodies of their patients; and by attentively learning what they like, and acquiring some knowledge of their tastes and habits, they will not only become more useful, but save themselves much trouble and difficulty.

A kind temper, as well as fair judgment, is very properly said to be of prime importance; but to possess at all times this sort of temper, amidst all the trials of patience which occur in a sick room, is truly stated to require a disposition which only belongs to a sincere Christian. Let not the following hints be considered trifling.

A fearful or melancholy countenance has, in itself, a depressing effect; and a steady, cheerful temper of mind and manner, is almost as requisite in a nurse as tenderness and affection.

In a sick room it is better, if the patient be awake, to speak distinctly, though quietly, than to whisper, as the latter mode often stretches the attention to listen, and excites suspicion and inquiry.

If the patient wishes to be read to, you should read rather loud than otherwise, slowly and distinctly, but not with much emphasis; the sick require rather to be soothed than interested. In reading to yourself, in a sick room, turn over the leaves gently; even the noise of paper is often very disturbing to invalids; you will not be heard if, in wishing to turn over the leaf, you close the book, and open it again on the other side.

Do not talk to the patient, except as he may lead to conversation, or show that he wishes it.

A nurse, when out of the room, should never fancy that she knows what the bell rings for, but should answer it instantly; most serious consequences have been known to follow from the delay of a very few minutes, as from fainting, fire, and many other causes.

In passing a bed, be careful that your clothes do not catch the curtains; the nervous sensibility of a sick person makes the smallest motion of the curtains, or bed, or chairs, or tables, to be very distressing.

Supply the fire gradually, by putting on a lump or two of coal now and then with your hands, to avoid the harassing noise of mending or of making up the fire; and always have ready a little dry wood or chips, to revive a fire suddenly, as it is often necessary to let it go too low for fear of awaking the patient.

Wear no creaking shoes, nor rustling garments, nor have any loose pins or needles about you.

For the general welfare of her charge the nurse must pay attention to her own ease and accommodation, as forming an important ingredient in the welfare of the patient.

It were well if she could generally eat her meals out of the sick room, to vary the scene a little for herself, and it is also better for the patient.

She should avoid heating food or liquors; fatigue (and especially sitting up at night) is feverish work in itself. The diet and drink should be of a light and cooling kind. Let the nurse get fresh air when she can.

When going to sit up, do not eat a heavy supper. Keep tea, or cocoa, in the room, hot all night. After being washed and dressed in the morning, a slice of cold meat will do a nurse no harm. Take a little rest after dinner if you can; if there is no opportunity of going to bed, the body may be kept upright, and the feet raised on a sofa, and thus much refreshment will be obtained. Rest should be got when there is a good opportunity, at any time of the day. Clothe yourself warmly and neatly when to sit up, though without any stiff dress, or tight ligatures. Provide some additional articles, such as a shawl, or flannel gown. A nurse should always be particularly neat.

Keep things in their places, or have the necessary