INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS.

"A mother!-sweetest name on earth."

AMONG the several links that bind individuals intc families, none is more tender or more enduring than that which unites parent and child. Woman, in common with the lower animals, feels an instinctive regard for her offspring. But, independently of this law of Nature, the very helplessness of infancy calls forth all the warm and generous feelings of the heart. The child is also accustomed to look up to his parent for protection and comfort; and the habit produces emotions of gratitude, respect, and affection, which no other relationship could inspire.

An affectionate child thinks no one so good, so clever, or so beautiful as his own dear mother. He

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appeals to her in every case of difficulty-runs to her arms to be shielded from danger, and supposes her to possess the power of healing all his pains. She has thus the vantage ground in his affections, and maternal influence is rendered stronger than any other.

The mother sometimes appears to lose this influence when the object of her solicitude leaves the parental roof, and enters upon the busy scenes of life. New pursuits then engage his attention, and new attachments are formed. It may be that he is exposed to temptations which he has not the moral courage to resist; yet, even amidst scenes of riot, memory will often whisper a mother's tender admonitions or a mother's prayers. Perhaps that gentle voice is hushed in the silence of death-that tearful eye is no longer raised to heaven to implore a blessing on her beloved child -but the remembrance is not without effect, and she "being dead yet speaketh."

Mother! The very name is dear. Mother! It is a title so fond, and so tender, that a softened feeling steals over the heart when we hear it pronounced. It is associated with all the cherished memories of our childhood's home; and so strong is this feeling, that a tear often starts into the eye, as some trivial circumstance recals to mind the

unwearied and self-denying affection of that gentle parent.

Woman is an intelligent and moral agent, and as such, has a high mission to perform. As a wife she appears most prominently to the world, and her responsibilities in that position are great, but as a mother, she is silently—almost imperceptibly moulding the character of the rising generation.

She receives the mind when it is most susceptible of impression, and free from prejudice. The lessons she teaches are therefore likely to take deep root. But there is a still more powerful teaching than that of precept, which is example; and here a mother's influence cannot be estimated.

Imitation is so strong a law of Nature, that we copy the customs and manners of those around us, as of necessity, sometimes, without enquiring into their reasonableness. This is felt in a greater degree in childhood than in riper years, for which reason it is a matter of the highest importance that the parent's conduct should exhibit those principles and feelings which she would wish to implant in the minds of her children. For example-a vain woman will unintentionally foster a love of dress in her daughters; an extravagant woman will teach habits of self-indulgence. Then the mother is the presiding genius of home, and her family, and even her domestics, frequently

catch her spirit. If she is continually showing either a querulous or violent temper, she will be constantly irritating the tempers of those around her. If, again, she be courteous and obliging to the rich, and haughty and exacting to the poor, she practically teaches her children to be mean, ungenerous, and unjust. On the other hand, kindly feelings may be diffused through a wide circle, by one loving spirit, which, like a streamlet, flows noiselessly along, though its course marked by fertility and beauty.

Every sentence a parent utters at the home fireside every action she performs, though that action may be so trifling, as to pass unnoticed by the individual herself-every tone of her voiceevery glance of her eye-operates either for good or evil on the future character of her offspring.

This influence is a talent which her Lord has committed to her trust-a talent for which she will be called to render an account at the Last Day.

The following anecdote speaks loudly to parents, and may serve to prove that children are quick observers, and that they will not learn a lesson of morality or religion, which they do not see exem. plified in the conduct of their teacher.

Dr. William Channing, when a boy, was taken by his father to hear a celebrated preacher. The sermon was very impressive-man's sinful and