friends a more anxious solicitude about the most momentous concerns, and put them in the posture of expectation to meet "the king of terrors;" if it should lead them to a closer examination of their principles, temper, and conduct; if it should bring them to a more intimate and familiar acquaintance with the blessed Saviour, and the

precious promises" of the gospel, and cause them to take a nearer view of the world to come, and thus weaken their attachment to earthly objects, and increase their desires after holiness, as the only means of obtaining happiness; they may hope to enter into "the valley of the shadow of death" with less alarm than my beloved daughter did; and to contemplate the scene before them with more serenity and composure.

I am induced also to hope that the subject I have in hand may suggest some useful reflections to parents in general. None of these will read this narrative without interest. They will each imagine themselves placed in similar circumstances with myself,

and will be desirous of having similar consolations, should they have to undergo the same trial. The brief observations I shall make on the bringing up of my daughter may, I humbly trust, furnish some direction to those who have had less experience than myself in the education of youth; and I shall reap no small reward from this "Tribute of Affection to the Memory of a beloved and only Daughter," if a single parent be assisted in "bringing up his child in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." Keeping these important objects ever before me, I will betake myself to the mournful, yet pleasing task of reviewing the life and last hours of my dear child; and I earnestly pray that my heart may be influenced, and my pen guided by Him, who has visited me with this affliction, not only for my own benefit, but to promote his own glory, and the good of others.

As it forms no part of my plan to detail the minute particulars of my beloved daugh

ter's life, I shall pass over many of her years with but few observations, and fix only on the more important stages of her short journey.

It is unnecessary to say, that the birth of this our first child, which took place at Long Sutton, in the county of Lincoln, on the 4th of April, 1800, was to her parents an interesting event. And as it was our earnest desire to bring her up in the fear of God, as the only way to make her happy in herself, and a comfort to us, we determined to spare no pains in her education, and to commence our work at the earliest opportunity. It appeared to us preposterous to suffer the sinful tendencies of nature to gain strength, and grow into habits, under the notion that, when the mind has acquired maturity, it will assert its dominion over the passions, and reduce every thing into its proper place and order. We knew that reflection and reason come late into exercise; that they are slow in their progress; act only at intervals; are feeble in operation, and uncertain in result: whilst, on

the contrary, passion is coeval with our existence; is incessant in action; rapid in decision; and impatient of control. We were aware also, that if we neglected to sow wheat upon the fresh soil, the enemy would not be equally remiss in scattering tares; we were determined therefore, if possible, to pre-occupy the ground by the best seed. Nor were our early efforts disappointed. We had the satisfaction of seeing our beloved child growing up under the best promise, and every year affording us abundant reason to believe that our labour was not spent in vain. The only time, as far as I can recollect, when I had occasion to use any thing like severity, was when she was in her second year; and I record the circumstances of it, as exemplifying my views of an important preliminary step in the training of children. We had a family party. Her grandfather and grandmother, her uncles and aunt, were dining with us; and our little Hannah was permitted to be seated at the table. On something being presented to her by one of her

relatives, she was desired to say "Thank you,"--a sentence which she had but recently learned to pronounce; but upon this occasion, she was too eager to enjoy the kindness, to acknowledge the obligation to the hand from which she received it. I repeated the injunction, but without the desired effect. The affair then assumed another aspect, and an important principle was in agitation. Excuses were offered by her fond relatives, and the tears of the child appealed to my feelings; but I considered that a compromise in this case involved future consequences, and that the point between us must sooner or later be decided. I knew that the victory of the child would lead to fresh attempts upon her yielding parents; and thus I should hereafter, with a much greater expense of 'feeling, and to a greater disadvantage, have to renew the contest. I therefore took the child into another room, and desired her to say 'Thank you," which she did immediately. I supposed from this that the conquest was complete; but to my sur

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