of a family are burdensome. It was so with Mrs. M. To relieve the tedium of real life, she fled to the excitement of fiction, and again daily spent hours on the pernicious indulgence. A novel was the constant appendage of the worktable, the child's cradle, and the mother's pillow. Often a helpless babe was left to cry unheeded or pine neglected, or committed to the tender mercies of a careless servant; or if the mother was at length aroused to attend to the wants of her offspring, it was with irritated feelings at being disturbed, and pernicious drugs were often resorted to, to secure the quietness of the child, and leave the mother at liberty to pursue the fascinating story. Even the illness of her children failed to secure the undivided attention of a mother whose heart was set on something else. It is a literal fact, that a relative of the family calling to see her children, who were ill of the hooping-cough, found the mother sitting over the fire, reading a novel, and the children in bed, in a cold room, one of them actually dying. There could be scarcely a doubt, that at least three infants of that family perished through her neglect; and the survivors, in their uncultivated minds and unregulated tempers and habits, prove a living exemplification of the irreparable evils inflicted on her family, by a mother whose heart is not in her duty. confiding husband had long before duly provided; and it became necessary to withhold all pecuniary supplies from one who so grievously misappropriated them. Then every article of value which she could remove unseen, was parted with, to obtain the means of gratifying her craving propensity; and at length such was the degree of shameless degradation at which this unhappy woman had arrived, that she was frequently known to sell the very clothing and bedding of her children, and leave them destitute. She died in the prime of life, a martyr to vice, and left, in her impoverished and injured family, sad memorials of the unhappy consequence of a mother's heart being alienated from its proper object. "But it is pleasanter," said my uncle, after a momentary pause, "to dwell on examples of an opposite class. When the heart is set on a good and worthy object, the whole character is ennobled. There is such decision of purpose, such elevation of aim, such steadiness of plan, such consistency of pursuit, such energy and perseverance of action, as almost invariably lead to a successful result. My mind, at this moment, glances with pleasure at the struggles, sacrifices, and exertions, sustained, for at least ten years, by an excellent young man, whose heart was honourably set on discharging the debts of his father, who had lost his property by an unexpected reverse in trade, and had died under the pressure of the calamity, bitterly lamenting, not so much his own losses, as that others should be injured by him. The son assured his dying father that he would do his utmost to repair all such injuries; and in pursuance of his noble design, he toiled incessantly, practised the most rigid economy, and deferred the completion of his fondest wishes, until he had discharged the filial duty which he had taken upon himself, and obtained full receipts for every claim upon his late father. Then he could with satisfaction begin to labour for himself; and he lived to realize, in sancti The other instance mentioned by my uncle, was that of a highly accomplished young lady, who, after having for several years exemplarily sustained the relations of wife and mother, unhappily imbibed a passion for stimulating drink. For a long time, she indulged the wretched propensity in secret, occasioning great distress and anxiety to her relatives, by her frequent indispositions, her altered habits, and her wayward temper, and especially her indifference to her children, though the cause was little suspected. But it could not always be concealed. The medical attendant of the lady detected the real cause of illness, both to herself and her infant off-fied prosperity and domestic happiness, spring; and, after repeatedly admonishing her himself, felt it a matter of duty to make her husband acquainted with the truth. Domestic happiness could not survive the melancholy disclosure. Every day brought to light some new sorrow, resulting from the same wretched cause. Debts were found contracted to a large amount, for the payment of which the much of the blessing which is ordinarily seen to rest on a conscientious discharge of filial duty. When the heart is set on a benevolent object, what exertions are made, what toils encountered, what difficulties surmounted, what dangers braved, in the accomplishment of it! True active benevolence, like well established faith, laughs at impossibilities.' Read, my boys, the Life of Howard, and see what may be done, what has been done, by one philanthropist, whose heart was in the work. And there are many who, on a humbler scale, yet in proportion to their abilities and opportunities, devote themselves to the work of doing good; and the success of their humble efforts is truly astonishing to others and to themselves. "The missionary-his heart is set on the conversion of the heathen, and the most formidable difficulties sink before his holy zeal; the most costly sacrifices are cheerfully made; the greatest hardships and privations endured; and he seems to lose sight of every thing, except the joy that is set before him in the success of his enterprize. 'None of these things move me,' is the declaration of his holy ardour; neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God,' Acts xx. 24. We quitted the conservatory; but at the breakfast table the conversation was resumed. Without detailing the conversation, I will set down a few of my uncle's observations. "Ay, the heart is every thing ;As a man 'thinketh in his heart, so is he,' Prov. xxiii. 7. Take care to get the heart rightly and firmly set; for out of it are the issues of life, Prov. iv. 23. When the heart is fixed on God, a man's ways are established before him. "If the heart is set on trifles, the character is vain, frivolous, and unstable. The heart set on duty renders duty easy and delightful. The wall of Jerusalem got on prosperously and pleasantly; 'for the people had a mind to work,' Neh. iv. 6. "A listless, indolent disposition, that murmurs at labour, is a sure indication that the heart is somewhere else. The first feeling of this kind will rouse wise and pious man to look after his heart, and fetch it back from its wanderings. It is a sad truant with the best of men : a fool lets it rove where it pleases; but a wise man desires to seek it, and bind it with cords to the altar of obedience. "It is interesting to observe, in the characters of the kings of Judah, how much stress is laid on the heart. It was David's honour that he sought the Lord with all his heart, and his dying exhortation to his son and successor, to 'serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind,' 1 Chron. xxviii. 9. Rehoboam 'did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord,' 2 Chron. xii. 14. 'The Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David :—and his heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord,' 2 Chron. xvii. 3.6; xxii. 9. Amaziah did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, but not with a perfect heart, 2 Kings xiv. 3; 2 Chron. xxv. 2. Jehu, king of Israel, in many instances, fulfilled the commandments of God; but he was not approved, because he took no heed to walk in the law of the Lord God of Israel with all his heart,' 2 Kings x. 31. 'Hezekiah wrought that which was good and right and truth, before the Lord his God. And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered,' 2 Chron. xxxi. 20, 21. "It is the characteristic of the wicked that their heart is fully set in them to do evil,' Eccles. viii. 11. Of the insincere and unstable, it is said, 'Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty,' Hos. x. 2. 'A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways,' Jas. i. 8; but the characteristic of eminent piety is to have the heart set upon God. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee,' '"* Psa. lxxiii. 25. After speaking of the influence of motives, as applied to the human mind, my uncle closed, by observing— "The operation of motives to good on a willing mind characterizes a good man. The operation of motives to evil on a willing mind, characterizes a bad man. The resistance of powerful motives to good, constitutes a miserable man. The resistance of powerful motives to evil, constitutes a happy man." One of these people named Blatman, a sad ruffian, who had been engaged in a case of forcible abduction, in the Tipperary fashion, on one occasion, directed his vindictive efforts (as Mr. Moore has informed some of his private friends) against a woman who had been in some way concerned in occasioning the death of one of his dogs. He is stated to have for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth;" the lex talionis, the law of retaliation, is observed to the letter. And while their adherence to this false principle has its influence over them, it is vain to expect that harmony can exist, either among themselves, or between them and the colonists, who have not always themselves manifested the forbearance which becomes Christians, nor made fair allow-made every effort to wound her with a ance for the universal operation of the principle of retaliation among the natives, and have, in consequence, acted with precipitation and injustice, instead of endeavouring to avoid all occasions of offence. The following, out of many instances of returning evil for evil, may interest the reader, as they strikingly contrast with the charities of the Christian character. One savage had speared two others at Perth, one mortally, it was supposed; but after the lapse of a week, the wounded man set out, with others of his tribe, in search of his enemy, whom they overtook, and wounded with seven spears. The determined interference of a colonist saved him from death. While a poor boy was sitting by a fire, he was transfixed, in order to settle the balance of a spearing account, connected with the death of the son of a celebrated chief. Happily, the wounds inflicted by these spears, even in feuds of a deadly nature, are rarely mortal. In the former of the cases stated, one of the seven spears had entered deeply into the body, without any very serious result. Very often, in these combats, no wound at all is inflicted, owing to the wonderful agility with which the combatants jump aside, at the critical moment; and except in the most serious quarrels, it is considered foul play to aim higher than the leg or thigh; and few of these people are without scars in those parts of the body. A poor woman was speared in three places, though shielded by a man who had constantly interposed his own person between her and the threatened dart of her assailant; but having at length failed in defending her, the savage walked off with a smiling countenance, satisfied that he had done enough in a woman's cause, leaving the object of his recent protection and apparent anxiety, writhing on the ground in agony. He knew nothing of that sympathy which made the good Samaritan act so different a part. spear, walking round her, in the hope of executing his intentions, while two other men moving in interior circles to defend her, presented their own persons continually as shields. This wretch, however, professed to have no intention of inflicting any wound upon her except in the leg. Kind, considerate creature! So powerful is the impulse which leads them to shed blood for blood, that no considerations seem to withhold them from the accomplishment of their purpose. A soldier, standing at his barrack-door in Perth, was killed by a shower of spears, although a solemn promise had been made by the murderers that they would not take revenge for the death of one of their tribe, whom the military party had some time before shot, when making his escape, after they had arrested him for housebreaking and robbery, under very aggravated circumstances. While, however, these heathens are left in their ignorance, it is vain to suppose that they will either respect or even comprehend the social duties; and in estimating their character, much allowance will be made by the philanthropist. Several circumstances tend to prove that the Australians may be taught to distinguish between right and wrong. A striking instance of their capacity in this respect is related by Major Campbell. A native, who had been taught to understand the import of the eighth commandment, detected one of his companions in the act of secreting a spoon, while some settlers were hospitably preparing food for him. The honest savage, shocked at the conduct of the other, took the spoon from him, and compelled him to depart without the dinner intended for him. Indeed, by the exercise of a judicious system of management, they have, in some instances, been made, not only to distinguish between right and wrong, but even to consent to the infliction of punishment for transgressions. Mr. Dawson states a very interesting case to this effect. That gentleman had acquired (in South Australia) such a moral control over the natives in his neighbourhood, as to induce one of them to inflict a dozen lashes on one of his fellows for pilfering; and when the punishment was over, the offender, who had not flinched in the least, came up to Mr. Dawson, and said, "Murry cooler now, massa; are you angry with me now? Ino more crammer, (steal,) massa, neber." If these creatures be cunning, and sometimes treacherous, the cause may often be traced to the ill treatment they have received at the hands of the European, inflicting unprovoked injuries, of which the memory is retained through successive generations. If they once acquire confidence in any individual, they may be guided like children; and they soon learn to distinguish those strangers on whose word reliance may be placed. Major Campbell considers the northern inhabitants (and they are probably the least tractable of the tribes) as a mild race, attached to their wives and children, irascible, it is true, (sometimes terribly so, we know,) but easily appeased. Mr. Moore, as far as we can learn, seems to have gained their confidence in an extraordinary degree. He has partially prevailed upon one of them to form a little establishment of house and land for winter occupation; and it appears that they have acquired some experience of the comforts resulting from the cultivation of the earth. Bread, which hitherto has been liberally distributed among them by the colonists, is such an important object, as will doubtless induce them to raise corn in sufficient quantities for their own use, to the great relief of their present benefactors, who suffer much annoyance from the incessant importunity for food. Ultimately, they may provide occasional assistance to the settlers, who have now so inadequate a supply of stipendiary labour, and that at so insupportable a cost. It is admitted that the Australian aborigines are trustworthy and most punctual in the delivery of parcels and letters; and since a serious rencounter with them in the Murray district, (where a summary example was deemed necessary by Sir James Stirling, in consequence of Before his character was fully appreciated, two attempts were made upon his life. He alludes to this in his published letters. the loss of life and property to the settlers, by some daring savages,) it has not been found necessary to use arms against them. We will conclude these remarks with an anecdote, which shows that these people are teachable; that they have within them the elements of better things, the capacity for that knowledge which maketh "wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus;" that they can be made to understand "the first principles at least of the oracles of God;" and that, though they have at present no powers for strong meat," they become such as have need of milk," even "the sincere milk of the word," that they may grow thereby." 66 66 66 are The story is this, and we are indebted to a private letter of Mr. Moore for the information. A native, named Weeip, had speared a soldier to death, and had been concerned in the murder of a young colonist, (though possibly with sufficient cause, according to his own notions of retributive justice,) for which atrocities he was outlawed and pursued. Mr. Moore was instrumental in procuring the pardon of this wretched man, under the following circumstances. In July, 1834, a strong sensation was excited in the colony, by a report conveyed through the natives, that a vessel had been wrecked nearly six months previously, to the northward of the Swan River settlement, and that the crew and passengers were living in two rude tents. This was a subject of absorbing interest, and much deliberation took place, respecting the best mode of effecting a communication with the strangers. At first, an overland expedition on horseback was suggested; but this scheme was abandoned, on account of the high prices of horses, as it would have cost five hundred pounds to carry it into effect. It was then determined by the government, to send a vessel direct to Shark's Bay, (the supposed scene of the shipwreck,) and thence to search along the coast, which is only approachable at two points. to While pondering over every probable mode of communicating with the supposed sufferers, Mr. Moore seems have been struck with the practicability of conveying a letter to them, through the agency of the natives; and he obtained from the governor authority to propose the liberation of Weeip's son, (then in prison, as an accomplice in the murder of the soldier,) as an inducement to any of his friends who would deliver a letter to the shipwrecked party, and bring back an answer. It was not, however, easy to effect an immediate communication with any of the natives, who, afraid of encountering the military patroles, had concealed themselves closely in their hiding-places. But Mr. Moore persevered in riding about, in the hope of meeting Weeip. From the information afforded to him, he succeeded in finding some of the natives, but these were ignorant of any English words; yet he contrived to make himself intelligible, by signs and a few words, to one who had, on a former occasion, called himself the son of Weeip. Mr. Moore explained his desire to meet the outlaw himself, to whom, after he had given sufficient evidence of his pacific intentions, he was conducted by the individual just referred to, who led him through a thick wilderness, whistled gently, and pronounced the name of his companion, "Mitzer Moore." Weeip, like a spectre, issued forth from the thicket, and came up, with a cadaverous smile and outstretched hand. The dialogue which ensued was brief and emphatic. Mr. Moore detailed, in the manner, and, as far as was practicable, in the language of the other, that black man had told white man, that other white men (friends) were sitting on the ground at a distance, crying, and that the ship which had walked over the sea with them, was broken on the rocks; that the white men were sorrowful, and that he (Mr. Moore) would give black man a paper talk, (letter,) that black man should give that paper talk to white man at a distance; that paper talk should stop there; that white man should give another paper talk to black man, who should come back soon, and give it to Mr. Moore; and then that Beelgomera (Weeip's son) would be a friend, and governor would say, "Walk away, friend." Weeip, for a short interval, seemed to be doubtful about something; but Mr. Moore showed such earnestness, by look and gesture, and graphic sketches on the sand, and so explained that the 'paper talk" would tell whether Weeip had seen white man, that Beelgomera would be free, if the old man succeeded in his mission, and that Mr. Moore 66 would speak to the governor in favour of Weeip himself; that the outlaw at length consented, and said, that if Mr. Moore would go "when the sun had walked a little way," to an appointed spot, he would answer his call. They parted. Mr. Moore wrote a letter, "to the survivors of the shipwreck," informed them that a vessel was about to sail for their relief, directing them to look out, make signals, hoist flags, raise beacons, and send back the bearer, as soon as possible, with information as to their exact locality, etc. etc. He wrote two or three documents to the same effect, in large characters, rolled the whole tightly in oiled silk, and then repaired to the place where Weeip had promised to meet him. When Mr. Moore arrived there, he looked round on all sides. The spot was happily chosen for the security of the outlaw; a thicket to the right, an extensive plain in front: no living creature appeared to Mr. Moore, until he had called aloud; he was then instantly answered from the opposite side of the valley, a 'vantage ground, from which four natives were observing all his movements; so that they could easily have escaped observation and pursuit, if they had noticed any thing suspicious on the part of their visitor, who descended one side of the valley, crossed a brook, and, ascending the other side, was received by the natives in a friendly manner, though he remarked that they were supplied with a formidable number of war spears, with which they had equipped themselves, since his preceding visit to the outlaw. Mr. Moore showed to Weeip the small parcel, which was about the thickness of a man's finger, and four inches long, and asked him if he would go. The other readily answered, "Yes, and all his scruples seemed to be at an end. He explained his plan, which was to take two companions, to avoid unfriendly tribes, take the direction of the coast, go in fifteen days, and return in the same period of time. Thus was this benevolent gentleman enabled to render a father instrumental in obtaining freedom for his son, and to give the father himself the opportunity of obtaining pardon from the doom of death, to which he had been sentenced, by faithfully fulfilling the arduous mission which he had undertaken, for rescuing, as was supposed, several human beings from a state of lingering misery and hopeless despair. |