Infant Schools. A hundred pence are eight and fourpence, 59 All the time their hands will beat time as the tune proceeds. Now the mistress will perhaps tell them a story, which may produce some useful impression, or at least amuse and interest the mind, and thus prevent fatigue. The children will now be allowed to play for half an hour out of doors, and will return with fresh relish to spell words of one syllable placed upon cards suspended from the wall. Sitting down, they will repeat or sing the alphabet, keeping time with their feet or hands; or they will tell you in metre and melody-" This is the way we sow our corn,' "This the way we wash our clothes," &c.-" This is the way we comb our hair," &c.-"This is the way the mill goes round," &c. "This is the way we wash our face, when our mother bids us,"-accompanying all these childish lessons with appropriate actions. The children will now perhaps march, clap their hands, or enjoy themselves at any game of romps, until by a bell they are called to order, and made to give the history of the pictures which are hung from the walls, the characters and properties of some of the animals, &c. which are described upon paper, or the use of instruments, &c. &c. and, lastly, they will sing an evening hymn, and return home. It is obvious that some of the very youngest children, of eighteen months or two years old, cannot join at first in all that I have detailed; but they will be engaged partially; and in time they will fall into the routine of business. Part of their time will be spent in sleep; to this, as in every thing else, the watchfulness of the mistress will be extended; the children will be placed in safe corners, where they will slumber on until awakened by some burst of glee, when they look around with a smile, and mechanically join in the proceedings. Is a child naughty, is he obstinate, or does he com mence his education by scratching, kicking, or biting his neighbours? (a very common case) and is he or she to be called to order?-All the machinery of the school is suspended; the mistress of the school appeals to the children," What shall we do to this naughty child? Shall we turn him out of school?"-"No," say the children. "Shall we beat him?"- "No, we won't beat him."-" What then, shall I scold him well ?"— "No."-"Why, do you not hate such a bad boy?"— No, we will love him."- "And how will you shew that you love him?"-" We will try to make him better."-"And when he is good, and sorry for his faults, what will you do then?"" We will forgive him." By simple measures, such as these, good principles are encouraged. 66 I have endeavoured to give a faint sketch of the principles and proceedings of an Infant School. Nothing, however, but the being witness to their details, can at all satisfy the enquirer. I shall close my letter with a quotation, which, though never intended to apply to institutions such as those whose cause I have been pleading, yet may be at least allowed to sanction any project which has the welfare of little children for its object. "And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them; and said, whoso shall receive one such little child in my name, receiveth me.”St. Matthew's Gospel. - Your's, ECCLESIASTES. THE MOTHER'S GRAVE. MR. EDITOR, THE finer feelings of the heart, are by some persons considered to be enjoyed only by those in the higher walks of life; yet the following relation (for the truth The Mother's Grave. 61 of which I can answer, being acquainted with the individuals,) may serve to shew that these nicer emotions have a place in the minds of cottagers. A poor woman, about 60 years of age, residing in the town of was seized with a paralytic affection; and successive returns of the same disorder brought her to the grave, after lingering about five years, totally confined to her bed for the greater part of that period. She had several daughters, one of whom resided with her, the rest were settled at a distance. They occasionally visited their mother, and were greatly struck by her extreme patience under such severe affliction. After her death, her daughter, who had a family, occupied the house, where she was soon after visited by her sister from who was married, and had several children. These two sisters determined to visit their mother's grave, which was in a country church-yard, a short distance from They did so; and these two mothers, surrounded by their children, visited the grave of her whom they had lost, spoke of her virtues and her fervent piety, and thence took occasion to point out the example of her character to their offspring, admonishing them to tread in her steps. Some of the children were too young to feel the solemnity of the occasion, but on the rest, it will, I doubt not, make a lasting impression. One of the daughters, who gave me the foregoing account, told me several little incidents respecting her mother; and to this day, though it is some years since she died, never speaks of her without tears. (Sent without a name.) THE LABOURER'S WEEKLY BANK. THE object of this institution is to enable the industrious labourer to lay by a small portion of his weekly earnings to form a fund towards the payment of his rent, or for the purchase of fuel or clothing, so necessary at the winter season of the year. This object is to be effected by the weekly payment of a small sum, the whole to be returned at the end of the year, together with an addition by way of interest, as an encouragement to industry and frugality. Thus, for instance, every person subscribing the weekly sum of 2s. will have contributed 57. 4s. at the end of the year, for which he shall receive 67. Every person subscribing 1s. a week shall receive 31., and every person subscribing 6d. a week shall receive 17. 10s. The Weekly Bank will be conducted according to the following regulations. No person shall subscribe more than 2s. nor less than 6d. a week, the same to be paid to the officiating clergyman every week, and entered in a book provided for that purpose. Each person's money subscribed during the year, shall be returned, together with the interest, on an appointed day between Christmas day and New Year's day. Any subscriber may withdraw his money at any time before the end of the year, but in that case shall be entitled to no allowance in the way of interest. If every labourer in the kingdom, who had work in the summer, would make the most of the advantage which such a bank offers, he would soon find himself a different sort of man. This would be a capital reform, and he might laugh at those who pretend that they could give him a better. Kirdford Vicarage, Dec. 22d. 1830. Letter from a Coachman. 63 FOR THE RELIEF OF PERSONS WHOSE BACKS ARE SORE AFTER A LONG ILLNESS. CHOP Castille soap into small pieces, and pour on them a little boiling water. Simmer it on the fire, and then add brandy, just enough to make it a very soft paste, almost liquid, and then lay it gently with a feather on the sore places. This should be done, if possible, before the bones. are through the skin, but even after that it will be found to give great relief. The effect of this has been seen to be very great. M. C.. LETTER FROM A COACHMAN. [We cannot help printing the following letter, as the Coachman speaks so civilly of our little Magazine.] To the Editor of the Cottager's Monthly Visitor. HONOURED SIR, I LIKE your book, so does my master, who takes it in, and speaks well of it to all his friends, as the butler tells me. When he and the family have done with it, they send it into the hall, where I generally read it, being a bit of a scholar, thanks to the schooling my father gave me when a young one; and if there's any long words, why then I know how to read them, and know how to explain them to the rest; for, would you believe it, sir, some of my fellow-servants can't cleverly read your book; and as for the small print, it quite founders them; and as to writing, why they can't join a letter decently together. You know, sir, servants have to make out a bit of an account to shew their masters; and I have, many a time, seen some of them take up |