ords contain much truth. God holds all
parents, according to their light and understanding, responsible for the
training of their children.

If you have a preference among your children, never reveal it. On the
contrary, endeavor to place the less favored ahead in your care and
attention. You can justly do this, for the favorite will get all the
attention he deserves anyway. I well remember a case where the mother's
favorite son brought sorrow and shame to the entire household by
stealing from his own father, simply because she had humored and petted
him in childhood. Parents can not be too careful in this respect.

Many a mother does not realize how highly her children value her
opinion. A boy had met with an accident that somewhat disfigured him for
a time. While he was preparing to leave for school, his mother said,
"You will no doubt be made sport of today; are you able to bear it?" His
answer was, "Oh, I don't care what any one says about me but you; but if
you were to make fun of me, I couldn't stand it."

SWEET GEM OF THE HOME.

_Thou formal home, so graced, so blest,
With earthly treasures rare;
Within thy portals we expect
All graces rich and fair.

We gaze, we search, but all in vain;
The gem we love so well,
"Sweet innocence," doth not remain,
Nor in thy chambers dwell.

Thy children, as the world they greet,
Are bearing tales of thee;
"I was not warned," they oft repeat,
Nor taught at Mother's knee.

Sweet Innocence, thou heav'nly grace,
Rich gem from God above!
Thy touch upon the human face
Reveals but peace and love.

Thy treasures richer far than gold,
Thy gifts of greatest worth,
Might grace our homes, except for sin,
Whose curse now sweeps the earth.

We look for thee within the maid,
With beauty, grace, and charm,
But find thy flight she hath not stayed,
Nor doth she feel alarm.

Then in the lad, whose noble brow
Thy presence might suggest;
With closer view we must allow
By thee he is not blest.

E'en when we look within the child
And laud his graces sweet,
We find his mind so soon defiled
For thee 'tis no retreat.

"And why?" we ask, "oh! why is this?
Such need and dearth abound.
Oh! why in homes of promised bliss
May not this gem be found?"

The mystery, so deep, so great,
Is simply l