elder, was disposed to justify himself on some points of the accusation-but his son John dissuaded him from it, saying, "that it well became anti-christ to conceal himself by lies; but that God would at the last day make manifest to the whole world on which side truth and innocence lay." Being on the scaffold, he took leave of his father in these words :-" My dear father, from this moment you are no longer my father, nor I your son, but we are brothers in Jesus Christ, for the love of whom we are about to die: we shall this day go to him, who is our Father, and the Father of all the faithful, and shall, in his presence, enjoy life eternal.”

Thus, adds the author, did these three courageously die in the midst of a crowd of spectators, whom a spectacle so moving melted into tears.

A GHOST ACCOUNTED FOR.

THERE is an excellent paper in the "Spectator," No. XII. “On Superstitious Terrors," in which the weakness of reasonable creatures, in delighting to astonish and terrify one another, is admirably pointed out, by the description of a party telling ghost-stories! The effect produced by such tales is thus related: "As one spirit raised another, I observed that at the end of every story the whole company closed their ranks, and crowded about the fire. I took notice, in particular, of a little boy, who was so attentive to every story, that I am mistaken if he ventures to go to bed by himself this twelvemonth. Indeed, they talked so long, that the imaginations of the whole assembly were crazed, and, I am sure, will be the worse for it as long as they live."

The author concludes with the following pertinent remarks:"Were I a father, I should take particular care to preserve my children from these little horrors and imaginations which they are too apt to contract when they are young, and are not able to shake off when they are in years. I have known a soldier that has entered a breach, affrighted at his own shadow, and look pale upon a little scratching at his door, who, the day before,

had marched up against a battery of cannon.

There are instances of persons who have been terrified even to distraction at the figure of a tree, or the shaking of a bulrush. The truth of it is, I look upon a sound imagination as the greatest blessing of life, next to a clear judgment and a good conscience."

The general spread of education since this was written, has happily done much towards overturning the vulgar notions about ghosts, and other old women's fables; still, it is to be feared, many a winter evening is even now whiled away in several parts of the kingdom, by the story of some unaccountable apparition that appeared to one of the party, or of some strange noise that was heard by a neighbour, which in all probability might have been as easily explained as the following one.

In the county of, in a retired part of a gentleman's grounds stood a church, famed for the ancient monuments it contained, and the noble trees by which it was surrounded. A path little frequented lay across the churchyard to a neighbouring village, through which a son of this gentleman was in the daily habit of passing to and from school. In the winter months, it was usually dusk before he reached this lonely spot, and often, he has since confessed, as he wound his way through the tombstones, did the ghost-tales he had heard in his childhood recur to his memory with fearful apprehension. Still nothing occurred to realize his fears. On a December night, however, being detained at school beyond his usual hour, the darkness had increased to such a degree, that nothing but a thorough knowledge of the road would have enabled him to have traced it. The wind, to his excited mind, howled mournfully through the trees, the owl hooted from the tower with unusual clamour; every bush assumed a shape, and every sound added to his terror. He soon reached the churchyard, which he rapidly strode across, whistling to drive away his thoughts. Suddenly his attention was aroused by a distant clanking of chains; it speedily drew nearer, dashing against the tombs with tenfold violence. At one moment the rattling was before, at another behind-now on this side, then on that: still not a step was heard, or an object seen With fears beyond description, he reached the outer gate, and ran towards his father's house: the faster, however, he ran, the

closer did the chain bound after him, till, exhausted and overcome by fright, he fell, and immediately a long and gaunt figure sprang on him, and touched his cheek with its clammy face.

He was soon recalled to his senses by the warm tongue and affectionate caresses of the supposed ghost, which proved to be a favourite greyhound, that had broken away with part of its chain, and had been gamboling around its young master, though the darkness of the night, and his absurd fear, had rendered it invisible.

This little story, which actually occurred in a gentleman's family, will not be told in vain, if it conveys a twofold lesson. First, to nurses and families generally, on the impropriety of telling children ghost-stories, or any thing that may tend to frighten them; for not only are their fears a source of misery to them in after-life, but, as in the instance before us, they may lead to the most melancholy results. Next, to all lovers of marvellous tales, that those ridiculous stories of apparitions and noises, which they delight to hear, often the creation of a superstitious imagination, may, generally speaking, be accounted for if properly inquired into.

N.

THE BLESSINGS OF VACCINATION.

AMONG all the names which ought to be consecrated by the gratitude of mankind, that of Jenner stands pre-eminent; it would be difficult, we are inclined to say impossible, to select from the catalogue of benefactors to human nature, an individual who has contributed so largely to the preservation of life, and to the alleviation of suffering.

Into whatever corner of the world the blessings of printed knowledge has penetrated, there also will the name of Jenner be familiar; but the fruits of his discovery have ripened in barbar_ ous soils, where books have never been opened, and where the savage does not pause to inquire from what source he has derived relief.

No improvement in the physical sciences can bear a parallel with that which ministers, in every part of the globe, to the prevention of deformity, and, in a great proportion, to the exemption from actual destruction.

The ravages which the small-pox formerly committed are scarcely conceived or recollected by the present generation; and an instance of death occurring after vaccination is now eagerly seized and commented upon; yet forty years have not elapsed * since this disease might fairly be termed the scourge of mankind, and an enemy more extensive and more insidious in its warfare than even the plague.

A family blighted in its fairest hopes through this terrible visitation, was an every-day spectacle; the imperial house of Austria lost eleven of its offspring by the small-pox, in fifty years alone this instance is mentioned because it is historical, but in the obscure and unrecorded scenes of life, this pest was often a still more merciless intruder.

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"While the vaccine discovery was progressive, the joy I felt (says this amiable man) at the prospect before me, of being the instrument destined to take away from the world one of its greatest calamities, blended with the fond hope of enjoying independence, and domestic peace and happiness, were often so excessive, that, in pursuing my favourite subject among the meadows, I have sometimes found myself in a kind of reverie. It is pleasant to me to recollect that those reflections always ended in devout acknowledgments to that Being from whom this and all other blessings flow.”—Family Library, No. XIV. Life of Jenner.

ON THE ADVANTAGE OF EARLY RELIGIOUS IMPRESSIONS.

SIR,

To the Editor of the Family Monitor.

AT the present period, when the subject of education has employed the pen of so many able writers, it may seem presumptuous to venture any suggestion upon it, more especially in a publication of this nature, which will only admit of a few pages

being dedicated to any one article; but as the "Family Monitor" appears to be a work likely to have an extensive circulation, it may possibly, in its range, find some individual who has not considered the subject deeply, some one who being young, is inexperienced, and will not cavil at a hint given with a good intention, by a mother who has had a large family.

By the term "education," I would not be understood to mean instruction, either in those various branches of science, or those ornamental attainments, in which children of the present day are such early proficients. Teachers of these things every where abound; persons who have been brought up expressly for the purpose of communicating this kind of knowledge, and who, being thoroughly grounded, are qualified for the task they undertake. My intention is to confine myself simply to that species of instruction which has for its object the forming the infant mind, and giving an early habit of religion. It has been said by one whose axioms are the result of deep reflection and acute observation, that "education begins in the cradle;" and no one who has not studied the tastes and the capacities of children, could imagine how soon their tender minds may be interested on any subject, that can be so simplified, as to be brought down to the level of their understandings; still less could they believe at how early a period the foundation of future character is laid, unless they have carefully traced effects to their causes, in all the different shades of temper, and habit, and sentiment, which we find in mature age. Let any one of my readers examine himself, and see whether he cannot date some prejudice, some superstition, or it may be some love of truth, or reverence for holy things, either to the injudicious and foolish tales, or to the good example of the nursery.

Different dispositions, and different degrees of intellect, are undoubtedly born with us; and though tempers may be improved, or injured, and talents cultivated or neglected, something of their original character will be retained through life. That opinions and notions are imbibed, is a position which I believe no one will attempt to controvert; Locke having sufficiently proved that there are no "innate ideas." If, therefore, it be a desirable object that our children should, in advanced life, love God, and trace his individual providence, and his superintending care, in

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