THE MOTHER OF WASHINGTON

BY MRS. L. H. SIGOURNEY.

.

LONG hast thou slept unnoted. Nature stole

In her soft ministry, around thy bed,

And spread her vernal coverings, violet-gemm'd,

And pearl'd with dews. She bade bright Summer bring

Gifts of frankincense, with sweet song of birds,

And Autumn cast his yellow coronet

Down at thy feet, and stormy Winter speak
Hoarsely of man's neglect. But now we come
To do thee homage, Mother of our Chief,
Fit homage, such as honoreth him who pays!
Methinks we see thee, as in olden time,
Simple in garb-majestic and serene-

Unaw'd by "pomp and circumstance”—in truth
Inflexible and with Spartan zeal

Repressing vice, and making folly grave.

Thou didst not deem it woman's part to waste

Life in inglorious sloth, to sport awhile
Amid the flowers, or on the summer wave,
Then fleet like the ephemeron away,

Building no temple in her children's hearts,
Save to the vanity and pride of life
Which she had worshipp'd.

Of the might that cloth'd

"The Pater Patriæ "-of the deeds that won
A nation's liberty, and earth's applause,

Making Mount Vernon's tomb a Mecca haunt--
For patriot and for sage while time shall last,
What part was thine, what thanks to thee are due,
Who mid his elements of being wrought

With no uncertain aim-nursing the germs

Of godlike virtue in his infant mind,

We know not,-heaven can tell!

Rise, noble pile!

And show a race unborn, who rests below-
And say to mothers, what a holy charge
Is theirs with what a kingly power their love
Might rule the fountains of the new-born mind-
Warn them to wake at early dawn, and sow
Good seed before the world doth sow its tares,
Nor in their toil decline-that angel bands
May put the sickle in, and reap for God,
And gather to his garner.

Ye who stand

With thrilling breast and kindling cheek this morn, Viewing the tribute that Virginia pays

To the blest Mother of her glorious Chief;

Ye, whose last thought upon your nightly couch

Whose first, at waking, is your cradled son,

What though no dazzling hope aspires to rear
A second Washington, or leave your name
Wrought out in marble, with your country's tears
Of deathless gratitude,—yet may ye raise
A monument above the stars, a soul

Led by your teachings, and your prayers, to God.

THE TWENTY-SECOND OF DECEMBER.

BY W. C. BRYANT.

WILD was the day; the wintry sea

Moaned sadly on New England's strand,

When first the thoughtful and the free,
Our fathers, trod the desert land.

They little thought how pure a light,

With years should gather round that day;
How love should keep their memories bright,
How wide a realm their sons should sway.

Green are their bays;

but greener still

Shall round their spreading fame be wreathed,

And regions, now untrod, shall thrill

With reverence when their names are breathed.

Till where the sun, with softer fires,

Looks on the vast Pacific's sleep,

The children of the pilgrim sires

This hallowed day like us shall keep.

THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

BY HON. JOSEPH W. SAVAGE.

SIR, our Common Schools are places wherein the children of all our people meet. They study together, they associate together upon a common level. They come to understand and know each other, assimilate in morals, in tastes, and in habits. A sort of brotherhood is established, fraternity of feeling promoted, and a foundation for a life of liberality and kindness towards each other is laid. The importance of this consideration is not, I fear sufficiently appreciated. Its influence is measureless in giving practical effect to that spirit of universal toleration which breathes through all our institutions and speaks in all our laws. I know well, that our Common Schools have been denounced as "Godless" and "infidel" by a denomination that arrogates to itself all the wisdom, all the truth, and all the piety of the world. I know they have been thus denounced because they do not teach a blind and unquestioning obedience to the priesthood, because they do not inculate the doctrines of Rome as a primary element of Education. I should hold them as worse than useless if they did so, because I am myself a heretic according to the papal creed. But, sir, I should be equally opposed to the introduction of my own particular faith as one

to be propagated through our Common Schools or by means of the Common School Fund. Those schools are not the places to shape the particular faith of the pupils. Faith in the Bible itself should be taught, its holy inspiration as the word of the great God spoken to man as a guide to salvation should be taught, because it is so regarded by all denominations of Christians. Certain great fundamental truths of Christianity should be inculcated, for they are acknowledged by all; but creeds and dogmas should be left to home influence, or to the calm study of the Bible itself.

Sir, the children educated by these funds are to be the future sovereigns of the country; they are to wield the destiny, for good or for evil, of the State. What kind of education should they have, to fit them for the exercise of this power and these duties? No one, I presume, will deny the proposition that it should be intellectual, historical and moral: upon these three propositions all will unite. The history taught should be authentic; it should be the truth; it should not be fashioned and shaped to meet the views of any sect, nor to promote or screen any particular denomination—nor should it be arranged with a view to prejudice or wipe out any stain from the character of any man or combination of men, or from any institution that belongs to or has passed into history.

The morality taught should be of the very highest and purest character, shaped to meet the views of no sect or denomination, nor fashioned to square with the consciences of any particular sect. The State educates the children not for