To American Mothers, 

on whose intelligence and discretion 

the safety and prosperity of our 

Republic so much depend, 

this volume is respectfully inscribed.

_I__
INTRODUCTION.

We are told, that when Antipater demanded of the

Lacedemonians fifty of their children as hostages, they

replied that they would rather surrender fifty of the most

eminent men in the state, whose principles were already

formed, than children to whom the want of early instruc-

tion would be a loss altogether irreparable.  The Spartans

were wise; and shall Christians be less so ?  Oh  no;-for

we believe that our labor cannot perish even with life;-

we believe that, even if the inscrutable providence of God

removes these objects of affection from us, neither the

pleasure they have poured into our hearts, nor the good we

have imparted to them will, or can, be lost.'