Eight cousins : or, The aunt-hill

BROTHER BONES. 221knowledge so much, and fathers and mothers oughtto be able to give it to you. Few of them are able,and so we all go blundering, as you say. Less Greekand Latin and more knowledge of the laws of healthfor my boys, if I had them. Mathematics are all verywell, but morals are better, and I wish, hoio I wishthat I could help teachers and j^arents to feel it asthey ought."" Some do ; Aunt Jessie and her boys have capitaltalks, and I wish we could ;but mother 's so busy withher housekeeping, and father with hisbusiness, therenever seems to be tiny time for that sort of thing ;evenif there was, it don't seem as if it would be easy totalk to them, because we 'veit,never got into the way ofyou know."Poor Mac was right there, and expressed a wantthat many a boy and girl feels.Fathers and mothersare too absorbed in business and housekeeping to studytheir children, and cherish that sweet and naturalconfidence Avhich is a child's surest safeguard, and aparent's subtlest poM'er. So the young hearts hidetrouble or temptation till the harm is done, and mutualregret comes too late. Happy the boys and girls whotell all things freely to father or mother, sure of pity,help, and pardon ;and thrice happy the parents who,out of their own experience, and by their own virtues,can teach and uplift the souls for which they are responsible.This longing stirred in the hearts of Rose and Mac,and by a naturalimpulse both turned to Dr. Alec, forin this queer world of ours, fatherly and motherlyhearts often beat warm and wise in the breasts of