It requires, however, judicious management on the part of a parent to watch over the progress of her children, ascertain their improvement, and discover any defects in their management, without allowing the children to know that she is displeased with “the governess.” The moment a child begins to discover that those who instruct her are not perfectly agreed among themselves, then she takes advantage of her knowledge to treat her governess with impertinence.

Whatever fault, therefore, may be found, whatever errors reproved, must be done in the absence of the children. Not a word or look of the parents should ever sanction a child in thinking that she is pleasing them by displeasing the governess.

The terms I have named may perhaps be considered high, and some ladies may say they cannot afford them. Is it so? Or is it that you do not choose to sacrifice some personal gratification for the good of your child ? Is this maternal love? Is this the pure spirit of self-sacrifice which we associate in idea with the sacred name of mother? What is

What is it you are required to give up? You give six dinner

a

parties in the season. Confine yourself to five, and add what you have saved to the salary of your governess. It will be something worthy of her acceptance. Or do with one dress and bonnet less, if in more limited circumstances. Make

any

sacrifice rather than that of the wel. fare of your children.

Interest yourself, too, in the well-being of your governesses. Encourage them and aid them to insure their lives, to provide something for their old age, to make the most in every way of their salary. No philanthropic plan was ever organised, under the most distinguished patronage, that would work more universal good than this.

Another duty to all concerned is, to take yourself at times the care of your own children. Her Majesty-in this, as in all else, a pattern to mothers—is said to devote a certain period daily to the society of her children. Nurses and governesses are dismissed, and the royal parents and their children are alone together. Will no peculiarities of temper or character be developed ? Will no erroneous notions be corrected? Will no virtues be strengthened, nor family bonds made yet more firm by this untrammelled intercourse? Benefit to every party concerned must be the result of this plan, which should be adopted by every parent in the realm.

Another mooted point is the bounds to the intercourse between the governess and the family. Speaking from experience, I never can think it advisable for the governess to be expected to spend every evening in the drawingroom. It is an intolerable tax on all partiesa loss of time to the governess, who should be amusing or improving herself; and very embarrassing to a husband and wife, who probably have their own affairs to discuss. But why should not the governess be invited, like any other visitor, and when in the drawing-room be treated as her education and responsible office demand ? Surely the best solution of a difficulty felt by both parties would be found in this simple expedient.

Much could I say of the trials of a governess -of the wear and tear of brain, which results so frequently in insanity; of the many and peculiar trials of the profession; but I refrain. One caution only would I give, not to make a great profession of religion, whilst your deeds are at variance with it.

D D

.

To conclude. In the relation of parents and governesses, as in every other in life, one, and but one rule of life is required. Let mothers do to the instructresses of their children as they would wish others to do to them in like circumstances; but let them not pique themselves on being good mothers, or deserving of the name of mothers at all, while they will not, for the sake of their offspring, forego one superfluous luxury, or subdue one unchristian temper.

Act then on that one single-minded principle of “doing as you would be done by.” When this perfect maxim of human conduct becomes the principle of the actions of those who employ governesses, that class will become, by the force of natural circumstances, more competent to fulfil their duties. They will have inducements to make their whole profession honourable ; whilst it now requires a mighty effort in certain individuals to maintain even the humble position assigned to it by public opinion.

I will conclude by reminding you that the Bible itself commands that exercise of justice, of the wisdom and policy of which I have been endeavouring to convince you.

303

L'ENVOI.

“L'homme propose, mais Dieu dispose” is a motto which perhaps every one of us might adopt as our own. Into how many paths are we led by the force of circumstances, which would be the last we should select were we absolutely free agents! And yet how often it happens that, tracing back step by step our career, we find that there is some obvious good, not only to ourselves but to others, in the state of affairs which we might otherwise be tempted to regard as unfortunate.

In truth, had we that profound faith in the good Providence of our heavenly Father which we all profess to have, we should be rather inclined to look round us, and see how we could turn each circumstance to the best advantage to ourselves and others, than repine at a lot which may and must have good in it, if we only knew how to recognise it.

Can any phenomenon in nature be more won