Be orderly in your own habits, and teach the little ones to put away their toys when done with, in places provided for them. I may note here that children are often untidy and needlessly destructive of their toys because no provision is made for orderly ways, and no settled places given for their childish treasures. Let them thoroughly enjoy the use of these, but teach them that their toys are worth something, and that wilful destruction results in loss to themselves. Turn a bright, happy face for a child to study, that your smile may be reflected in his. Cultivate a cheerful disposition and an even temper, that you may rejoice in seeing joyous little ones in your homes. Apart from ill-health and the consequent bodily suffering which naturally makes the poor little people fretful and peevish, I honestly believe that many mothers are responsible for the ill-tempers of their children. If they had always cultivated habits of self-restraint, and prayerfully watched against and checked every tendency to discontent, angry passions, selfishness, etc., I am convinced they would have had less cause to mourn over peevish, passionate, ill-tempered, exacting children. I have used the word _always_ advisedly. The cultivation of every pure, right, holy habit, temper and method of speech, should begin long before a young mother actually clasps her child to her breast, if he is to come into the world such as she would have him to be. With what widely differing feelings do parents look forward to the gift of a child! In some cases it is in the hope of keeping property in the direct line, so that others may not inherit it. Dear ones, it may be that none amongst you have need to cherish such thoughts, or to expect any great share of this world’s wealth, for those who may some day call you by the sweet name of mother. On all who bear it will devolve the solemn responsibility of training your children for something greater, higher and better than the richest earthly inheritance. It must never be forgotten that it is the children of human mothers who are the heirs of immortality. It is the glorious privilege and duty of the mother to teach her little ones the old, old story of God’s love in Christ Jesus, and to put before them the precious truth that in Him and through Him they become children of God. “And if children, heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ.” Children are sometimes used as outlets for a mother’s vanity and love of display. She delights to clothe them in the richest and costliest of silks and laces, less for their comfort than to show that she is wealthy enough to do so. These things are of little real account. The soft woollen garments knitted and fashioned by the loving hands of a poor mother, and the mere scraps of material adorned with pretty stitching by her busy fingers, and kept in snowy purity, will be just as comfortable and becoming as the more costly clothing.