HAPPY NEW YEAR.

"HAPPY New Year, Happy New Year!" cried half a dozen of ruby faced children, as they burst into the parlour where their father and mother were sitting just ready to take their places at the breakfast table;-and they were soon made happy by receiving the fond kiss customary on these occasions, and espying the basket under the table, which they rightly judged contained the presents of which they had all night been dreaming.

I hardly dare to say when the circumstance above related occurred, for it would give an air of too great antiquity to my subject. With the improvement of the age, and the march of intellect, there are some old customs, which I am disposed to think unhappily forgotten; and one of them is this very custom of children and servants wishing a happy new year

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to the heads of the domestic circle, and receiving in return, not only some kind expressions of good will, but some more manifest tokens of regard in the shape of presents. These are among the 'small things' of life which ought not to be despised; for however trifling they may appear, they most certainly have a tendency to draw closer the cords of social enjoyment. If the state of society some century and a half ago, was rather too stiff and formal, it is now too much relaxed and independent. I remember a great uncle, who used to entertain me sometimes, when I was too boisterous and free for his taste, by telling me, that when he was a child, he always was used to make a bow when he came into the room where his parents were sitting, and he never presumed to take a seat till he was told, and that then he sat perfectly still, and never spoke till he was spoken This I think was all wrong, because, I apprehend, the warmth of affection may be somewhat chilled; but, at the same time, I am not without some misgivings whether even this is not better than the rude and unmannerly deportment of some children at the present day. I have seen much of the world, being fond of travel, and myself a member of what may be called 'good society,' so that my intercourse wherever I am, is always among persons of the most respectable

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standing; and I have remarked that the children of the present day are very different from those I have heard and read of, in the time of our forefathers. I have seen many a family of children enter the parlour in the morning, and never think of any respectful address to their parents or elders, such as 'good morning,' &c.; and I have seen them, when there was company in the room, making themselves as noisy as they listed; and I have seen them at table, helping themselves to what they pleased, and expressing their likes and dislikes, as if they were perfectly their own masters. Now all this may be very fine, and indicate a great improvement in society, but to my old fashioned taste, I am not sure that the 'old ways' were not on the whole better calculated not only for domestic happiness, but for the ultimate welfare of the children themselves.

But methinks my readers will begin to wonder what all this has to do with happy new year:'-well, let it pass, and I will go back to my story. I happened to be on a visit to a friend in the city of and intended only to spend the Christmas holidays; but a storm of snow detained me till the third of January; and as I am always an early riser, I was in the parlour, when Mr and Mrs Smith (for so I shall call them) came down. After such recognitions as

were suitable to ourselves, we sat down to chat, and in a few moments we were broken in upon, by the exclamations with which I began my relation. As soon as the breakfast was despatched, which was hastily done (for I have never seen children who had much appetite when their expectations of some other gratification were high), the basket was placed on the table, and Mrs Smith, who officiated on the occasion, soon removed the mysterious cover, and unveiled the contents. I do not stop to tell what these were. There was a great variety, and all judiciously selected. I saw no cakes or sweetmeats. There were a few oranges and nuts and raisins, but the mass was principally made up of work bags, &c. for the girls, some appropriate articles of amusement for the younger boys, and some articles of utility for the servants; there was also a doll for the infant: but the most I saw was in the form of books-really good, substantially useful books, such as were calculated to interest the attention, and inform the understanding; and they all were selected with a view to their religious bearing, for Mr and Mrs Smith were fully persuaded that it is unlawful for Christians to put any books in their children's hands, but those that at least shall have a religious aspect. I involuntarily put my hand into my pocket, to draw out some

half dozen little books with which I had provided myself; and I recollected at once, that I had thoughtlessly bought one of the high priced English annuals, more for its beauty than any thing else, and which I had intended to present to Eliza Smith, the eldest daughter. This book was filled with most exquisitely beautiful engravings and touching stories, but no religion was there. I had read it, and admired much that I had read; but my conscience misgave me soon after I had bought it, for there were some pieces of amatory poetry, and some stories calculated to foster false taste and sentiment. When I saw how much more judicious the parents had been, I thought at once, Shall I put what may do harm amidst all this good? shall I play the part of a serpent in this paradise, and tempt to food which may be 'pleasant to the eye,' but not calculated to make men wise' or good. I withdrew my hand, determined rather to be thought churlish, than, at the risk of harm, win a childish affection. The thought passed my mindwhat a pity that there is not a RELIGIOUS ANNUAL, which may be safely given as a new year's present.

As soon as the presents were opened, and admiration had exhausted its vocabulary of beautiful, elegant, delightful, and some dozen or so of such expressions, Mr Smith observed, "I think your mother has for