DEFECTIVE VISION.

THE pages of the Christian Lady's Magazine being frequently opened to subjects of a miscellaneous character, I am induced to offer some remarks on one of general importance, too much neglected.

Any one who compares the present time with what was passing some twenty or thirty years ago, must be struck by the large proportion of young persons who suffer, or seem to suffer, from weakness of sight. I am aware that a contemptible and sinful affectation leads many to make use of glasses, who have no occasion for such helps; but the cases of really defective vision are very numerous, and some predisposing cause must exist in a greater degree than it formerly did. I wish to touch on one; hoping that a timely hint may not be unacceptable to young housekeepers about to fit up a mansion.

We have all probably experienced the painful sensation occasioned by suddenly emerging from comparative darkness to a strong light; and oculists are agreed that it is no less injurious than painful. The eye is a proverbially tender organ, very susceptible of harm, and quick in giving intimation when any thing distresses it; now, if my own experience may be relied on, the modern fashion of hanging beds, and chamber-windows, with bright, showy colours, is exceedingly hurtful to the sight. I have often slept where the morning light was reflected upon my

eye from a tint of glaring crimson, vivid yellow, or glowing pink; and the sensation occasioned has warned me that mischief was done. The cots of young children are very often thus injudiciously lined; and a bedroom is generally considered inelegant, unless it have some drapery of brilliant dye, to produce the effect of lightness, so much sought after in the realms of that pernicious thing called fashion. We ought to allow a due share of consideration to the possible injury that others may sustain, when fol lowing the dictates of our particular fancy; and I would suggest to the mothers of families a serious examination of this matter, for it is a very important one. If the eyes be so weakened in early youth as to require what was formerly considered the appendage of declining years, what are we to expect when natural decay is superadded to the already existing infirmity of that organ? I look abroad, and see a thousand bright colours spread before me by the hand that cannot err; but they only form a small lively pattern, laid out on a ground-work of cool, refreshing green, over-hung with a canopy of gentle blue, and illumined by the broad, equal light of day. Let us follow this plan in our houses, as nearly as art can tread in the steps of nature's Great Architect, and we shall do well.

A concluding remark I would beg leave to add : It is undeniable that the eye is powerfully affected by the state of the digestive organs. Can anything be more directly calculated to derange and weaken these, than the preposterously late hours now chosen for our principal meal? We trifle with the stomach, by giving it just sufficient to deaden the natural craving for food in the middle of the day,

and then in the evening load it with a mass of heavy ingredients, unfitting ourselves for sleep at the right hour of withdrawing to rest, and either insuring an unquiet, unrefreshing night, or obliging ourselves to remain up, under the glare of artificial light, to the lasting injury of all our faculties. If any proof were needed as to the origin of these evils being clearly traceable to the innovations of modern refinement, I need only point to the humbler classes, and bid my readers mark the difference, both in regard to the eye and the general healthfulness of the whole system.

In this number, of course, I do not include the unhappy class of household servants, resident in fashionable families, or in any families who keep fashionable hours. They are compelled to endure all the ill effects, without sharing any of the supposed advantages or gratifications that recommend such habits to their superiors. They must rise early; and when pretty well tired out with the avocations of a long day, they must enter upon the busiest part of that day's work, the continuation of which oppresses them, while their superiors luxuriate in perfect idleness, to a very late hour. The afternoon was a season highly conducive to a poor servant's health and refreshment; but who ever hears of an afternoon now?

P. Q.

SABBATH MUSINGS.

No. VII.

THERE are thousands of things passing every day in the world around us, calculated to call forth our praises of its Almighty Governor. We cannot look abroad either into the vegetable kingdom or that of intelligent beings, without being met at every turn by instances of his power and his love. The beautiful phenomena of nature, fulfilling their appointed seasons with such undeviating regularity, are especially fitted to keep the thankful feelings in fresh and vivid play. These are not blunted by the fatal influence of custom in this case, for the ever-varying, every-renewing cause must excite at each recurrence the same sensations in the mind that is in any degree used to look beyond his works to their great Author.

But among the many sources of thankfulness by which we are surrounded, there is not one that to my mind is half so touching or so heart-stirring as the turning of the soul to God,-the passing from death unto life of a sinner. This is a process that is going on every day before our eyes. Here a family, there an individual of our acquaintance is brought home to that little flock of which Christ is the Shepherd; is anchored safely in that only haven where in this world the tempest-tost voyager can find rest from the waves and storms of life. The variety of

means employed to produce the same blessed end, is astonishing; and the hand of Omnipotence is so strikingly manifest in the wonderful work, that cold indeed and callous must be the heart that refuses to acknowledge it.

I do not know of any subject more delightful to meditate upon than this. It is so interesting in itself, so cheering, so encouraging to our weak faith. It presents to us the character of our Heavenly Father under such an endearing aspect, as a Being of love, of mercy, who willeth not the death of a sinner. Oh! how wonderful it is to mark his dealings with the children of men! to see how he, the King of kings and Lord of lords condescends to strive with the wretched worms of the earth, bearing with all their waywardness and ingratitude, and repeated disobedience, and shewing such long-suffering, such patience, such infinite love to unbelieving rebels! I have often thought that if each individual were to record the dealings of God with himself, how in one case he causes his Holy Spirit to descend into the heart with an influence gentle and gradual as the dews of heaven, while another is awakened by some sudden and startling dispensation, what a volume would be the result! how intensely interesting, how fraught with glory to God, and encouragement to man! The experience of even the youngest traveller in the world's highway' can furnish him with many examples of the mercy of God in this respect, and, I know not how it may be with others, but upon me the effect is indescribable: the object at stake is of such immense importance-a never-dying soul! It seems as though an entire life were too short to employ in thanking and praising God for even the smallest