When I commenced writing the following pages, I only intended them for my own offspring. Deeply impressed with a sense of my own responsibility as a Parent, and with the value of the souls of my children - I began this address with earnest prayer to the God of all grace to make it useful to their souls. It was written with a hope to affect the children>s hearts, not to meet a critic>s eye; but I have since thought that the Lord in his infinite mercy may use it for the benefit of some besides my own family - therefore I have allowed it to be published just as it was written. Any parent who approves of the sentiments, may adopt it as his own, and put it into the hands of his children as expressing his own feelings, and containing his own admonitions. And to every such parent especially I would say, as you value the present and eternal welfare of your children, and of the children all around you; be earnest, frequent, and persevering in your prayers at a throne of grace, that the Lord would bless this, and every other attempt to benefit the rising race. James Smith
