endearing of all others merely human-the relation of husband and wife. I insist on it, too, not in

any small or stinted measure, but in an eminent degree. I insist-strongly, too—that without it, matrimony would not be worth anything; while its existence would atone for the want of almost everything else.

I insist, moreover, on the necessity of cultivating this feeling, especially on the part of the wife. Everything, in this respect-or almost everything— will depend on her. If she wishes her husband to sympathize with her joys and sorrows, she must first sympathize with his. I do not say that she will always succeed to the utmost of her expectations; but I do say, as I have already said, that her efforts cannot be lost. It is not in human nature wholly to resist this influence.

Do you expect her, I shall probably be asked, to feign an interest which she does not feel? By no means. But I would have her feel an interest. I consider it as her duty to do so. Her marriage vows implied, or should have implied it. By her union with her husband-by becoming bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh, according to the divine intention-she promised to follow his destiny-to rejoice when he should rejoice, and to weep when he should weep. My only request is, that this promise be fulfilled.

In order to do this, she has but to follow nature. Were not the indications of nature opposed and thwarted by intention, I cannot help thinking that there would be, in respect to sympathy, a gradual approximation to each other, from the day of marriage to the day of death.

This may seem a strange assertion; and not a few may think it uncharitable. But I have never known an instance where there was any want of a proper sympathy between husband and wife, that did not originate chiefly in direct opposition to nature's intentions and indications.

There are persons—and some of them are wives, too-who are sure to be always opposed to those around them. If others are sorrowful or melancholy, they will, for the very reason, be the contrary. If others are grieved, they will be light or trifling; if others are under the influence of any unhappy passion whatever, they will be sure, for this very reason, to assume the opposite. They seem to do it, often, for the sake of doing it. They seem to take a diabolical delight in vexing a fellow creature; and the closer the attachment, the more will they indulge themselves in this reprehensible practice.

I have seen many wives-yes, many-who loved to vex, slightly, their husbands. I have seen a still greater number who seemed to delight

in' showing themselves superior to sympathy;persons, too, who are among the first to seek the sympathy of others; and who, while they are willing to give their dearest friend mental suffering, would not, on any account, be the means, directly or indirectly, of giving pain to their bodies.

These individuals ought to consider, first, whether mental suffering is not as difficult to be borne as bodily; and secondly, whether in demanding sympathy of others, they ought not to grant it cheerfully themselves. There is a rule to be found in the greatest of books, like the following-" All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them." I would recommend this rule to those young wives who hold their heads. too high; who do not readily joy in the joys and sorrow in the sorrows of their husbands.

You will say, perhaps, you do not, and you never can' view things as your husband does; and how then can you sympathize with him? I have spoken of the necessity of cultivating feelings of sympathy with him. You must enter more deeply than ever yet you have done into his feelings, plans and purposes.

you will, of course,

Such as you do not approve, endeavor, in an appropriate

manner, to change. Should you not succeed, your

labor will not be lost.

You will at least have

learned, more deeply than ever before, his charac

ter, and will have enlisted, unawares, your sympathies, even in what you do not like or approve.

It is in vain to hope, that your husband's efforts will enkindle that interest or sympathy of which I have been speaking; for this cannot be expected. It is most in accordance with the laws of human nature, that each should kindle the fire within for himself. At least, it is true that each for himself must first put to the wheel his own shoulder.

In speaking hereafter of the duty of making special exertion for the improvement of your husband's mind and heart, I shall have occasion once more to advert to this subject. For in no way can you lead him along the ascent which you wish, till you have first taught his heart to beat and his feelings to vibrate, as it were, with yours; and he will never, in this way, sympathize with you, till you have first sympathized with him. But when all this is accomplished-when your souls seem to be but one, and your joys and sorrows commingle, then nothing but time can limit the progress he may make, or the heights and depths to which you may carry him, in knowledge and excellence.

CHAPTER VII.

FRIENDSHIP.

Necessity of a Woman sent as

Few real friends. Parents not always true friends to children. Anecdote. Stormy period of life. friend. Arrangement of Providence. the friend of man. Wives the truest friends. fications for this office. Religion considered. Enemies sometimes friends.

Four quali

Ir is not a little strange, that those who are most interested in our welfare should often be the least successful in promoting our happiness; but so it is. The cause, however, when we once examine the case to the bottom, is quite obvious. The truth is, that our parents and other near relatives are apt, by the injudicious exercise of kindness, or rather by over-kindness, to defeat their own intentions.

So common are the instances of injury from over-kindness, that one distinguished writer asserts, as the result of extensive observation, that orphans make their way best in the world. However this may be-and I am not sure but it may be true, in regard to those whose sole object of pursuit is