When will the civilities of social life become, through her influence, something beside an exchange of heartless forms, or of self-seeking attentions? Precisely so soon, and so fast as woman shall determine to reject the empty adulation of fops and simpletons, to be commended only for what deserves praise, and to be entirely sincere and Christian, in the social interview, no less than by her own fireside. Until this takes place, society, in fashionable circles, will be, as an authoress remarks, like "the brilliant assemblies of Paris, a collection of young men who have nothing to do, and young women who have nothing to say."

The responsibleness of woman extends widely through the world of Intellect. She is called to preside over schools for the nurture of the infant mind: every child receives thus the impress of her taste and talents. Shall she come to this work and daily pursue it, without a thoughtful preparation for her task? Is it for the mother to say, "I may read little or much, as I please. Of what consequence is the condition of my mind?" when she can hardly breathe on the germs before her, without either blighting their beauty, and checking their expansion, or shedding life, health, and eternal freshness, upon them?

Let no young lady disclaim for herself any lot or portion in these sober concerns. Hannah More had, at one time, more than a thousand children under her instruction. Others have recently followed in her steps. Every woman is, I maintain, by virtue of her sex, a teacher. There are now, or there sometime may be, minds subjected to her influence, over whose destinies, for weal or for wo, she will exert a fearful sway. Is it certain she will never be school-mistress, or mother, or guide and guardian to another? No, it is certain that,

unless her path be strange, secluded, and anomalous, she will be either the architect, or destroyer of, or at least a more than leaden weight on, some human intellect. Let her reflect on this fact, and conduct herself always in view of it.

At the fireside what a sum of duties does her power impose. Here she wields a more than regal sceptre. Wisely did Boaz argue the excellence of Ruth, when he said, in reply to her modest question, "Why have I found grace in thine eyes ?" "It has fully been showed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother-in-law, since the death of thy husband." Such domestic piety, a virtue that could sacrifice home, people, substance, and which tendered even life itself for a parent, was an earnest of the choicest worth. It formed

"A wreath that cannot fade, of flowers that bloom
With most success, when all beside decay."

Of the confessed power of the mother, and the unrivalled claims of her children on her spiritual care, no language can speak too strongly, or even in adequate terms. From the hour when their first cry announces to her their utter helplessness, onward through the trials of childhood, and the crossing elements of youth, till they part from her charge,-no, this they never do,— but until she grasps their hand amid the chill of death, they draw from her, as a well-spring of life. What a question then is there to be asked, Does she shed upon them an Eden-like fragrance? Is she a true mother? Worlds of well-being hang on the answer.

In every domestic relation, the influence of woman is of transcendent concern. Let her measure the responsibilities that attach to her position. The faithful daughter, the kind sister, the disinterested inmate, no

less than the parent, must habitually realize, that around that little spot, her home, she is distilling and must distil, either dews that fertilize the spirit, or night-damps which blast what they touch.

But how shall I describe the paramount necessity of woman's devotion to the interests of religion? Christianity regards her as a human being, equal in moral power to man, and accountable to the same God and Judge with him. Our religion has elevated her sex from Pagan degradation, and expects a commensurate return, in her superior virtue. Let her then first give her own soul to God, and then show forth in her works the spirit of her Saviour. By the study of the Scriptures; by establishing herself in a rational faith; by a humble profession of her belief in Jesus; by diligence in the Sunday instruction of the young, and by a series of benevolent and charitable offices, among the sick and the needy, let her requite the love of God, as manifested in the Gospel of his Son.

How can one of this sex, constitutionally gifted with strong and enduring affections, sequestered from man's peculiar temptations, and summoned by unnumbered considerations, to meditate on heaven, be other than pious, other than a beacon-light on the rock-begirt coast of human life? What can she offer at the judgment-seat of Christ, if she have denied him on earth? To every young woman I would say, show

"That thou, in the prime of earliest youth,

Wisely hast shunned the broad way and the green,
And with those few art eminently seen,

That labour up the hill of heavenly truth."

"That

Thy care is fixed, and zealously attends

To fill thy odorous lamp with deeds of light."

CHAPTER III.

FEMALE EDUCATION.

The term lady. Its various significations. How should woman be educated. As a human being. For a peculiar sphere. The Persian women. Hindoo Doctrine. Temperament and Susceptibilities. Madame de Stael's Opinion. Influence. Remark of Cato. Isabella's Influence. Should receive the Best Education. The Whole Nature to be Developed. Wordsworth's Description. The Future. To be Educated partly in Public. Good Intellectual training. Imparts Vigour. Good Taste. Knowledge. Secures good Mental Habits. Is Practical. Qualifies for every Station. Inspires Virtue. Madame Neckar's View. Mrs. Jameson's. Conversation, an Art. Speak from your own Mind and Heart; of Principles, not Persons. Make Friendships Improving. Intimacies of the School-room. Selfeducation at Home, and in Private. Reading. Meditation. Extract from Coleridge.

THE prophet Isaiah, when predicting the fate that awaited the renowned Babylon, uses the following striking expression :-"And thou saidst, I shall be a lady for ever; so that thou didst not lay these things to thy heart, neither didst remember the latter end of it." The term lady, here employed in personifying a prosperous city, is one of various significations. Its etymology is Saxon, it being derived from a word meaning "loafgiver;" which refers to the custom of females distributing bread among retainers, after the feasts which were held in the halls of barons. In later periods it has been used under monarchical governments, to designate women of rank, the wives of knights, and the daughters of earls.

It is used by the apostle John as a title of honour :"The elder unto the elect lady and her children." We find it employed by the prophet in still another sense, that of dominion and power:-"Thou shalt no more be called the lady of kingdoms." In our modern use of it, there is perhaps a union of these two significations. I shall be a lady for ever, would be now understood to mean, "I shall be always an object of supreme attention, and of honour. To me will also belong all power, so that I can command the services of whom I will, and be free myself from all care and effort."

Before proceeding to my main topic, let me premise that the word woman is, in my judgment, an honourable appellation; and that, under our republican institutions especially, it should be regarded as no ordinary praise, to say of a female she is a true woman. Better, far better aspire to deserve this name, than to repose indolently on a rank and a title deduced from monarchies, to say to thyself, "I shall be a lady for ever." But our present associations with the term lady being such as they are, and so many in every condition being jealous of their claims as ladies, I am compelled to adopt that appellation in order to guard against injurious misapprehensions.

Having spoken already of the capacity of this sex, and said something also of their Influence, we are now prepared to answer the great questions, "How should woman be educated? Under what training should she be placed? and what is the end of her tuition ?”

First, I reply, she should be educated as a Human Being, possessed in common with man, of an intelligent, moral, and spiritual nature. Christianity recognizes no distinction of the sexes, so far as the broad principles

E