tion I know of nothing better; not merely because it is your duty, and you feel that you must do it; but because it is for your happiness— yes, even for your life.

All character is formed in the school of trial; all good or valuable character, especially. And I repeat the sentiment-in no place or department of this school are circumstances so favorable for such a purpose, as what may, emphatically, be termed the home department. The family and the church are God's own institutions. All else, is more or less of human origin: not, therefore, of necessity, useless-but more or less imperfect. She who would obey the will of God in forming herself according to the divine mode, must learn to value those institutions, in some measure, as they are valued by Him, and love them with a degree of the same love wherewith He loves them.

It will here be seen that I value domestic avocations so highly-giving them, as I do, the preference over all other female employmentsnot as an end, but as a means. It is because they secure, far better-other things being alike—the grand result at which every female should perpetually aim-the attainment of excellence. It is because they educate us far

better, physically, socially and morally-and with proper pains and right management, they might do so intellectually-than any other em ployment, for the great future, towards which we are every day hastening.

This home school is after all which has been said of schools and education-not only the first and best school, especially for females, but emphatically the school. It is the nursery from which are to be transplanted, by and by, the plants which are to fill, and beautify, and perfect-if any perfection in the matter is attained-all our gardens and fields, and render them the fields aud gardens of the Lord. Too much has not been-too much cannot be-said, it appears to me, in favor of this home department of female education—especially as a means of religious improvement.

Young women thus trained, would not only be most fitly prepared for the employment which, as a general rule, they are to follow for life, but for every other employment to which they can, in the good providence of God, ever be called. No matter what is to be their situation-no matter even if it is merely mechanical, as in some factory, or as an amanuensis-this apprenticeship in the family is not only highly

useful, but, as it seems to me, indispensable. Is not mind, and health, and self-government -yes, and self-knowledge, too-as indispensable to the individual who is confined to a bench or desk, as to any person who is more active? Nay, are they not even much more sosince sedentary employments have, in themselves, as respects mind and character, a downward, and narrowing, and contracting tendency?

CHAPTER XVII.

FRUGALITY AND ECONOMY.

Economy becoming old fashioned. The Creator's example. Frugality and economy should be early inculcated. Spending two pence to save one, not always wrong. Examples of disregarding economy. Wasting small things. Good habits as well as bad ones, go by companies. This chapter particularly necessary to the young. Frugality and economy of our grand-mothers.

ECONOMY is another old fashioned word, which, like the thing for which it stands, is fast going into disrepute; and in these days, it will require no little moral courage in him who has any thing of reputation at stake, to commend it-and above all, to commend it to young women. What have they to do with economy? thousands might be disposed to ask, were the subject urged upon their attention.

"Is there not something connected with the idea of economy, which tends, necessarily, to narrow the mind and contract the heart?" This question, too, is often asked, even by those

whom age and experience should have taught better things.

I am pained to find the rising generation so prone to discard both frugality and economy, and to regard them as synonymous with narrowness, and meanness, and stinginess. There cannot possibly be a greater mistake.

May I not ask, without incurring the charge of irreverence, if there is any thing more obvious, in the works of the Creator, than his wonderful frugality and good economy? Where, in his domain, is any thing wasted? Where, indeed, is not every thing saved and appropriated to the best possible purpose? And will any one presume to regard his operations ás narrow, or mean, or stingy?

What can be more abundant, for example, than air and water? Yet is there one particle too much of either of them? Is there one particle more than is just necessary to render the earth what it was designed to be? Such a thing may be said, I acknowledge, by the ignorant, and short-sighted, and incautious. They vent their occasional complaints, even against the Ruler of the skies, because the windows of heaven are, for a time, shut up, and the rain falls . not; and yet these very persons are constrained