mean that spirit of ruling with a rod of iron, or the tongue, which implies the same thing; but it is the exercise of an influence proceeding from a pure heart, warmed by the tendest feelings of love.

Where vice and immorality exist, and men publicly discuss the frailty, as they term it, of the weaker sex, it is not to be expected that young men get a proper idea of the female character, hence their notions are such that they are totally unfit for that holy and pure circle wherein

The consequence of which is, they are debarred that very society the best calculated to afford them pleasure and amusement, and while away their precious time among gamblers, drunkards, and the offals of the earth, and go down to their graves unhonored and unsung. A woman's tear on my grave is the only thing I would ask the marble is an emblem of wealth, the tear of remembrance.

6 Sweet drop of pure and pearly light!

In thee the rays of virtue shine
More calmly clear, more mildly bright,

Than any gem that gilds the mine."

Woman is the pivot upon which moves all the actions of

She is the sun giving light to science, and creating new worlds. The warrior would lose his ambition if it was not for her.—The poet would fall asleep o'er his best sonnet, and sink ultimately into nothingness. The politician would become a pot-house spouter, he would have no incentive to raise his name above the common horde ; the praises of men are fulsome, that of women inspiring. The dramatist would cater for the vulgar woman was absent from the temple of the histrionic muse.

6 Her’s is a mild and gentle power,

That prospers in affection's hour;
And when the heartliness of friends
Falls like a pestilence, and brings
To hope's own fair imaginings
Its withering breath, then woman lends
Her words of solace; and her smile
Like moonbeams on a ruin'd pile,
Comes with an influence to bless
Where all seem'd drear and comfortless;
And sheds around such holy light,
And makes e’en desolation bright.”

Perhaps the most extraordinary instance on record, and one which places the female character in the highest possible point of view, is that of the reformation effected in common prisons by the exercise of their influence alone. When the benevolent Mrs. Fry was first induced to visit Newgate, in the year 1815, the situation of the inmates was such which no language can describe. Nearly three hundred women sent there for every gradation of crime; some untried, and some under sentence of death, were crowded together in two cells—the two wards ; and which are now appropriated to the untried alone, and are found quite inadequate to contain even the diminished number. Such was the horrible state of the place that the Governor was reluctant to go amongst them. He persuaded Mrs. Fry to leave her watch in the office, telling her that even his presence would not prevent its being torn from her. In speaking of the place, in a letter to a friend, she says :~" All I tell thee is a faint picture of the reality ; the filth, the closeness of the rooms, the ferocious manners and the abandoned wickedness which every thing bespoke, are quite indescribable.” By her own exertions alone, Mrs. Fry succeeded in forming a committee to visit the prisons, composed of twelve ladies, eleven of whom

a

a

any cause

were members of the society of Friends ; to whom the sheriffs and governor delegated every necessary authority for carrying into effect the benevolent plan which they had conceived of restoring the degraded portion of their sex, confined in the walls of Newgate, to the paths of knowledge and of virtue. The delicacy of the female character was not compromised, the moral principle upon which they acted was too pure for malice to touch, and they appeared, while engaged in this truly philanthropic work, as so many angels whose names were registered in heaven, and themselves sent forth to do their Creator's bidding.

We might go on to enumerate instance upon instance, showing the fervor with which females

engage

in calculated to relieve or benefit mankind, from the

poor

servant maid Philotes, who saved Rome from destruction, down to the benevolent Mrs. Fry, in her endeavors to save the souls of the poor condemned from a dreaded hereafter, but our space will not permit. The subject so pleasing to us, may be resumed. We conclude with the following incident illustrating the patriotism of woman - When

Pyrrhus laid siege to the city of Leuctra, the women labored with no less assiduity than the men in the formation of a ditch, for the purpose of checking the first attack of the enemy. On the approach of the hostile army, mothers, wives, and virgins, putting their weapons into the hands of their sons, husbands, and lovers, reminded them how sweet it would be to die in the presence of their native city, and in the arms of those to whom they were most dear, in a manner worthy of the ancient glory of Sparta.

NOTE.—Queen Charlotte being informed of the laudable exertions of Mrs. Fry, expressed a wish to see her; and,

in an interview which took place, testified in the most flattering terms the admiration which she felt for her conduct.*

The Grand Jury of the City of London also marked their approbation of Mrs. Fry's meritorious services, in their report to the Court at the Old Bailey, on visiting New Gate the 21st of February, 1818.

LEAF TWENTY-SEVENTH.

In the olden times, they had what is termed the “Mysteries and Moralities,” intended to illustrate striking passages in Holy Writ. They are a species of sacred dramas, and many of them contain passages of great poetic beauty. Perhaps there is no other description of writing which can convey to the mind of the reader in a familiar style, the truths of Holy Writ, and the moral ones of earth, better than those of the dramatic, or the dialogue form. The ancients have given us some of their chief philosophical works in the latter, and several of the moderns have imitated them.

Blair says:

66

Dialogue writing may be executed in two ways, either as direct conversation, where none but the speakers appear, which is the method Plato uses; or as the recital of a conversation, where the author himself appears, and gives an account of what passed in discourse, which is the method that Cicero generally follows." In the following sketch the writer has adhered simply to the dialogue, and the dramatic effect is simply produced by the incident, which it is almost useless to say—is an

ower true tale."

66

THREE ERAS OF A WOMAN'S LIFE.

A DRAMATIC SKETCH, IN THREE PARTS.

PART I.

Mr. and Mrs. Lovely discovered seated on a splendid

sofa, in a room furnished in a style of modern fashion; a book case opened displays a range of elegant bound books. Time, afternoon.

Mrs. Lovely. Was ever woman so happy. O, my dear William, what a delightful thing it is to love and be beloved!

Mr. Lovely. Remember, sweet, we are but two months married ; don't you recollect the song, and remember your remarks thereon

“ Though love is warm awhile,

Soon it grows cold,
Absence

Mrs. L. True, my dear ; but I intend that we will