CHAPTER XIII.

THE DAUGHTER AT HOME.

Pleasant Anticipations.

"The Last." Joy awaiting you.

Responsibility before you. Minute by Minute. Poor Housekeeping. Knowledge useless. No Regular Time for Study. A Part of your Discipline. "Twitting upon Facts." Help your Mother. Household Duties. Apologize for Nothing. Sit still but an Hour. Afternoon Occupations. Franklin's Courtesy. Form a Library. Busy and Quiet. Mazes of Fractions. Neverfailing Cheerfulness. Service to your Father. Field first. Woman's Way opened. Joy in the Evening. Chariot-Wheels dragging. Melody of Heaven. A Rod or a Crown. Uses of Sorrow. Ready to Work. Life's Harvest.

Home

HOWEVER happy our daughters may be at school, we desire them to feel that the happiest place is at home; and if ever we are disposed to envy a young lady, it is when, having faithfully improved her school days, she anticipates her return to her family. She

Soon

feels that she will then be, not free from duties, but at liberty to do them in her own time and way. One of the trials of school life must unavoidably be its monotony, and from this she will soon be relieved. she will be beyond the call of the imperious bell. To be sure, there is the sadness we always feel when we come to the last of any stage of life. Wherever you turn, you see written the solemn words, "the last." The last recitation will bring some regrets, the last meal in the accustomed seat will be very still, the last time you kneel at the school altar you will rise in tears, and no sorrow you meet in life will be more real than the last parting with teachers, schoolmates, and even the study hall. You rejoice in the thought that you will come back for a visit, and you do not wonder that the student clings so strongly to Alma Mater. Yet were it not for these tear-drops, so bright a rainbow could not hang over you. If you have not wasted the hours that Memory now makes so pleas ant, if you go home with all the discipline of mind your parents have desired, if you be

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JOY AWAITING YOU.

lieve that the reasonable expectations of your friends are not to be disappointed, you may leave with a light heart; for your past is cheerful, and your future will never be more hopeful. I cannot describe, but can you not look into your home, and see the joy that is awaiting your arrival? Has not your father deferred many little schemes of pleasure for the family that you may enjoy them? Has not your mother, almost as impatient as you, counted the days before she may expect you to be her daily comfort? Her child is now to be a trusted friend and helper. Your brother has planned for you a famous fishing-excursion, and your sisters have arranged your chamber, and all that thoughtful love can devise to make that room pleasant will be done. Even, in your honour, the little one of the flock is saving his playthings to shew to you. The flowers now blossoming in the garden will beautify the parlour, and ere they wither you will be there. No wonder you are glad. No wonder you long for the time

to come.

You probably go, determined to prove your gratitude to your parents for all the expense

RESPONSIBILITY BEFORE YOU.

243

and anxiety they have bestowed upon you, yet, unless you are very watchful, you will unintentionally waste the next few years, years whose influence will be felt by you to all eternity. Of all the responsibilities which lie before you in life, you have scarcely thought, and soon, whether ready or not, you must meet them.

If now-for I have opportunity for but a very few hints I can help you to realize the importance of improving your time wisely, and enjoying the opportunities which will slip by you so quickly, - if I can suggest any duties you may be likely to forget or neglect, -I shall rejoice more than you. Jeremy Taylor's beautiful illustration of the value of time may not be out of the way here, for never can it be more valuable to you than now :-" It is very remarkable that God, who giveth plenteously to all creatures, that scattereth the firmament with stars, as a man sows corn in his fields, in a multitude bigger than the capacities of human order; he hath made so much variety of creatures, and gives us great choice of meats and drinks, although

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MINUTE BY MINUTE.

any one of both kinds would have served our needs; and so in all instances of nature,-yet in the distribution of our time, God seems to be straight-handed, and gives it to us, not as nature gives us rivers enough to drown us, but drop by drop, minute after minute; so that we can never have two minutes together, but he takes away one when he gives us another. This should teach us to value our time, since God so values it, and by his so small distribution of it tells us it is the most precious thing we have." The reason why your time is now especially a great treasure is, that now is the time for you to learn many things essential to your welfare in life. This is the time for your professional studies.

In the last chapter I endeavoured to define woman's true position, and can you conscientiously say that you are fitted for it? Are there not many home duties of which you hardly know the existence, and which you must of necessity neglect while away from home? Housewifery, that ancient but most honourable occupation, which Mother Eve first taught her daughters, is, I presume, almost an