weary', the sun began and played his cheerful beams so successfully', that he soon melted the traveler into a kindly warmth, and made his coat not only useless, but troublesome to him', and so he quickly threw it off. The moral is plain and easy; and all mârried people, in particular, would do well to remember', that when storming and raging are ineffectual to gain their ends', kindness and good-nature will seldom or never fail of success.

Another good rule is this':-Let husband and wife never be angry at the same time: by this means family feuds and discord will neither come often', nor continue long.

By way of reconciling married people to their own peculiar lot, our friends would say', "If marriages are appointed in heaven before they are solemnized on earth', then, though a Christian might have had a richer, better, or more sweettempered yoke-fellow', yet probably not a fitter'; therefore, though nuptial love and other duties be not performed to you, yet do your part, in obedience to God', and you will assuredly find comfort in the end', whatever crosses you may meet with in the way."

I may add', that by the counsels of these judicious friends, many connections were prevented' which were likely to end in sorrow and ruin'; many were formed to the satisfaction and real enjoyment of the parties'; and many persons were brought to a more correct and faithful discharge of their duties, and, consequently, to a higher degree of happiness', in the conjugal relation.

LESSON CXI.

IMPROVEMENT OF TIME.

How are very young persons to be convinced of the value of time', when to them a year seems almost endless, and a pleasure that is deferred for a month seems too far off for happy anticipation'? A year appears very long to the young, because it bears so large a proportion to the whole period they have lived'; as we advance, this proportion becomes less and less', till, in old age', a year seems no longer than a month did in childhood. Abundant as time seems to the young, we constantly hear them excuse themselves for some

duty omitted', by saying they had not time to do it'; while this should convince them that they have no more of this precious gift than they require', and that there is some defect in their management of it', or they would not sometimes wish to accelerate the flight of a day', and at other times omit a duty', for want of an hour' in which to perform it.

There are a few plain questions, which, if honestly answered, might serve to convince any young lady, that, however long a year may seem to her in prospect', the proper use of each day would make it appear short. Let her ask herself, if her own clothes are in complete order', if there are no buttons and strings off', no gloves or stockings that need to be mended', none of those numberless stitches to be set which every young woman should do for herself', and the necessity for which is of perpetual recurrencé ? Let her consider whether there are not many books that she has been advised to read', but which she has not yet found time to begin'; whether she has not letters to answer', accounts to settle', papers to arrange', commissions to execute for absent friends', visits to make', kind offices to perform', which have all been deferred for want of time'; and then let her judge whether the days and weeks in which her duties ought to be performed are too long', and whether her use of the days that are gone has been the best possible.

Much of a woman's time is necessarily consumed by the everyday business of life. The proper care of her own person and clothing demands much more time than is required of the other sex for the like purpose. Some household duties fall to the share of almost all young women', and claim a portion of each day'; and, without a wise distribution of her time, and a strict adherence to her plan of life', she is in danger of having her intellectual and spiritual improvement continually sacrificed to the inferior interests of clothing and feeding the body. To prevent this, it is desirable that you should take into serious consideration the plan of life which best suits your age and circumstances', should decide upon what ought to constitute your daily round of occupations', and should allot to each its fitting time. By having regular hours for the different employments of the day, you will avoid the great waste of time which is occasioned by uncertainty as to what you shall do next. Having made a general distribution of your time and

occupations for the day', provide for unavoidable interruptions and delays by having a book of easy reading to fill up odd minutes', and a piece of needlework always at hand to employ your fingers upon when you are listening to others', or when your mind is so preoccupied that you cannot give it to a book.

The old adage, “Take care of the pence, and the pounds will take care of themselves'," may be thus parodied'; Take care of the minutes', and the days will take care of themselves. If the minutes' were counted that are daily wasted in idle reverie or still idler talk', in thinking of setting about a task that is not relished', and in looking for things that should never have been mislaid', they would soon amount to hours, and prove sufficient for the acquisition of some elegant art', or the study of some useful science. every young person has something in view which she would like to accomplish', if she had time for it'; and by scrutinizing her appropriation of every hour in the day, she will generally find as much time wasted as would suffice for the desired end', if resolutely redeemed from idleness.

Almost

I knew a family in which all the collars and wristbands of shirts were stitched in odd miuutes', that would otherwise have been wasted. The lady of the house was always provided with one of the former in her bag`, and used to stitch upon it when waiting for any body', and in scraps of time that must occur between regularly allotted portions of it. I myself, whilst detained from breakfast through the tardiness of an unpunctual member of the family', read through all the papers of the Spectator and Rambler', and netted many yards of lace', whilst he was discussing his toast and coffee. A friend of mine, going to consult her dentist, found in his parlor an elderly lady waiting to be operated on', and turning the odd minutes to account by stitching a wristband which she had brought with her for the purpose. This was not only good economy of time'; but an excellent sedative for the nerves', and must have rendered less tedious and irksome the time she was obliged to wait.

To sleep a greater number of hours than is necessary for rest and refreshment', is a voluntary and wanton abridgment of life. She who sleeps only one hour a day more than health requires, will', in a life of three score years and ten', shorten her active existence nearly four years', allowing sixteen hours to the day. Too much sleep weakens the body',

and stupifies the mind'; but when we take only what nature demands', the body is invigorated', and the mind has its powers renovated.

Early rising is not only expedient, but it is a duty on which many others depend. She who sleeps late and rises in haste, cannot find time for those thoughts and meditations which are suited to prepare her soul for the business of the day. Due care and attention will not be bestowed on her morning toilet'; her ablutions will not be such as are required by a due regard to health and cleanliness'; her hair will not be thoroughly combed and brushed', and put up nicely for the day'; every thing will be done carelessly and in haste'; and from another portion of the morning must be taken the time necessary for a farther adjustment of her dress.

When breakfast is late, the whole business of a house is retarded', and the heads of the family must not be surprised' if their example of late hours is followed by all in their employ. When parents rise early, and are ready for an early breakfast', they should insist on the younger members of the family conforming to their hours; for a habit of punctuality to an early breakfast is one of the best gifts they can bestow on their children. Where this is not enforced by parental authority', the good sense and good feelings of the young people ought to insure their punctual attendance at this meal. Those who do the work of the house feel it to be a grievance', when their business is retarded by the breakfast remaining on the table for one individual after the rest have done.

Let us now sum up the evils of late rising to a young lady. Her body is enfeebled', and her eyes are heavy'; her mind is stupified', her devotions are neglected', or hastily performed'; her toilet is slovenly and incomplete'; her morning meal is taken alone', or with those who are annoyed at having waited for her', and the attendants are out of humor'; to all this may be added a painful sense of ill desert hanging like a millstone round her neck all day. The reverse of this picture may be easily drawn. The early riser is refreshed and invigorated by the right quantity of sleep'; her eye is bright', and her mind unclouded. She has time and inclination to meditate upon God', and hold communion with him'; she prepares her mind and heart for the duties of the day. Her body is duly cared for'; all the niceties of a careful toilet are attended to'; she meets her family at the breakfast-table', and relieves her mother from the trouble of

presiding at it'; every thing is done in season'; the domestics smile upon her', and she feels the impulse which is given by a consciousness of having begun the day well.

LESSON CXII.

DOMESTIC ECONOMY.

FOR a young woman in any situation in life to be ignorant of the various business that belongs to good housekeeping', is as great a deficiency as it would be in a merchant not to understand accounts', or the master of a vessel not to be acquainted with navigation. If a woman does not know how the various work of a house should be done', she might as well know nothing', for housewifery is her express vocation'; and it matters not how much learning, or how many accomplishments, she may have', if she is wanting in that which is to fit her for her peculiar calling.

Whether rich' or poor', young' or old', married' or single`, a woman is always liable to be called to the performance of every kind of domestic duty', as well as to be placed at the head of a family'; and nothing short of a practical knowledge of the details of housekeeping can ever make those duties easy', or render her competent to direct others in the performance of them.

All moral writers on female character treat of domestic economy as an indispensable part of female education', and this too in the old countries of Europe', where an abundant population, and the institutions of society', render it easy to secure the services of faithful domestics. Madame Roland, one of the most remarkable women of the last century, says of herself', "The same child who read systematic works', who could explain the circles of the celestial sphere', who could handle the crayon and the graver', and who at eight years of age was the best dancer in the youthful parties', was frequently called into the kitchen to make an omelet, pick herbs', and skim the pot."

All female characters that are held up to admiration, whether in fiction or in biography', will be found to possess these domestic accomplishments'; and if they are considered