her reign. Her husband died when the child was but eight months old. The House of Commons sent a committee with an address of condolence to the afflicted widow. She met the deputation with the child in her arms, and "presented to them the smiling but unconscious babe as their future sovereign, and assured them of her determination to consecrate all her energies to prepare her child for the distinguished situation she was destined to fill." From that time it was her study to train the young queen for the highest usefulness. Special pains were taken to guard against pride and vanity, and all kindred evils that are so prevalent among the female sex, especially in royal families. When public demonstrations in honor of the young princess were first made, her mother said to her, "It is not you, but your future office and rank, which are regarded by the country, and you must so act as never to bring that office and that rank into disgrace and disrespect." In short, she was educated not to shine but to act, not to be a royal belle, but a model woman. Her heart was not cultivated less than her intellect. And the good results of that early culture are known to the world. The same was true of Mrs. Wesley, Mrs. Doddridge, Mrs. Edwards, Mrs. Dwight, Mrs. Ramsey, and many others. They were distinguished for setting before their children a high object for which to live. Their instructions, in this particular, were the same to daughters as to sons. They believed that the former no less than the latter should be actuated by definite and exalted purposes, and all their efforts were directed to this end. History proves that, so far as their counsels were heeded, their children rose to eminence. If we trace the history of any woman, who has acted a good part in the humbler or higher walks of life, we shall find that she always had a purpose. It was true of Madame De Stael, Hannah More, Hannah Adams, Mrs. Hancock, Mrs. Hemans and Harriet Newell. The latter became a true hearted Christian in her youth, and she resolved that her influence should be felt for good. She turned away from the follies and vanities of the world, with the unyielding purpose to perform a woman's mission. At seventeen years of age she gave her heart and hand to Mr. Newell, who was about going as a missionary to India. It was a great step in that day-dawn of missionary light, but it just met her resolve to do something for the world. She wrote to a friend, "How can I go and leave those who have done so much for me, and who will be so sorry for my loss? How can I leave my mother here while oceans roll between us? How can I go with but little prospect of return? And how can I stay? We are under solemn obligations to labor for God; and I must go to India at any sacrifice. I owe something to my perishing fellowmen; I owe something to my Saviour. He wept - he shed tears over Jurusalem. for men 'Did Christ o'er sinners weep? And shall our cheeks be dry?'" The author is acquainted with a young woman whose father was intemperate. This vice destroyed his character, and wasted his property. He became poor, and expected to leave the little farm which he had called his own. The daughter pondered their condition, and laid her plans. She proposed to her father, that if he would relinquish the use of strong drink, she would assist him to redeem his farm and his character. He accepted this proposition, and the daughter accordingly fitted herself for a teacher. The teacher of an academy hearing of her praiseworthy object, offered her the advantages of the institution without money, and a worthy matron received her into her family for her company and assistance while she pursued her studies. For some years she has been pursuing her single object, and the avails of her teaching have been carefully husbanded to aid the father in recovering his wasted fortune. We understand that the father holds out in the path of sobriety, encouraged by the self-denial and persevering labors of his daughter, and that the day is not far distant when the loved homestead will again be his. This young woman's life will be far more brilliant and valuable in consequence of its being directed by a worthy and inflexible purpose. Girls, then, should stop and inquire, why do we live? Surely they should live for something. Those who live for they know not what are living as the brutes live. They have no plan of life. They have no fixed principles of action. Life to them is a day-dream of pleasure. unreal lusion! Strange deLife means something momentous results depend upon the manner it is lived. The poorest and humblest girl can adorn it with a bright career. CHAPTER III. A GIRL'S MISTAKE. POSITION AND DUTY-MANY GIRLS DESIRE THE FORMER-DESPISE LABOR MARRY UNPRINCIPLED YOUNG MEN FOR BEAUTY OR MONEY THOUGHTLESSNESS RESULTS- QUEEN ELIZABETH CONFESSION OF PRINCESS AMELIA - CONTRASTED WITH SEEKING HAPPINESS IN DOING DUTY A YOUNG LADY AT THE WEST -- MARY LYON ALWAYS ASKED, "WHAT IS DUTY?" -HER COUN SELS TO PUPILS HER REGARD FOR DUTY IN VIEW OF DEATH SUBLIME-DISCHARGE OF DUTY NEVER REGRETTED WORDS OF ELIZABETH HERVEY DYING ON MISSIONARY GRound. GIRLS are apt to think that the happiness of life is derived from position rather than from a faithful discharge of duty. Hence their desire for those external things, which perish with the using. Go, ask that flitting, sylph-like girl, whose eye beams with hope and intelligence, what will satisfy her heart and make her happy, as she blooms into womanhood. Does she answer, "DOING MY DUTY?" Nay. But you read in every lineament of her face, in her laughing eye and bounding heart, "Give me position! Let wealth be mine, and let me be dandled in the lap of luxury, while admirers flock around my path, and grace and beauty be |