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 labour 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 for men-he shed tears over Jerusalem. 'Did Christ o'er sinners weep? 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 profits 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 labours 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 unreal-a day-dream of pleasure. Strange delusion! Life 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 Labour. 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 Counsels to Pupils.-Her Regard for Duty in View of Death-Discharge of Duty never Regretted. -Words of Elizabeth Hervey dying on Missionary Ground. GI IRLS 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 become my passport to honoured circles. And when my hand and heart are claimed for a life-alliance, may it be by some distinguished votary of pleasure, affluence, or fame, who can usher me into yet higher circles of elegance and fashion." Such are really the views and feelings of many girls concerning the sources of earthly happiness. DUTY is a common and homely word, whose claims they leave for older and graver people to discuss. To them it is a stern, unmusical word, scarcely suited to the ears and tastes of ardent youth. They prefer to pass it by for the present, resolved that, when age modifies their love of worldly attainments, they will attend to the rigid demands of duty. Here is the mistake of thousands ;-a mistake which interferes with the great purpose of life, and yields bitter fruits both in this world and the next. It is this mistake which leads so many young females to be vain and proud. Believing that position will bring the coveted enjoyment of life, they are led to strive after those things which characterize the so-called higher circles. They ape the manners and customs of those circles, and study to produce effect upon beholders. It is this, too, which causes them to believe that certain female employments are degrading, however useful and necessary they may be. They think that a certain rank confers honour upon woman, thus C |