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her paths, and suffer not thy soul to be ensnared by the allurements of thy imagination." "But when thou findest sensibility of heart joined with softness of manners, an accomplished mind with a form agreeable to thy fancy; take her home to thy house, she is worthy to be thy friend and companion." Reprove her faults with gentleness; exact not her obedience with rigour; trust thy secrets in her heart, her counsels are sincere, thou shalt not be deceived." "She is the wife of thy bosom, treat her with love; she is the mistress of thy house, treat her with respect; she is the mother of thy children, be faithful to her bed."

"Oh happy lot and hallowed, even as the joy of angels,

Where the golden chain of godliness is entwined with the roses of

love :

But beware, thou seem not to be holy, to win favour in the eyes

of a creature,

For the guilt of the hypocrite is deadly, and winneth thee wrath elsewhere;

The idol of thy heart is as thou, a probationary sojourner on earth; Therefore be chary of her soul, for that is the jewel in her casket. Let her be a child of God, that she bring with her a blessing to thy house,

A blessing above riches, and leading contentment in its train: Let her be an heir of heaven; so shall she help thee on thy way,For those who are one in faith, fight double-handed against evil. Take heed lest she love thee before God; that she be not an idolator: Yet see that she love thee well-for her heart is the heart of woman; And the triple nature of humanity must be bound by a triple chain, For soul, and mind, and body—godliness, esteem, and affection." MARTIN F. TUPPER.

CHAPTER II,

ON THE FEMALE CHARACTER.

IF your wife is an amiable woman, if, as the ancient writer says, there be kindness, meekness, and comfort in her tongue, then is not her husband like other men. (Ecclus. xxxvi. 23.) Prize, therefore, her worth; understand her value: for great indeed is the treasure you possess. Speaking of woman a late writer says, "I consider a religious, sensible, well-bred woman, one of the noblest objects in creation: her conduct is so consistent and well regulated; her friendship so steady; her feelings so warm and gentle; her heart so replete with pity and tenderness." Nowhere does she appear to so much advantage as in the chamber of the sick; administering to the wants of the sufferer, sympathizing in his pain, and pointing the way to his heavenly rest as our great Scottish bard says,—

"When pain and anguish wring the brow,
A ministering angel thou!"

C

Oh! how much more lovely and interesting to the heart does she appear in such scenes, than in all the blaze of beauty, armed for conquest, and decorated for the brilliant exhibition of fashionable pleasures!

Among the many amiable qualities of woman, I cannot help noticing two with which she appears gifted in a peculiar degree -resignation and fortitude. I remember hearing an eminent physician say, that he has been constantly struck with the superior quietness and resignation with which women supported bodily pain and suffering, as well as all the other evils of human life! When I speak thus, I of course allude to the sensible and superior part of the sex. It accompanies her to the retired and silent chamber; it supports her under pain and sickness, sorrow and disappointment; it teaches her to sympathize with her husband and all around her, and to inspire them with patience by her words and example. And while she seeks no notice, no reward, but the regard and approbation of her heavenly Father, she meekly acquiesces in his divine will, and says under every trial, "Father, not MY will, but THINE be done."

Has it never been remarked, how superior,

in point of discretion, woman is to man? Now, reader, do not mistake me. I mean not to say she possesses more power of mind than man: in this particular, man claims, and we allow him, the prerogative; though, certainly, it is not every instance that proves its truth. But, in the quality of discretion, woman is decidedly and undoubtedly his superior. Unless it particularly concerns himself, a man seldom looks to the future consequences of what he either says or does, especially in small matters, or common-place occurrences. Now a sensible woman sees at once the fit from the unfit, attends to the minutia of things, and looks through existing circumstances to their probable result. In short, a proper definition of the word discretion would exactly convey a just idea of my meaning.

"So absolute she seems,

And in herself complete, so well to know
Her own, that what she wills to do or say,
Seems wisest, virtuousest, discreetest, best!"
MILTON.

Mrs. H. More says, "There is a large class of excellent female characters, who, on account of that very excellence, are little known; because to be known is not their object. Their ambition has a better taste:

they pass through life honoured and respected in their own small but not unimportant sphere, and approved by Him whose they are, and whom they serve,' though their faces are hardly known in promiscuous society. If they occasion little sensation abroad, they produce much happiness at home. These are the women who bless, dignify, and truly adorn society. The painter, indeed, does not make his fortune by their sitting to him; the jeweller is neither brought into vogue by furnishing their diamonds, nor undone by not being paid for them; the prosperity of the milliner does not depend on affixing their name to a cap or a colour; the poet does not celebrate them; the novelist does not dedicate to them;- but they possess the affection of their husbands; the attachment of their children; the esteem of the wise and good; and, above all, they possess His favour, 'whom to know is life eternal.'"

"A creature not too bright and good,

For human nature's daily food;

For simple duties, playful wiles,

Praise, blame, love, kisses, tears, and smiles."

Oh, Man! If Heaven, in its great kind

ness, has blest you with such a wife, bright