sembly, I can conceive of no impropriety in her speaking to an audience composed entirely of her own sex. Indeed, I am satisfied that a well-informed lady may confer great benefit upon her sex by lecturing before them on topics relative to health and morals, which perhaps could not, with propriety, be discussed so fully and freely as desirable, before a promiscuous audience. Lectures of this description have recently been delivered by a lady eminent for her extensive knowledge and usefulness, and I hope they may be continued, and others of a like character instituted in the various sections of our country.

It is possible that women have in some instances put themselves forward in public places, and taken part in public transactions, under the promptings of an ambition to rise to distinction and to shine in the world. But for woman, this is an ambition exceedingly ill directed. An ambitious disposition is a dangerous ingredient of the mind, unless under the strict control of the moral sentiments. It is destructive to peace and contentment, and exposes its votaries to dangers which cannot visit the lowly minded.

Ambition in woman to be distinguished, is more dangerous than in man. Besides all the dangers to which it will expose her character, it must necessarily lead her attention from that appropriate sphere in which alone she can excite admiration and respect. An ambition to be great has been the ruin of thousands, and the source of immense

evil. So highly did the poet Cowley fear this disposition, that he exclaimed

"If ever ambition did my fancy cheat

With any thought so mean as to be great,
Continue, Heaven, still from me to remove
The humble blessings of that life I love!"

Ambition should have but one object, and that should be, to be useful in accordance to our several circumstances and capacities. This is the only ambition that can be properly indulged in the human heart. The Deity has made it the imperious duty of all, in both sexes, to be as useful as condition and opportunity will possibly admit. If by mingling habitually with the crowd, and taking part in public affairs, a wife can be the most useful, then she should allow her ambition to take this direction, and give it full scope. But if she can be far more useful in the private circle—if she is so constituted by nature, as to be capable of much greater good in superintending the affairs of the household-in making home as comfortable and agreeable as possible for the husband who daily wearies himself that he may obtain wherewith to provide for the support of herself and her family-if she can be of more benefit to mankind in attending to the voice of humanity and the calls of charity, which reach her ears from the poor, the needy, and the helpless-then she will turn her whole attention into these channels, and be ambitious only to excel in the faithful discharge of the duties which may in this manner devolve upon

her. This is a question which comes strictly within the province of conscience to decide. I leave it for every wife to determine the course she should pursue in this respect-believing that the most of women will unite in the language of the poet

"Thou hast a charmed cup, oh Fame!

A draught that mantles high,

And seems to lift this earth-born frame
Above mortality;

Away! to me-a woman—bring

Sweet waters from affection's spring."

In the marriage state it is as important that the wife should strive to exhibit an affable and agreeable deportment to all, as before she took upon herself its obligations. Instead of neglecting this appearance, it should be cultivated to its highest extent. No woman is loved and respected in community, who is cold, exclusive, and haughty in her deportment. She will ere long perceive that such conduct is fruitful of unhappiness. For, say what we will, the good opinion of all around us is necessary to the comfort and enjoyment of every truly sensitive and delicate mind—so true is the old and homely saying, that "the good will even of a dog, is better than his ill will." And besides this, the prosperity of a man may depend in no small degree upon the manners of his wife. Let a woman be vain and supercilious in her deportment-let her be exclusive and dictatorial in her intercourse with society-let her be haughty and overbearing in her dealings with the poorer classes

-and who cannot see a thousand ways in which this line of conduct must injure the interest of her husband? But, on the contrary, when a woman is polite, affable, social, and agreeable to all with whom she meets, of every class and description, it not only promotes her husband's welfare, but acquires the confidence and good-will of society, which is more to be prized than precious gems

CHAPTER VI.

HOME.

It was ner smile that made the house so gay,
Her voice that made it eloquent with joy,
Her presence peopled it. Her very tread
Had life and gladness in it."

WOMAN is the presiding genius of home. These words, woman and home, are almost synonymous. What husband can think of his home without having his thoughts at the same time rest upon that wife who is or who should be its light and its joy? What child can think of home, without his mind fondly reverting to that mother who watched over him in his days of helplessness, and who was the guardian angel of the family circle? Home should form the centre of a wife's affections, plans, and thoughts. She should view it as a little kingdom, in the ruling and managing of which, she must act the most important part, and assume the greatest responsibility-a kingdom which will altogether the most sensibly feel her influence, and which will exhibit such characteristics as she pleases to enstamp upon it.

Home is the sphere in which woman can exhibit all the valuable traits of her nature-in which she can prove herself to be a model of all that is good