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!"

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 minutiae 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

indeed rose the sun on your nuptial morn; prize her, love her, honour her, and be it the study of your life to make her happy.

But the sacred volume places the value and importance of domestic virtues in the female character, in a point of view at once more grand and elevated than any modern. production, and also associates high social responsibilities and dignified privileges with her condition, invests her with mental power and moral qualities, and throws around the whole the beaming mantle of spirituality; as may be plainly perceived in the following extracts..—“Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar. She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth