He hears a noise,-he's all awake,— Right glad was he when he beheld her: Till she had filled her apron full. And fiercely by the arm he took her, She prayed, her withered hand uprearing, He went complaining all the morrow, His face was gloom, his heart was sorrow, That day he wore a riding coat, "T was all in vain! a useless matter! And Harry's flesh it fell away, And all who see him say 't is plain, No word to any man he utters, His teeth they chatter, chatter still; WORDSWORTH. LESSON CXXXII. FEMALE ACCOMPLISHMENTS. A YOUNG lady may excel in speaking French and Italian; may repeat a few passages from a volume of extracts; play like a professor, and sing like a siren; have her dressing-room decorated with her own drawings, tables, stands, flower-pots, screens, and cabinets; nay, she may dance like Sempronia herself, and yet we shall insist that she may have been very badly educated. I am far from meaning to set no value whatever on any or all of these qualifications. They are all of them elegant, and many of them properly tend to the perfecting of a polite education. These things, in their measure and degree, may be done; but there are others, which should not be left undone. Many things are becoming, but "one thing is needful." Besides, as the world seems to be fully apprised of the value of whatever tends to embellish life, there is less occasion here to insist on its importance. But, though a well-bred young lady may lawfully learn most of the fashionable arts; yet, let me ask, does it seem to be the true end of education, to make women of fashion, dancers, singers, players, painters, actresses, sculptors, gilders, varnishers, engravers, and embroiderers? Most men are commonly destined to some profession, and their minds are consequently turned, each to its respective object. Would it not be strange, if they were called out to exercise their profession, or to set up their trade, with only a little general knowledge of the trades and professions of all other men, and without any previous definite application to their own peculiar calling? The profession of ladies, to which the bent of their instruction should be turned, is that of daughters, wives, mothers, and mistresses of families. They should be, therefore, trained with a view to these several conditions, and be furnished with a stock of ideas, and principles, and qualifications, and habits, ready to be applied and appropriated, as occasion may demand, to each of these respective situations. For though the arts, which merely embellish life, must claim admiration ; yet, when a man of sense comes to marry, it is a companion whom he wants, and not an artist. It is not merely a creature who can paint, and play, and sing, and draw, and dress, and dance. It is a being who can comfort and counsel him; one who can reason, and reflect, and feel, and judge, and discourse, and discriminate; one who can assist him in his affairs, lighten his cares, soothe his sorrows, purify his joys, strengthen his principles, and educate his children. HANNAH MORE. LESSON CXXXIII. THE PROFESSION OF A WOMAN. IT is to mothers and to teachers, that the world is to look for the character, which is to be enstamped on each succeeding generation; for it is to them that the great business of education is almost exclusively committed. And will it not appear by examination, that neither mothers nor teachers have ever been properly educated for their profession? What is the profession of a woman? Is it not to form immortal minds, and to watch, to nurse, and to rear the bodily system, so fearfully and wonderfully made, and upon the order and regulation of which, the health and well-being of the mind so greatly depend? But let most of our sex, upon whom these arduous duties devolve, be asked, "Have you ever devoted any time and study, in the course of your education, to a preparation for these duties? Have you been taught any thing of the structure, the nature, and the laws of the body, which you inhabit? Were you ever taught to understand the operation of diet, air, exercise, and modes of dress upon the human frame? Have the causes which are continually operating to prevent good health, and the modes by which it might be perfected and preserved, ever been made the subject of any instruction?" We have Perhaps almost every voice would respond, "No. attended to almost every thing more than to this. We have been taught more concerning the structure of the earth, the laws of the heavenly bodies, the habits and formation of plants, the philosophy of language, than concerning the structure of the human frame, and the laws of health and reason." But is it not the business, the profession of a woman, to guard the health, and form the physical habits of the young? And is not the cradle of infancy and the chamber of sickness sacred to woman alone? And ought she not to know, at least, some of the general principles of that perfect and wonderful piece of mechanism committed to her preservation and care? The restoration of health is the physician's profession, but the preservation of it falls to other hands; and it is believed that the time will come, when woman will be taught to understand something respecting the construction of the human frame; the philosophical results which will naturally follow from restricted exercise, unhealthy modes of dress, improper diet, and many other causes, which are continually operating to destroy the health and life of the young. Again, let our sex be asked respecting the instruction they have received, in the course of their education, on that still more arduous and difficult department of their profession, which relates to the intellect and the moral susceptibilities. "Have you been taught the powers and faculties of the human mind, and the laws by which it is regulated? Have you studied how to direct its several faculties? how to restrain those that are overgrown, and strengthen and mature those that are deficient? Have you been taught the best modes of communicating knowledge, as well as of acquiring it? Have you learned the best mode of correcting bad moral habits, and forming good ones? Have you made it an object, to find how a selfish disposition may be made generous? how a reserved temper may be made open and frank? how pettishness and ill-humor may be changed to cheerfulness and kindness? studied her profession in this respect?" Has any woman It is feared the same answer must be returned, if not from all, at least from most of our sex: “No. We have acquired wisdom from the observation and experience of others, on almost all other subjects; but the philosophy of the direction and control of the human mind, has not been an object of thought or study." And thus it appcar, that, though it is woman's express business to rear the body and form the mind, there is scarcely any thing to which her attention has been less directed. MISS C. E. BEECHER. LESSON CXXXIV. THE MUSICAL INSTRUMENT. "THY grandmother," said uncle Toby, addressing himself to young Laura, just from the city, and who was playing the battle of Marengo,' on the piano, "thy grandmother, child, used to play upon a much better instrument than thine." "Indeed," said Laura, "how could it have been better? You know it is the most fashionable instrument, and is used by everybody that is anything." "Your grandmother was something, and yet she never saw a pianoforte." "But what was the name of the instrument? Had it strings, and was it played by the hand?" "You must give me time to recollect the name: it was indeed a stringed instrument, and was played with the hand." 66 66 By the hands alone? How vulgar! But I should really like to see one; and papa must buy me one when I return to the city; do you think we can obtain one?" No, you probably will not obtain one there, but doubtless they may be found in some of the country towns." "How many strings had it? Must one play with both hands? the double base?" "I know not whether it would play the double base, as you call it; but it was played with both hands, and had two strings.” And could one play "Two strings only? Surely you are jesting! How could |