In like manner,

"aside the devil turned,”

when the first of female forms presented itself before him. Woman was, "the last, best gift," to man; moulded out of that part of his flesh and bone, which lay nearest the heart. And what though she was first in the transgression? Was she not principal, also, in the restoration? And when the Divine Restorer, born of a woman, was in poverty and need, who were they that ministered to him? Women. Women. When the disciples had fled through fear, who stood by, and so deeply sympathized in his last agonies, undismayed by the ferocious countenances of the murderous throng? Women. Who so affectionately prepared the embalming spicery, and were the first to visit the sacred tomb? Women. To whom have all the after generations been most indebted for the pious culture of infancy and childhood? women. The Eternal Wisdom has, if I may use the expression, cast the minds of the two sexes in different moulds, each being destined to act in a sphere peculiarly its own.

"For contemplation he, and valor form'd,

For softness she, and sweet attractive grace."

To

The one is destined and fitted for the more active and perilous scenes; the other for the duties and trials of domestic life the one to protect, the other to lean on the arm of her protectthe one to exhibit the sterner virtues, the other the milder ; the one possessing more of active courage; and the other, more of fortitude, of resignation, of unweariable patience, and more of the benevolent affections. This is nature's distinctive line,

or;

which, on the part of female character, can never be overleaped, without producing disgust or ridicule. Hence it is, that, of all affectation, none is more displeasing than a woman's affecting the spirit and manners of the other sex. We have a sort of admiration of the heroic intrepidity of the Spartan women; of their contempt of danger; of the stoical apathy, or rather the exultation, with which they received the news of their sons and husbands dying bravely in battle. We admire them as prodigies, but neither love, nor esteem them as women. And why is it that the atheistical woman is regarded with such singular hor ror? Why is the foul oath, the heaven-daring blasphemy, doubly horrible in the ear of decency, when proceeding from the lips of woman? It is because we contrast the outrage with the attributes of timidity, gentleness, delicacy and sensibility, belonging more peculiarly to her sex.

One of the most deplorable wants in woman, is the want of heart; the want of genuine sensibility, of the radical affection of sympathy and benevolence. It is a want, which neither beauty, nor wit, nor the rarest accomplishments of person or mind can, by any means, compensate. On the other hand, the most attractive graces of the female character are not the artificial and showy ones; but those of a meek and quiet spirit, and of beneficent dispositions, guided by moral principle and the discretion of sound sense :-in a word, graces, the same that our holy religion inculcates and inspires.

In the fair daughters of Eve, domestic excellence is the predominating excellence; in comparison with which all the ornaments, that literature or manners can bestow, are as tinsel compared with fine gold.

How much soever woman contributes to refine and amplify the innocent pleasures of health and prosperity, yet still more doth she contribute, when she acts the woman, to alleviate the pains of adversity. In our sickness and sorrows, she is indeed as "a ministering angel." What heart else is so sympathetic? Who watches by the sick bed

What hand else is so soothing? with most care, with most assiduity, with the most inexhaustible patience? Who, in spite of feebleness of frame, foregoes sleep, and patiently endures a course of remitless watchings of incredible length? Who, so often, devotes life, and the pleasures of life to the needs of a helpless parent? to the solitary chamber of decrepit age? It is woman;-the well-educated, the enlightened, the Christian woman.

4

NUMBER XVII.

OF THE INCREASE OF CONSEQUENCE ORDINARILY GIVEN A MAN BY

MARRYING.

FAMILIES are clusters of little commonwealths, which can hardly subsist without government, and whose well-being depends greatly upon the manner, in which they are governed.

The ruler of a family, with respect to the children, belonging to his household and under his care, stands in the relation of a magistrate. A sort of magistrate he is, of very ample powers; for he is clothed at once, in a certain measure, with legislative, judicial, and executive authority.

In this character, it concerns him to act with the utmost impartiality. To be partial is to be unjust; and the injustice being perceived and deeply felt, (as it scarcely ever fails to be,) discontent, heart-burnings, and bitter murmurings will ensue. Favoritism is the bane of government, in the smallest communities, as well as in the largest. And look! often it is the favorite child, that wrings the hearts of the doting parents; and no less

often the child, that shared least in their regards, comes, at last, to be the solace and the prop of their declining years.

It behooves, that the ruler of a family establish no domestic rules and laws, but such as are reasonable in themselves, and conducive to the real good and welfare of the little community he governs. Else he acts the part of a tyrant; and one, who is a tyrant in his own house, would be a tyrant over millions, if he had it in his power.

As the laws for his household should be enacted with all the prudence and forethought he is master of, so, also, they should be executed with discretion and cool judgment. What would be thought of a judge, who should proceed to pass a penal sentence without conviction, or without giving a patient hearing and a fair trial, or who should fly into a violent passion upon the judgmentseat, and foam with rage while in the act of passing sentence? Every one would think him utterly unfit for his place, and would cry out,―shame upon him! Now the ruler of a family acts as a judge; while the party, arraigned before him, has neither the benefit of counsel, nor the privilege of trial by jury. In these circumstances, it is peculiarly fit and necessary, that the judge should not act passionately, but with cool deliberation.

Paternal magistracy must be supported by general decency of behavior, or, inevitably, it will fall into contempt. It is an old Latin maxim, " Maxima debetur pueris reverentia,-in English," Very great respect is due to children. Parents must respect themselves, in the presence of their children. A governor, or a justice of a court, who respects not himself by a steady observance of the laws of decency, brings his office and authority into contempt: and it is so in domestic government. Nor does the