childhood. And be assured, that nothing beneath religious fidelity, and that nothing short of entire consecration, will enable you to achieve, as you should, full success in your mission.

LECTURE IV.

STRENGTH AND BEAUTY IN THE EDUCATION

OF OUR DAUGHTERS.

BY EDWARD P. WESTON,

OF GORHAM, MAINE.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE INSTITUTE :

ters.

I ask your attention, and through you, the attention of fathers and mothers in this assembly, to a few considerations touching the education of our daughWhen I was invited to read a lecture before the Institute at its present session, I proposed to myself a theme for discussion, somewhat more closely connected with the details of practical instruction. But when circumstances afterwards compelled me to relinquish the expectation of being with you at this time, I abandoned my inquiries upon the subject under examination; so that when, but two days ago, I found it possible to be present, and that my services were still in requisition, I was obliged to fall back upon preparations made for a different occasion. Nor need I be deterred from repeating my lecture, by the fact, that an address of similar aim and general man

agement, has been delivered before one of our literary institutions since my own was first read.

There seems to be in the minds of parents and educators, less of definite conviction upon the subject of female education, both as to its character and its methods, than there is in regard to the education of their sons. Whether designed for mercantile or mechanical pursuits, for the trades or professions, the general course of preparation adapted to the wants of young men, seems to have been somewhat definitely settled. The kind and amount of knowledge supposed necessary in the various employments of men, appear to have been established by a sort of general consent. Their education is thus conducted with a degree of method, which brings it to a definite result.

From the nature of the case, it is otherwise with young women. Parents are not to choose for them their positions and pursuits in life. We prepare our sons to go forth into the world, according to their own choice or ours, with a definite course in view; as a merchant fits out his vessel for some particular port. He knows the seas that intervene, the general nature of the currents, the winds, the climate, and the demands of the market to which his ship is destined. Not so with our daughters. They are to leave us, it may be for positions and employments in life now little anticipated. We send them forth like ships upon a mighty venture; we know not over what placid or stormy seas; we know not to what friendly or hostile clime. Entrusted, perhaps, to the guardianship of others, and becoming their wealth

as well as ours, how important that they be laden with all goodly treasures; merchandise adapted to every market, -the wheat and the gold that command their price in every land.

In my remarks at this time, I do not propose to consider the training of the nursery. The foundations, to be sure, of the best education, must be laid. there; and were my purpose a different one, I could not present a more important theme for discussion, than the education of the child. With many of our daughters, however, that point is passed. Good or evil, they have received their earlier training; and, leaving the season of impressions, they are passing to the formation of their active habits and permanent characters. At this important period of their history, it becomes, to parents and educators, as well as to young ladies themselves, a question of intense interest, how their education shall best be conducted through these years of their approximation to the age and responsibilities of womanhood. How shall they best be trained to acquit themselves well in the positions which they shall hereafter occupy? What should they seek to become? What elements should be wrought into their permanent and established characters?

I find the grand elements of such a character as young ladies should possess, finely suggested in the beautiful language of the King of Israel's prayer"that our daughters may be as corner-stones, polished after the similitude of a palace." While firmness and solidity of character, are appropriately indicated by the corner-stone, the graces and adornments befitting