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portunities-cultivate a habit of consideration. Let those with whom you are intimately associated, see that you bear ever in your mind their peculiar tastes and preferences, and like to gratify them; while you avoid, as much as possible, what is displeasing to them. There is a certain quiet, noiseless recognition of those rights of another, which the heart loves to acknowledge, that is expressed by symbols-is manifested by deeds, not words. There are voiceless utterances throughout a dwelling from morning until night, which make an inscription on its walls, "wanting" or "not wanting." You find among its members one, perhaps, who claims nothing for herself, yet never waits to be asked what others want, and makes all conscious of a presence as loving and kindly to them as the sun and dew to the flower; and another, isolated, self-absorbed, cold, and repulsive, a link fallen out of the chain of humanity and brotherhood. Which would you most like to resemble? Nor will such an one as my model confine her sweet charities to the home circle. She will not forget how the weary eyes of the lonely sick girl may be lightened by the sight of fresh flowers, while her heart is cheered by the odor of remembrance that breathes from them; how the poor mother, exhausted with nursing her sick family, may be refreshed by a drive; how the loan of a book may benefit and delight the seamstress at the end of her day's work.

Sons are no longer needed, as in the olden time, "to speak with the enemy in the gates," but it is the more especial office of daughters, I think, to receive and welcome the guests and friends of the house, and assist in their entertainment. They cannot be too early inspired with the spirit, or trained to the practice of true hospitality. They should demean themselves courteously to all, and do whatever in them lies, to please them and make them happy. Whomsoever their father or mother choose to invite or admit to the house, must, on that account, if on that alone, be made welcome by them. Much has been said of the difficulty of speaking and practising the truth in the ordinary intercourse of society, without violating courtesy ; and I admit that it is very hard to avoid saying sometimes, "I am glad to see you," etc., when such is not the case; but, as the simple practice of the golden rule would produce a sort of communism, answering a thousand times better than any system devised by Fourier, or attempted to be carried out by some American enthusiast, to level the inequalities of society, and give all men a fair chance for happiness and improvement; so a truly Christian good-will to our fellow-men, would make us glad to meet them for their own sakes, if not for ours, and enable us to say truly, under the consciousness of being able to give them pleasure, that which otherwise would not be true.

It may be that some of you will have a step mother; if so, take care that you do not, by your own misconduct, help to make the relation, what it is very commonly supposed to be, one productive only of misery. To fulfill it well, requires, on the part of the mother, the exercise of high principle and great wisdom, a union not very often found, and, for that reason, and that only, I presume," Noverca terribiles" have been the terror of motherless children. A great deal of mischief is often done beforehand by servants, and officious acquaintance, instilling into the minds of such, the idea that "father has no business to marry again," and that whomsoever he may put in the place of their mother, will be their enemy; thus doing much to create the evil they predict.

Question not your father's right to do what he pleases in the matter. Nothing but a solemn vow never to marry yourself and leave him, would give you a claim even to remonstrate with him. If you truly love him, you will be kind and friendly to her whom he makes his wife, for his sake, and the right performance of your own duty in the new relation will be essential to its true and proper character.

I have known step-mothers who were more faithful to their step-children, in every way, than many mothers to their own children, because more capable and more conscientious. I have known a

young man of obstinate temper, who had been found unmanageable at school and at home, completely subdued and won by the gentle firmness and kind devotion of a step-mother. I have known a stepmother whose husband's income was small, and who could allow herself but one servant, refuse to avail herself of the aid of his daughters in the family, because she thought they should have all their time for school, and encourage their father to send them to the best he could possibly afford. I have known a young man who, when he wanted any favors of his father, would request his stepmother to intercede for him-and I have seen a step-mother's eyes fill with tears at the praises of her step-daughter. Properly fulfilled, it becomes a beautiful relation, all the more beautiful from its inherent delicacy and difficulty.

CHAPTER III.

RELATIONS WITH THE POOR AND FRIENDLESS.

As this is the period when, if at all, perhaps, your relations with the poor and the suffering will be established, some remarks upon the kind of intercourse with this large class of our fellowbeings, most likely to profit both them and ourselves, will not be out of place here.

Do

Jesus says: "All mankind are brethren." we so regard them? If true disciples of Jesus, we must do so, and yet, I think that many deceive themselves, using the phrase, while its spirit escapes from them. A lady with whom I once met in travelling, told me of the great indebtedness she felt to Doctor Channing for some ideas derived from him, on the subject of Christian intercourse with the poor. She said she had learned from him to go among them, as their friend and equal, in Burns' phrase, as "their poor earth-born companion and fellow-mortal," and that, therefore, not only her satisfaction in aiding them, but her usefulness, had been greatly increased, for she found herself achieving more by the manifestation of a real sym

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