tions of her intellect, will then present her to his view, as a manifestation of a superior nature— a copy worthy its original—worthy his confidence, companionship, and love."

CHAPTER II.

FEMALE INFLUENCE.

From the intimate connection that exists between the two sexes, and from the rank which females occupy in Christian countries, it is evident that their influence in this age, is both extensive and powerful. In ancient days, the influence of woman, though comparatively small when contrasted with its present sway, was not unknown. Anacreon, the lyric poet of Ionia, thus sang:—

"Nature imparts her gifts to all;
And every creature, large or small,
That frolics in the sea or strand,
Receives some favors at her hand.

To man, more bountifully kind,
She gave the nobler powers of mind;
And woman, too, was not forgot;

Both grace and beauty are her lot,

Whose potent influence will prevail

When wisdom, wit and weapons fail."

The influence of woman commences with man's existence, and throughout his whole ca

reer, however diversified, he is never dissolved from it—commencing at the cradle, it terminates only at the grave. The domestic circle is its fountain head, from whence its streams flow throughout all the various ramifications of society. Domestic life is woman's proper sphere. There her peculiar qualities and powers are developed there she commences the exercise of that sway, which, for good or evil, is sensibly felt in the world at large—there she begins those lessons which will affect those to whom they are addressed, either beneficially or injuriously, while earthly life shall endure—there she first puts into operation, that invisible, yet enduring power, by which she sways to an immense extent, the fate of our race—there she commences twining around the hearts of the sterner sex, those minute and lasting cords, which hold them, in a great degree, to an assimilation to her own character. The domestic circle is the home of woman, where she the most fully evinces her useful and valuable qualifications, and appears the most lovely and enchanting. "A family is society in miniature—` home is its location--woman its presiding spirit— and whatever destroys its primary features, must disturb the tranquillity of its joys, introduce evil into its atmosphere of good, inflict the worst of miseries, not only on her, but on all its members, and affect the whole community of which it forms a part.'"

*Ladies' Magazine.

Who has not experienced the influence of woman? Who has not been charmed by the vivacity of her intellect--enraptured by the sparkling of her genius, and filled with admiration by the modesty of deportment and simplicity of manners, which so pre-eminently distinguish her from the other sex? And whose heart has not been won to respect and love her, for the kindness, the tenderness and benevolence which her conduct is ever manifesting? Ledyard, the well known modern traveller, thus bears testimony to that kindness of disposition from which so much of her influence is derived—"I have always remarked that women, in all countries, are civil, obliging, tender and humane; and that they do not hesitate like man, to perform a generous action. Not haughty, not arrogant, not supercilious; they are full of courtesy, and are in general more virtuous than man, and perform more good actions than he. To a woman, whether civilized or savage, I never addressed myself in the language of decency and friendship, without receiving a decent and friendly answer. wandering over the barren plains of inhospitable Denmark, through honest Sweden, and frozen Lapland, rude and churlish Finland, unprincipled Russia, and the wide spread regions of the wandering Tartar; if hungry, dry, cold, wet or sick, the women have ever been friendly to me, and uniformly so; and to add to this virtue, so worthy the appellation of benevolence, these ac

In

tions have been performed in so free and so kind a manner, that if I was dry, I drank the sweetest draught, and if hungry, I ate the coarsest morsel, with a double relish."

The influence of woman is experienced by the other sex, in every stage of existence. How powerful is the influence which the wife can exercise over the husband, when she judiciously employs her abilities! She can mould him into almost any character—she can influence him to noble and patriotic deeds; to a virtuous, honorable and upright course in life; to a benevolent, kind and peaceable disposition—or, if the evil inclination sways her, she can debase and degrade his mind; destroy all honorable ambition, all aspiring after usefulness and respectability; dispirit and break down his mind, and plunge him into disreputable and sinful habits. When such is the power of woman's influence over her companion, wisdom dictates that it should be exercised with great care and prudence. The female who would have her husband rise in society, and become useful and respected, should reflect, that to attain this end much depends upon her own conduct. If she is careless of his interests, negligent of his affairs, and unconcerned in his plans and prospects, she is a dead weight—yea, her influence will be of a character to paralyze his exertions, to discourage him in every useful effort, and to keep him down to his present level, or sink him still lower. But