But, to a lady, reading should be extended to all the branches of polite literature. Poetry, history, essays, all that makes the body of English classic literature, she should read as much of as time and opportunity will allow. This is the great means by which (so far as knowledge goes) she is to refine, polish, and adorn her mind. Here, again, the mother and the teacher should be the guide, as far as guidance is possible. I may here suggest that a family library, if it be but a dozen volumes, should always be composed of the best of their kind. The want of discrimination in allowing all sorts of trash to come within the reach of youth, is the great evil in regard to reading. All temptation cannot be kept out of the way; but surely there is no need of bringing temptation with double strength into the family.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

It is said that a distinguished gentleman once took a young lady to be placed in a celebrated female seminary. He was asked what he would have her taught? "Dress and address," he replied. "It shall be done," said the lady teacher. Beyond doubt, both the lady and the gentleman estimated accomplishments too highly. The term "address," in its full sense, will, indeed, comprehend much of education; but it is that part which appears in society, and not that which gives strength to the solid qualities of the mind. After these solid qualities have been made

sure of, then we should not neglect the graces and accomplishments. It may be safely admitted, that in women the accomplishments may be cultivated to a greater extent than among men. The feminine form and their softer dispositions seem to invite a culture of the refinements and elegancies of life. Where hard necessity has not precluded them from such advantages, there seems no objection to the culture of those arts and studies, in a moderate degree, whose object is to refine and adorn, rather than to serve the mere wants of life. In the idea of accomplishments, however, different persons include a great variety of things. I shall be contented here with some hints on what I think the most valuable of the accomplish

ments.

1. The first and greatest accomplishment for a lady is the art of elegant conversation. I call this an art, although most women have a natural tendency to converse with ease. But elegant and pleasant conversation must have for its basis a well-informed mind; and not only that, but one well instructed in the usages and requisitions of polite society. Much of this is to be learned from being in good society, much from the instruction of an experienced teacher, and much from the exercise of conversational talent and observation upon others.

2. The next most useful accomplishment (if not the first) is, to have a perfect acquaintance with what is called the proprieties of life. These are what usage, what politeness, what good feeling, and good

neighborhood require in the intercourse of society. There are a thousand nameless acts which are expected in society, and specially of women, which cannot be neglected, and which make up a part of a woman's circle of social duties. Not to be proper, in a woman is almost equivalent to not being moral. Society, by its usages, require many things for propriety sake, which may be almost called a minor code of morals.

3. Music and drawing seem the chief ornamental acquirements which society has assigned to the ladies. They are branches of the fine arts, and therefore, if cultivated at all except by artists, seem fairly to come within the circle of female attainments. Vocal music seems to be almost natural to the female sex. They hear the "lullaby" at the cradle, and seem to imitate and adopt the melody of the voice from their mothers. For this reason, and for the sake of sacred music, singing may be admitted as an almost indispensable accomplishment among women, and one which may safely be cultivated with much care. But when we come to instrumental music, it does not seem to be so essential. The almost universal use (among educated young women) of the piano seems to raise a doubt, whether all women can be really born with such taste and talent for the piano that one-third of two or three years should be consumed upon it. To learn the use of the piano has become a fashion, and, like other fashions, is carried to an extreme. The time, money, and labor of one half of those who learn

:

is entirely thrown away.

What would you substi-
If an instrument must

tute? some one may say.
be played upon, the simple guitar is sufficient to
accompany a lady's voice, which is the principal
object in learning to play on the piano. Again, the
harp is a more graceful and a more melodious instru-
ment than the piano. But one half who learn instru-
mental music would find themselves better paid and
better satisfied by learning the art of drawing, which
is both useful and ornamental. First, there is linear
drawing, in which may be embraced the principles
of architecture; secondly, there is landscape drawing,
in which is included perspective; thirdly, there is
drawing of the human figure, which is very attrac-
tive and amusing, inasmuch as a ready hand may,
with this art, sketch many subjects from living society;
fourthly, there is topographical drawing, which be-
longs more especially to the province of engineers.

4. I need say nothing about a variety of minor accomplishments, such as fancy needle-work, &c., which are suggested naturally in the intercourse of society. I shall only add, that one or two acquirements, which may be classed under the head of accomplishments, is enough for most young women, and more than the mass can have. Perhaps the highest and most useful accomplishment (after the proprieties) is graceful manners. But this is a grace which cannot be defined. Its power is often wonderful, and its attractions pleasing to all classes of people. A refined taste, an acute sense of propriety, natural dignity, kind feelings, and

a wish to please, are its sources.

After all, however,

this pleasant talent cannot be always acquired without certain previous graces, which are the gift of Providence. All persons, however, can endeavor to please; all can show kindness, and all can be civil in their address.

RELIGIOUS TEACHINGS.

It is almost superfluous to say, that upon mothers devolves the earliest part of religious training, and by far the most important. The instances are rare in which a child has been instructed by its mother in certain religious principles and duties, and departs from them in after life. This instruction may not make a religious character; but it does fix certain ideas of faith and duty with a strength of memory which no time wholly eradicates. It was somewhere remarked by John Quincy Adams, that no equal number of words in English literature had been so often repeated and so long remembered as that little child's prayer:

Strong men, who seem insensible to weakness, and whose eyes seldom see the pages of the Bible, repeat it in the watches of the night; great men, whose names are brilliant in the world's eyes, repeat this