so long the light of the world, deserted by poet and philosopher, fled, pale as her own sculpture, from the same brutal foe. Rome thundered, and fell. She struggled indeed, and was centuries in dying. But is she not dead? Can the mummy in the Vatican, from its gilded sarcophagus, be indeed that Rome before whom the world trembled?

The story of these empires fills many pages. The little child reads them, and is wearied. But when their ancient features shall have faded from the map of nations, and the tomes that recorded their triumphs and their fate, blacken in the last flame, where shall be the soul of that little child? Mother! where?

Will it not, then, have but just begun its eternal duration? Will not its history be studied by. archangels? Proud Philosophy perchance viewed it as a noteless thing, an atom. Doth God, the father of the Spirit, thus regard it?

Mothers, of the four millions of children who are yet to be educated in this Western World, to whom our country looks, as her defence and glory, Mothers, of four millions of immortal beings, have you any time to lose? any right to loiter on your great work?

LETTER XVI.

EXAMPLE.

Do I hear some mother say, "if we do all that is proposed for our children, we shall have no time to do any thing for ourselves.

We must

certainly give up all hope of mental proficiency. We cannot attempt to cherish intellectual tastes, or to maintain an acquaintance with the literature of the day."

I have heretofore assumed that a mother, who attends to the education of her children, necessarily advances with them. But she may also secure the means of a more than collateral improvement. By a correct system of management, she may avoid falling behind the standard of the times.

parts, that every Disorder in the

To do this, she must understand more than the mere theory of housekeeping. She must have such knowledge of its practical wheel may be kept in motion. kitchen department re-acts directly upon the parlour; and discomfort in the family, deprives the head of it of all power of pleasant, or profitable

mental application. sufficiently acquainted with the duties which we demand of others, to know whether they are properly discharged, and when the wearied labourer requires repose. Novices in housekeeping, often err in these matters. They are deceived by specious appearances, without knowing how their domestics spend their time; or they impose toil at the proper seasons of rest.

It seems necessary to be

"I have an excellent cook," said a young housekeeper. "But I think I shall have to dismiss her, she is so cross. I only wanted her to make me some blanc-mange and custards yesterday, and just because her dinner-dishes were out of the way, and her kitchen put up nice for the afternoon, she did nothing but murmur, that I had not given her those orders before."

I wish mothers would encourage in their daughters, a practical knowledge of the culinary art. I do not mean simply the composition of cakes, sweetmeats and pastry: temptations, which, if they were less frequently offered, our catalogue of diseases would be undoubtedly curtailed. But I allude to the broad principles of the art, that platform on which our life stands, the preparation of bread and meat, vegetables and fruit, so that they may be salutary in their influence on the system, and neatly and elegantly presented to the eye. I would not have our

tables made either "a snare, or a trap, or a stumbling-block." It is not well for a lady to shelter any habitual deficiencies of this nature, with the excuse that she attends to her children. "This, ought she to have done, and not to leave the other undone."

Cookery, it is surely the business of the mistress of a family either to do, or to see well done. So much has been recently written by medical men, on diet and digestion, that no additional proof can be needed, of the close affinity which the culinary art bears to health. Neither is it a despisable discipline of the mind. Its details are almost endless, and whoever conquers them, and has them constantly at command without reference, or mistake, may lay claim to memory, industry, energy, and some other departments of intellect, of no common order.

It is conceded to be desirable that the varieties of exercise for our sex should be multiplied, since it is not always convenient or possible for them to take it in the open air, and the want of it is a source of much serious suffering. Here then is a species of exercise, more useful than callisthenicks, more benevolent than the jumping-rope, or battledoor, and bearing on the politicks of the family, with sufficient distinctness to gratify even a love of power. And if the wisdom of a Lacedemonian king were extolled, because to the ques

tion, "what it was most proper for boys to learn?" he replied, "what they ought to do, when they come to be men;" can the judgment of the mother be praised, who keeps out of the view of her daughters, what will be required of them when they become women? Correct judges will never deem it derogatory to female dignity, to take an active part, when necessary, in whatever promotes the comfort and economy of the household for which it legislates.

The wife of the Lord Protector Cromwell, was a most excellent and prudent housewife. He was repeatedly sustained in arduous and trying situations, by her energy and dignified character. It has been remarked, that good housewives usually acquire influence over their husbands; as it is natural to confide in the opinions of those who are distinguished in their respective spheres. Yet men of cultivated mind, though not slow in appreciating the value of good housekeeping, usually desire in woman some degree of intellectual congeniality or taste. In proportion as they possess knowledge, will they find it difficult to respect an ignorant companion. So convinced was Rousseau, of the importance of education to domestic intercourse, that he deeply regretted he had not exerted himself to supply its deficiencies in his wife. "I might have adorned her mind with knowledge," said he, "and this would have