mother, that she was "coming on surprisingly," not that she was learning to think, and read and work, but that she was making rapid progress in French, music, and dancing! I could not restrain a sigh of regret. Her father has no portion to give her, and too much pride not to make her a fine lady; and thus a mind which might have been rendered capable of comprehending any thing, will be obscured and lost, in the acquirement of a few, to her, unnecessary accomplishments; and a being who might have been trained to respectability and usefulness, will, in all probability, become frivolous and idle, and insignificant, if not degraded and contemptible. The same truth still recurs: that parents need instruction. A wise father may have a child of weak understanding, for all are not possessed of equal powers: but it will be a novel sight to see a wise child, educated by foolish parents.

CHAP. VII.

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AMONG the amusements proper for young females, those in which exercise must be employed should form a part; for good health, and a sound constitution, are essential to the enjoyment of other advantages; and motion, and in the open air, contribute greatly to these: I mean not violent and boisterous games, but such as are suited, with attention to health, to the propriety of female deportment. There is a medium which should be observed: let a girl be reared to the varieties of climate, but she need not learn to gallop like a race-horse, nor direct people to "stand clear," for that she is going to perform some grand feats in jump

ing. I have thought the lighter parts of gardening a proper amusement for girls; it will do where there are few, but not where there are many. A garden is however, a very essential thing where there are young people: a knowledge of flowers and plants, and their different properties, is acquired in the most interesting method of acquiring information, from contemplating the real objects: Dr. Beattie, from sowing salad in the initials of his son's name, took occasion when he noticed it springing up in this form, to discourse to him, on the origin of his own existence, and this lesson conveyed in so striking, and interesting a manner, the child never forgot: besides a garden, there should be a play ground: children like to sport unconfined; but the order and beauty and usefulness of a garden, are destroyed when they are allowed to employ it for that purpose, and thus one of their chief sources of recreation is cut off. I have the authority of an instructress of youth, for mentioning as amusements for girls in the way of exer

cise, skipping with a rope, always throwing the rope backwards, as the contrary way has an injurious effect, contracting the chest, and causing them to stoop: playing at battledore and shuttlecock; whoop, swinging, only this last never allowed but when a superior is present, because, though beneficial, yet used carelessly it is attended with danger: all these are practised in the open air; or, in wet weather, in a large enclosed space. Walking and running in the open fields; but be it understood, in fields not exposed to public observation, are pleasant and healthful recreations. Some of these may and should be pursued out of doors, in winter, as well as in summer. Dancing has been already recommended. I have mentioned the contemplation of bees and ants, as instructive and interesting to children; and I think the rearing of silkworms a very pleasing and proper occupation for girls; perpetual interest is excited, in their perpetual changes: they require constant care, and attention to clean

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liness: there is a pleasure in presenting to parents and friends the skeins of silk, the product of the joint industry of the insects, and the hands which reared them. "Through time and patience," and we will add, "through industry," the mulberry leaf becomes satin;" a lesson to a young girl under her own eyes of the be nefit of patience and perseverance, in order to attain to perfection. It seems astonishing, that an almost imperceptible speck should arrive at clothing us in one of our richest attires; but the fact may be placed before the eyes of the young, and will not fail to impress them. I have mentioned dolls for young girls, and I know no objection to their being made an useful amusement to older ones, in cutting out, and making clothes for them, at any rate, for the dolls of their younger sisters. I honestly confess, that to this day I am fond of dressing a doll. Among sedentary amusements, geographical, historical, astronomical, and other games of a like nature, are very proper, combining