Dr. Humphrey said, in her funeral sermon, “In glancing at her character, taken all in all, I hardly dare to express the high estimation which my long acquaintance constrains me to cherish, lest I should seem to exaggerate. I certainly should not express it but in the presence of those who have enjoyed equal or better opportunities for marking her radiant and upward course. I do not say that in her intellectual endowments she was superior to many other females, nor that she attained to the first rank in external graces and accomplishments; but this I do say, that, so far as I can remember, I have never known so much physical, intellectual, and moral power all combined in any one female as in our departed friend. Such labors as she performed would have broken down almost any other constitution years ago. * * * To do the greatest possible good to the greatest number was her study and delight. I feel that on this point there is hardly any danger of using too strong language. To say that she was preeminently benevolent is not strong enough. In humble imitation of her Saviour, she seemed, wherever she went, and in all her relations, to be the very embodiment of love and good will to men, and never to have thought of herself, of her own ease, advantage, or convenience. It was enough for her that others were made wiser, and better, and happier, at whatever cost of toil or sacrifice to herself." Says Dr. Hitchcock, "We are amazed when we look back at the amount and magnitude of her labors. Very few females have done so much for the world while they lived, or have left so rich a legacy when they died. Nor is the fair picture marred by dark stains, save those of microscopic littleness. From the days of her childhood to the time of her death, all her physical, intellectual, and moral powers were concentrated upon some useful and noble object, while selfishness and self-gratification seem never to have stood at all in the way, or to have retarded the fervid wheels of benevolence." * * * * * * * * * "Wherever she went, her pathway was radiant with love, though she seemed unconscious of its brightness. Her influence widened; her plans succeeded; the world began to applaud, and the wise confessed her superior discernment and wisdom. At her death she had opened a perennial fountain of influence, whose streams had already reached the remotest nations of the earth, and which, through future generations, is destined to do more for the happiness of the world than all the acts of the mightiest queen that ever ruled. Surely the whole picture impresses us forcibly with its moral sublimity; and we might almost have expected that the chariot and horses of fire would have been granted to close a scene so much like an angel visit." Her remains were buried in a lovely spot on the Seminary grounds; and over them a beautiful monument of white Italian marble stands, bearing the following inscription: It seems scarcely possible, and yet it is true, that the little girl whose childhood we have sketched was this same MARY LYON. From her humble home among the hills she went forth at the call of duty; and what a bright mission was hers! cloud obscured her rising sun, but it set in splendor. Her morning of life was darkened by trial— its evening was lighted with a halo of glory. A How did Mary Lyon achieve this signal success? What element of character enabled her to ascend to this high eminence of usefulness and honor? It is worth while to answer these questions, and this will be the object of the following pages. Not that we intend to confine our thoughts to her character alone, but only to make it stand forth as our guide, while we cluster around it numerous incidents from the lives of other distinguished women, in order to accomplish our purpose more successfully. Girls, no less than boys, need to know how they can make the most of life. It will aid them to learn how others have lived and labored. The strong points of female character will thus be made to appear in their vigor and loveliness. CHAPTER II. A PURPOSE. RESOLVED TO IMPROVE HER MIND-KEPT HOUSE FOR HER BROTHER - WEAVING, SPINNING, AND TEACHING — AT SANDERSON ACADEMY-DECIDED TO BE A TEACHER-REFUSED OFFER OF MARRIAGE-CONTRASTED WITH GIRLS OF AIMLESS LIFE-MANY OF THEM WITHOUT PURPOSE THIS A CAUSE OF UNHAPPINESS IN WEDDED LIFE-GIRL SAID "SHE LIVED TO BREATHE"-REMARK OF AGESILAUS-PARENTS TEACH SONS TO BE USEFUL, AND DAUGHTERS TO BE LADY-LIKE SONS EDUCATED FOR PROFESSIONS, DAUGHTERS FOR NOTHING- VICTORIA, AN EXAMPLE OF NOBLE PURPOSE — MRS. WESLEY, MRS. DODDRIDGE, AND OTHERS MADAME DE STAEL, HANNAH MORE, HANNAH ADAMS, ETC. HARRIET NEWELL AT SEVENTEEN - THE DAUGHTER OF AN INTEMPERATE FATHER-WHY DO GIRLS LIVE? - In her girlhood Mary Lyon resolved to improve her mind. Her opportunities for acquiring knowledge, as we have said, were limited; but "where there's a will there's a way. "" Before she was thirteen years old, plans were formed which matured into a determined and noble purpose. There was not a time thereafter when she lost sight of that one object-mental culture. She gleaned what knowledge she could in her own school district, under quite unfavorable circumstances, and, |