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pose of. The notary was called; and when the nieces heard her will,-one hundred thousand francs to each of them,—they were thoroughly convinced of her insanity. She continued to dispose of property, however, until five hundred thousand francs were numbered; and then she added: "At the early age of thirteen I began to earn money. I never have had any useless expenses; and during the sixty-three years since elapsed, have never passed a day without laying by something. Here are my titles and documents," - taking from beneath her pillow an old portfolio filled with papers, which she placed in the hands of the notary. "You will find that I have 23,000 francs a year in the public funds, two houses in the Rue St. Jaques, one on the Boulevard du Temple, and one on the Quai St. Paul. I recommend my tenants to your care, for they are all honest people, and pay their rents regularly." This is an example of that miserly hoarding, which is low and contemptible in comparison with economy that is practised for the sake of doing good.

Mary Lyon was strictly frugal. Her resources were carefully managed, that she might have wherewith to defray her expenses at school in her youth, and, in later years, that she might be able to make larger contributions to the cause

of benevolence. We have seen before that she gave more in charity than she expended upon herself. In order to do this, she was obliged to be saving in all her expenses for dress, board, and all other necessary things. Her practice corresponded with the following sentiments, which she once uttered concerning young ladies at school:

"I do more and more feel it to be important that young ladies engaged in study, and spending freely on themselves for board and tuition, should give liberally to the treasury of the Lord. This is essential to their cultivating right principles, to their forming right habits. Are not young ladies, as well as young men, while engaged in study, in danger of excusing themselves from contributing liberally, because they are spending their money to prepare themselves for usefulness? By fortifying themselves with this excuse, through their whole course of education, may they not almost form the habit of feeling that everything of large amount that is to be cast into the treasury of the Lord by their own hands, must first pass through the channel of self, to fit it for the Master's service? Ought not young ladies, in a course of education, carefully to economize in the least expenditures, lest something which ought to be put into the treasury of the Lord should flow into some other channel?"

Such economy exerts a happy influence upon character. It is not so valuable for its own sake, as for its general good effect upon the heart and life. It brightens and increases the value of other virtues. The motive is so high and noble that it lifts up and elevates the soul. The girl who is frugal is more likely to become an excellent, useful woman. Miss Lyon viewed the quality in this light when she had charge of the Mount Holyoke Female Seminary. In a pamphlet which she published upon "The Tendencies of the Principles embraced, and the System adopted" in that Seminary, she says, speaking of "the elements that should be embraced in the social and domestic character of a lady":

"Economy consists in providing well at little comparative expense. It necessarily implies good judgment and good taste. It can be equally manifested in the tasteful decorations of a palace and in the simple comforts of a cottage. Suppose all ladies possessed this in a high degree, how much more would be found, in families, of comfort and convenience, of taste and refinement, of education and improvement, of charity, and good works!

"This institution, it is well known, is distinguished for its economical features. Economy, however, is not adopted principally for its own sake, but as a means of education, as a mode of

producing favorable effects on character, and of preparing young ladies for the duties of life. The great object is to make the school really better."

Let the young reader remember that she who is not wasteful of pins and needles, who preserves her wardrobe by taking each necessary stitch in season, and by carefully brushing and folding each garment when it is to be laid by, and who aims generally to be frugal in the smallest matters pertaining to domestic life, is laying the foundation for an honorable frugality in womanhood.

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CHAPTER XXVII.

SELF-RELIANCE.

SELF-RELIANCE OF MARY LYON - THE RICH AND POOR MAN'S DAUGHTER MADAME DE GENLIS

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WANT OF THIS A FAULT OF MODERN FEMALE SOCIETY — REMARK OF FREEDLEY GETTING WELL MARRIED -THE DAUGHTER WHO RELIED UPON HER MOTHER, AND NOT UPON HERSELF THE OLD MAN'S BRIDESELF-RELIANCE FITS GIRLS FOR VICISSITUDES REVERSES FREQUENT - MRS. BLEEKER-WIVES OF DRUNKARDS THE YOUNG MERCHANT'S WIFE IN PHILADELPHIA THE CLERGYMAN'S WIDOW AND FOUR CHILDREN - THE MERCHANT'S WIDOW AND THREE CHILDREN-THE WISE MERCHANT'S DAUGHTERS, AS RELATED BY ARTHUR-THE MOST PROSPEROUS BECOME POORMARIA ANTOINETTE - NAPOLEON'S MOTHER-ANNALS OF CRIME -A SAD STORY - SELF-RELIANCE NECESSARY TO SYMMETRY OF CHARACTER APPEAL TO THE READER.

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FROM her youth Mary Lyon depended more upon her own exertions than she did upon the assistance of others. This was self-reliance. It gave her courage and hope, when otherwise she would have been disheartened, and have given up in despair. Her humble circumstances were well suited to make her self-reliant. The opposite circumstances tend to dwarf the powers, and disqualify persons to struggle long and successfully with difficulties. The daughter of the wealthy

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