in God.
would not possess it?

Who

Surely no girl that desires strength and efficiency of character. would live without it.

"Who shall find a valiant woman? The price of her is as things brought from afar off, and from the uttermost coast. The heart of her husband trusteth in her.". - Prov.

"Presence of mind and courage in distress,

Are more than armies to procure success."

CHAPTER XXXI.

FORTITUDE.

CONNECTION WITH SELF-POSSESSION-MARY LYON AN EXAMPLE OF FORTITUDE-BEAUTY IN IT HARRIET NEWELL-DECIDING TO BE A MISSIONARY - GENUINE HEROISM FEMALES NOT INCAPABLE OF DISPLAYING THIS TRAIT EIGHTEEN WIVES IN THE MAYFLOWER-MARY CHILTON - WOMEN OF THE REVOLUTION — MRS. HARRINGTON, OF LEXINGTON — MRS. PRIOR IMPRISONED IN HOUSE OF ILL-FAME AARON BURR AND HIS AUNT-RECORDS OF MARTYRDOM - EXECUTION OF LADY JANE GREY LINES ON WALL OF HER PRISON - PERSUASIVE TO CULTIVATE THIS QUALITY.

SELF-POSSESSION depends much upon fortitude, an element of character that girls cannot afford to forego; for, as Locke says, "Fortitude is the guard and support of all the other virtues." In a sense, this is true. Timid persons are likely to yield to circumstances, and in this way they often sacrifice the best qualities of the heart. On the other hand, the resolute and courageous cause circumstances to yield to them. They are not disheartened by the sight of difficulties or trials, though others may have cowered before them. In a world like this, where vicissitudes are many, such a firm and resolute spirit is necessary. This class of minds alone

achieve anything worthy of being chronicled with the life-work of Mary Lyon. As an example of fortitude, her life presents one of the noblest pictures on record. It is difficult to separate her fortitude and self-reliance. It is impossible to say which was the more prominent. It is certain that her courage to fulfil her mission, despite every discouragement, never failed her. Without a good degree of fortitude she would never have resolved to become a teacher; and much less would she have decided to prosecute the Seminary enterprise. Such projects and efforts demand true heroism. Those who conceive and carry them forward exhibit their strongest qualities of mind in so doing.

Some may undervalue this trait as a part of female character, thinking that a timid, fearful spirit is more becoming that sex; but we point them to the life of Mary Lyon, and ask if there be not beauty in her fortitude. If she had shrunk from the long and weary work of years before her, and sat down disheartened as imposing obstacles rose in her path, while yet she was conscious of having a pressing duty to perform, the charm of her noble life would have vanished away. Courage was not a misplaced ornament of her character. Without it her character would have wanted symmetry and loveliness.

If still it is thought that fortitude is too masculine for woman, let me call attention to the moral heroism of Harriet Newell, of whose consecration to the missionary work, at the age of seventeen, we have spoken in a former chapter. Orators may point us to the tented field, where patriots bled and died for their country, and poets may sing of the days of chivalry, when knighted lovers risked life itself for the loved; but there is more calm, invincible, and sublime heroism in the decision of this pious girl to bear the gospel to a distant land, than in all the records of well-fought battles, and the tales of ancient knighthood. Think of a girl just blooming into womanhood, pondering the momentous question, whether she should leave her home, and spend her life in guiding the heathen of a distant country to Christ, or yield to the claims of affection and dwell beneath the parental roof in her native land! Consider that she has no bright example to cheer her on, since no pious female has crossed the ocean upon this blessed errand. Without a guide or pattern, and hence without a single chapter of missionary life to aid her decision, she is to resolve for or against the work of love. She is to be the first female missionary to benighted nations, and try the grand experiment for her sex. Is the Christian fortitude that nerved her to decide for God, and the good of her dying fellow

men, of little worth to woman? Is it no ornament to female character? no embellishment to even the most graceful features of the sex? We need not answer these inquiries. The reader will reply to them correctly.

We err not, then, in claiming so much for this virtue. Every person needs it. It is not a quality to be overlooked or undervalued without detriment. A girl must possess the trait if she would bring much to pass.

Many suppose that females are incapable of possessing this quality in a high degree. But this is not the case, if the facts cited, and the numerous examples of sacred and profane history, are to be regarded at all. Very often females have surpassed the most daring heroism of men in meeting danger and suffering. As a general thing, they exhibit far more fortitude in sharing the trials, disappointments, and distresses of life. The annals of poverty and sorrow, of sickness and pain, present many examples of enduring courage that put the other sex to the blush. In the Mayflower there were eighteen heroic wives, who rejoiced to share the privations and hardships of their companions for "freedom to worship God." The first foot that pressed the rock of Plymouth, if tradition utters the truth, was that of Mary Chilton, a beautiful maiden, whose charms would adorn the best circles