remedy in your own hands. By withdrawing from their presence, or by a firm, decided reprimand, you can show your displeasure, and the evil is remedied. For, believe me, when young 、 men ascertain your principles and tastes, they will studiously endeavor to conform to them, if they desire to frequent your company.

Never aspire after the name of a "belle." Young ladies of this character, may be followed by a crowd of flatterers for a season; but they are utterly incapable of inspiring that true affection which is so requisite to the peace and happiness of woman. They are despised by their own sex, and distrusted by the other. And after reigning for a season, they generally throw themselves away on some senseless fop, incapable of cherishing true esteem, to pass with him a wretched life. "Men of loose morals or impertinent behavior, must always be avoided; or, if at any time you are obliged to be in their company, you must keep them at a distance by cold civility. But in regard to those gentlemen with whom your parents or guardians think it proper for you to associate, and who give no offence by their manners, to them behave with the same frankness and simplicity as if they were of your own sex. If you have natural modesty, you will never transgress its bounds whilst you converse with a man, as one rational creature with another. You should endeavor to distinguish real esteem and love from idle gallantry and unmeaning fine

speeches. The slighter notice you take of these last, the better; but the first must be treated with seriousness and well-bred sincerity--not giving the least encouragement you do not mean, nor assuming airs of contempt, where it is not deserved."*

The subject of female manners can not be better summed up, than in the words of a late writer, who thus speaks of Mrs. Hannah More, the celebrated English authoress:—"It was my privilege, a few years ago, to make a visit to the residence of this distinguished female; a visit which I have ever since regarded as among the the happiest incidents of my life. At that time she numbered more than four score years; but the vigor of her intellect was scarcely at all impaired. In her manners she united the dignity and refinement of the court, with the most exquisite urbanity and gentleness, which the female character, in its loveliest forms, ever exhibited. She impressed me continually with a high sense of the intellectual and moral qualities by which she was distinguished, but still left me as unconstrained as if I had been conversing with my beloved child. There was an air of graceful and unaffected ease; an instinctive regard to the most delicate proprieties of social intercourse—a readiness to communicate, and yet a desire to listen the dignity of conscious merit, united

* Young Lady's Own Book.

with the humility of the devoted Christian—in short, there was such an assemblage of intellectual and moral excellences beaming forth in every expression, and look, and attitude, that I could scarcely conceive of a more perfect exhibition of human character.

CHAPTER V.

THE HABITS.

Habit exercises a most powerful sway over human actions. It is a chain that is insidiously winding itself around us, and binding us to virtue or vice—to principles that will lead to prosperity and peace, or to practices which will involve us in infamy and wretchedness. With our existence commences our habits; and in exact ratio with our bodies do they increase in strength and power. The character of the habits depends entirely upon circumstances, the kind of instruction to which we have been subjected, and the nature of the influences exercised over us. Habits formed in infancy and childhood, can easily be corrected and moulded into the desired channels; but those fixed upon us at maturity, it is extremely difficult and often impossible to eradicate, or even to modify to any great extent. Youth, therefore, when the judgment has become sufficiently developed to meditate seriously upon those subjects that pertain to our welfare, is a

season peculiarly well fitted for the formation of those habits which we would have influence us through life. Let a proper foundation be laid in youth—let the habits both of body and of mind, be examined and corrected—let those that are deleterious be expunged, and those that are good be added--and the beneficial fruits of this labor will be experienced through life.

Good habits should be esteemed as valuable friends. They will assist you in every proper thought and deed; and they not only impart their own grateful fruits, but they possess the most valuable tendencies—purifying the mind and leading it gently in the paths of virtue and propriety. One good habit opens the door for the introduction of another—and as they increase in number, they all increase in power, in influence and durability. But you should always look upon bad habits as your enemies. They oppose your enjoyment and prosperity; and just so far as their influence extends, to the same degree will you be involved in wretchedness and ignominy. One bad habit will not remain satisfied in posşession of your mind. Its deleterious influence will not only directly affect your enjoyments, but will be continually exerted to call in another evil habit, and another, until they become a multitude, gaining gradually an entire control over you. And remember, that as your bad habits increase in number, they also increase in strength and depravity, until they finally plunge their victim into the