bleak and barren shore of
your earthly existence.

THERE IS NO STATE OF LIFE MORE HONORABLE,

useful, and happy than that of a wife and mother. There must and ever
will be inequalities of station, but happiness is equally attainable
in them all. To be happy, however, you must be good. Of course, I do
not mean absolutely good, for "there is none good but One"; but I mean
that you should be relatively good, and should aim at becoming better
and more innocent as you advance in life. Now, you cannot respect
yourself unless you know that you are worthy of respect; and if you do
not respect yourself, you cannot expect that anybody else will; and in
such case you will not be worthy of the love of any good man, and none
such will be likely to pay court to you. If, however, you take the
right means, in which I include prayer for divine guidance, you will
have the respect and friendship of all your acquaintances, and then in
God's own time, and, let me add, without your seeking it, the man whom
you can make happy will present himself and propose to make you his
wife, if it be God's will that you should become one.

Here are two very important points for your consideration: First, that
it should be your constant endeavor to

MAKE YOUR HUSBAND HAPPY;

and, second, that before you consent to marry him, you should
ascertain that he has those qualifications that will secure your
happiness. It most nearly concerns yourself that you do your duty to
God and your neighbor at all times, so that it becomes your habit; and
you will find it much easier, and safer, too, to do it every day
rather than on only particular occasions; for this would require a
special effort, and for the time, perhaps, put you into a state of
excitement, which, in all probability, would be followed by a
depression of spirits. What you should rather aim at is a uniformly
cheerful state of mind, resulting from a conscious and confident
dependence on Providence. If your husband knows from experience that
such is your character, he cannot fail, provided he be worthy of you,
to be content and happy.

IT IS THE NATURE OF YOUNG WOMEN

to be affectionate, and it is pleasant and usual for them to have
several dear friends, enjoying more or less of their confidence. Among
these may be included some of their male acquaintance. Now, while they
may esteem each of these as they would a dear cousin, they shou