useful to those who pay it." No age ever erected altars to gods
destitute of good qualities. She, who would be worshipped in the heart
of her bosom companion, can secure this homage only by deserving it
through exertion. Married life must be one of care and toil. Let no
female delude herself by imagining it to be otherwise. It brings, where
hearts are wedded, as well as hands, joys and supports far more than
sufficient to lighten its burdens. But burdens let none think to shun in
it.

Instances are not wanting, in which woman has given herself to a
vicious companion, in the belief that she could reform him. The stage
has often produced dramas, in which the hero, after a long course of
conduct utterly inconsistent with matrimonial happiness, has at length
been suddenly converted to the ways of virtue. Hence the false and
pernicious maxim, that "a reformed rake makes the best husband." But in
real life, it will be found that instantaneous changes, occurring on the
eve of marriage, are usually adopted for the sake of appearances, and
endure only so long as policy requires.

Dr. Dwight observes well on this point, that "nothing but folly can lead
us to expect that this institution can change the whole nature of those
who enter into it; and like a magical spell, confer knowledge, virtue,
and loveliness, upon beings who have neither." She who marries a man,
that is addicted to immoral practices, incurs fearful hazards. Not only
does she risk her personal happiness, from his vicious conduct, but she
exposes her own character. Who can tell that, instead of being reformed
by her, the husband may not entice her into his own sins, or into those
equally ruinous? Will she calmly commit herself to the talons of the
vulture, in the hope of taming his ferocity, and changing entirely his
habits? The experiment is one which no woman of ordinary prudence will
try.

The temptation I allude to is likely to be presented to many of this
sex, especially in populous places, where the vices cluster. Had I a
friend thus exposed, I would entreat her to beware of looking with the
least partiality on a profligate, or an unprincipled man. "Let him be a
very courtier, for his grace and agreeableness in conversation," I would
say to her, "be not you ensnared by his tongue." By a strange paradox,
the worst men sometimes fancy and select pious females for their wives.
I do not deny that cases occur, in which the unbelieving husband is
sanctified by th