hought of love, until she receives
overtures for particular attention. Providence designed her for the
exercise of her affections; why then seek wholly to suppress them, or
to expend no thought whatever upon them? "Nature," says a recent writer,
"will assert her rights over the beings she has made: she avenges all
attempts to force or shackle her operations. We ought long ago to have
been convinced that the only power allowed to us, is the power of
direction." Yet "to girls have been denied the very thoughts of
love,--even in its noblest and purest form."--They "know nothing at all
of it, or nothing but what they have clandestinely gathered from corrupt
sources." Is not this evidently doing violence to one of the strongest,
and I will add, the holiest, impulses of their nature? If it be true, as
some affirm, that the marriage service is the first part of the Liturgy
perused by a young lady, I do not regard it as matter for surprise,
derision, or censure. She, who forces her mind wholly off this subject,
will be ill qualified, when the occasion demands it, to listen to
proposals of marriage. Ignorance and blindness can do little to give her
that sound judgment, and true discrimination, which alone should dictate
her reply. No, let this rather be done. Let her teachers and parents
speak frankly on this topic, treat it as a serious concern, and aid her
to form in her mind, a model of moral and intellectual excellence, such
as would render one a desirable companion, and yet let this model be
not a creature of romance, but of real life. Is it not better thus to
guide the affections and regulate the views on this subject, than to
stifle all feeling, and blindfold the mind to love? In what province
should reason be exercised, if not in that, which affects our condition
through life, for weal, or for woe?

But, while encouraged to give suitable thought to this subject, let not
a young lady become totally absorbed in it. Let her not look only on a
gentleman to canvass his merits as a lover, and a husband. The sexes
should associate for other and nobler objects; for social enjoyment, for
intellectual improvement, and for mutual aid, as moral and religious
beings. She who overlooks these precious advantages of general society,
sacrifices an invaluable means of education, no less than one of
rational gratification.

Still less should one allow herself to imagine every gentleman in love
with her. This sometimes occurs in consequenc