ows with substances, the pleasure derived from the|| thousands they are unavailing-I repeat it, unavailing. perusal of good books, slightly resembles those of religion-as nearly, at least, as unsanctified delights (for I now speak of reading generally, whether religious or irreligious) can resemble the purely spiritual. Reading of this kind is not only innocent, but is a warranted indulgence-indulgence to those who relish it, but to others a mere penance. And now, to be absolved from this penance, and convert it into a delightful indulgence, I urge all my female readers to cultivate a taste for books.

If you demur to this, inspect, for conviction, some families of genteel opulence. A daughter completes her education at sixteen. Then what is she prepared for? You must judge from her vocation. And what is that? To detail its round of duties might be tedious. The first is a labored journey from the chamber to the breakfast table; thence, by a lingering stage, she finds, the drawing-room. The toilet comes next; and at eleven o'clock all these arduous engagements are discharged. Then follow parlor ceremonies. These It is not impossible to form such a taste; nay more, consist of morning calls, manufacturing chit chat, disit is not very difficult. Nature supplies the elements missing worthy visitors, and at last relapsing into to every human mind. Whoever may say no, I be- listlessness; or more probably she seizes a mawkish lieve it. I judge the relish for reading to be partly na- romance, and with sublime excitement traces the tural and partly unnatural in every case. I thus judge, Quixotic errantries of some forsaken, love-lorn maiden. because any one by neglecting books will, in time, come|| And how the day closes, which opened with such austo care less for them, and finally to feel but little inter-picious morning auguries, belongs to you to fathom. est in hem. Even he who has feasted on them with I shall not sound its depths.

a devouring appetite, may be weaned, at least so far as not to pine for them. And if we can destroy, we can also cultivate a taste for reading; for we destroy it by creating some new relish which was just as difficult to produce as its antagonist.

But how shall the relish be created? I answer, read-read until it becomes captivating. For this you must, in a good measure, "keep the ball rolling." You may use frequent, but not protracted intermissions. Mark your place when you close the book, and return to it before you forget the last paragraph. Unless you do this, should you begin to take delight in books, you will soon lose the relish.

The absent, however loved, are soon forgotten. So it is with books. Is it strange that many have no delight in reading, when they have never practiced it to any great extent? How do we attach ourselves to any thing? I answer, by intimate acquaintance. How do we estrange ourselves? By ceasing to fellowship. Well then, instructed by experience, begin now to cultivate an intimacy with books. They are worthy. Their charms will heighten in your conception at every lengthened interview. You will find them an amiable family-communicative, instructive, and exceedingly entertaining. They will soon come nearer to engrossing your whole attention, than the worthiest friend you have on earth; and, indeed, it would not be the strangest thing in nature if, in less than a twelve-month, it should be whispered through the neighborhood that it is a "heart affair." It would be a delicate, and I trust a grateful compliment.

I know that, amongst the middle classes, the case is somewhat different; yet the difference is not in favor of literature or reading. True, the daughters of our worthy farmers and mechanics are partially saved from the misfortune just described, by the pressing cares of home; and this is no small blessing. It diminishes novel reading, and its resulting sickly sentiment; and thus if nothing more, it prevents much evil. But I regret to have observed that the industrious classes exhibit an inclination to divide their waking hours between manual cares and mental self-indulgence. Do not the ladies, in country life, sometimes check the busy needle to pursue a tale of romance? or from the decent kitchen, adorned with suds and sausage, pausing not a moment for toilet preparation, rush into courts of royalty to sup with king and courtiers?

"Domestic drudgery can scarce advance
Its claims in competition with romance;
Grumbling, the brother, or the husband, goes
With elbows ragged, and undarned hose.
Cares, duties, pleasures, without notice pass;
And every thing neglected, but the glass,-
Some cruel mother may perhaps deny
The precious volumes to her daughter's eye;
Then, after thousand efforts to deceive,
She gets the lovely book without her leave;
And reads, with brush in hand, should madam come,
That she may jump, and seem to sweep the room.
For if, while poring deep, she chance to hear
The well known steady step, approaching near,
At once, alas! each tender thought is hushed,
Down goes the novel, and up flies the dust.
At midnight too, perhaps, her thoughts engage
Too deeply in the fascinating page:
Dead to all else, she cannot stop to raise
Her hand, to snuff the candle's flickering blaze;
Nor even heeds the taper tilted down,

1

In this innocent devotion to books you may emulate the matronly industry of former generations; and in doing it you may reap a choicer harvest. Theirs were That melts, like her, in tears upon her gown." mortal fruits—yours will be immortal. Their careful, But to quarrel with novels is not my present purpose. pious hands were employed to deck the persons of their I bear them no good will; yet for them and other trisons with home-spun honors you will toil for the orna- fles I propose a second chapter. It is sufficient now to ments of mind. And who among you will eschew la-say, that to devour novels is no more reading, than to bors productive of such fruit, and at the same time so delightful in their progress? The provocations to diligence are without a parallel. Yet I know that with

inhale exhilerating gases is feasting.

But I am aware that ladies cannot read without books. Neither time nor taste will avail them, unless

they will make for themselves this indispensable pro- || aided the temptation, Mrs. A. acquired great ascendenvision. But what advantage can they take of this con- cy over her husband, and persuaded him to leave the cession? Some have books, and many who have not|| daughters' training to her guidance. The consummaare themselves to blame. Whose husband will not tion is, that the eldest, scarcely turned of sixteen, has buy his wife a book, when she furnishes the proper ev- just eloped with a stage actor; and the second, who is idence that she wants a good book, and that she will a year younger, laughs at her broken-hearted mother, use, not abuse it? She who can say, "mine will not," and says it is a "romantic and beautiful affair, well has made a poor job of matrimony, unless extreme worthy of imitation." poverty pleads "her lord's" excuse. But before she reproaches her husband with such testimony, let her review her own domestic history.

Let not my readers for a moment suppose that I deem every woman who does not read Jay's Sermons, and Young's Night Thoughts, to be necessarily like She may be a little like the wife of my friend A. Mrs. A.; or that I insinuate any such thing. It was He, poor man, loved books and learning. He beat his not merely her want of books that ruined Mrs. A.— way through college against wind and tide—keeping it was also the use of such mischievous substitutes. school half the time, yet always in advance of his These, always conned by the mother and her daughclass. At his graduation, despite the breaches in his ters, unsettled their weak discretion, and finally plunged college terms, which made much against him, he took the whole family into a deep sea of misfortunes. It the highest honor; and without waiting to catch breath one amongst a great many of my readers has provided after so strained an effort, turned into study law and such unwholesome mental nourishment for a rising famprosecute a courtship. He went to the bar one week ily, I entreat her to beware. Summoning to her aid all and took a wife the next. He wedded for a little beau- the conquering graces of her youth, let her bow, like ty, a little money, a little family distinction, and (which|| Esther, before her husband, and petition him for "Harwas the most generous of all) for a little smattering of per's Family Library;" for Wesley's, Watson's, and bon ton education, and, as he supposed, love of books. || M'llvaine's selected English Sermons; for the biograHow few of us can vindicate our most deliberate deeds,|| phies of Rowe, Fletcher, Maxwell, Rogers, Ramsey, by so many and convincing reasons. And yet, with all his reasons, A. missed it. He married before he knew much of special pleading. To be sure, this would have been no matter if he had understood special courting; but ignorance of the latter half proved his undoing.

ment.

Graham, Newell, and Judson; and for Cowper, Young, Milton, and Pollok, together with Mrs. Hemans' and Mrs. Sigourney's poems. Be sure and add to these, if necessary, a new hymn-book and Bible. If desirable, let them be bound in a style fit to grace the saloons of a baron, or the alcoves of a royal library. As an argument in her petition, she may mention former indiscreet selections of books, and a penitent resolution to effect a thorough reformation.

I said he married one who, as he supposed, had a taste for books, (not novels; for A. never thought of reckoning them as books,) and would by her correct mental habits and behavior, be a blessing to a family. If her husband be the man I trust he is, though he But how did he come by this impression? Why, the should extend to her no golden sceptre, he will receive young lady "set her cap for him." Her mother ap- her with complacency, and she will thenceforth have proved the project, and, as was meet, seconded her no occasion to complain of the want of books. Had daughter's well-meant effort. The old lady saw that Mrs. A. seasonably taken such a course, her husband Mr. A. was a grave man, and had the sagacity to infer would have kept a jubilee for the turning of his captivthat his serious turn would require a cautious treat-ity, and to this very day her children would have reThe daughter, "being before instructed by her mained to rise up and call her blessed. mother," adorned the centre-table with the writings of Books, in former days, were rare and costly. But Addison, Chapone, Hannah More, and Robert Hall, now what can be more easily obtained? Their prices together with the choicest poetry of Mrs. Hemans and are so reduced that the cost of a silk dress or a fashionMrs. Sigourney; but for constant and devoted use,able bonnet will purchase a decent library. To the Bulwer's novels and Moore's Melodies occupied a certain position quite as convenient, and more retired; and never, until his wedding day, did A. set his eyes upon them. Once married and at house-keeping, the centre-table changed its ornaments, and from that time forth the "Melodies" and half a dozen romances formed the whole circle of Mrs. A.'s reading, singing, and I fear one might add, closet devotions. She kept no library; for her husband found that, to preserve his books from the rude wear and tear of children, it was necessary to lock them up in his office, and his good wife had no objection.

So far I record A.'s misfortunes with composure. But what remains is heart-rending. Like Eve who

ladies of this generation it is a peculiar favor that leisure and books are both at their command. Providence has favored them-it now remains for them to favor themselves. The leisure, the books, and the elements of taste are all theirs by the beneficence of Heaven. I trust that the gratification and the benefits of well directed reading will also be theirs by their own selfgovernment.

Having considered the importance of time, taste, and books, and the facility of acquiring them, I will venture, in addition, to urge all who peruse these pages, to devote themselves to grave and profitable reading. Let them reflect that not to avail themselves of their advantages, but pine in mental atrophy while the

sources of intellectual health are scattered at accessi

And so highly did these accomplishments commend ble points all around them, would be so flagrant an Helen to her admirers, that the noble Spartan maids, abuse of the blessings of Providence, that the pain-who are represented as leading a "comely choir" to ful consequences would almost provoke indignation bless, in song, her nuptial hour, devote to her the folinstead of pity. To avoid these consequences dili- lowing beautiful strains : gence alone is necessary. And shall they happen for want of diligence? That would not be like woman. Her history teaches that whatever else may, patient industry will never fail her. Surely the present generation will not belie that history. It cannot be difficult to persuade the mothers and daughters of this brilliant age to be deligent in the noblest pursuits of human beings. Like the generations past, they will strive to prove that industry is inherent in woman's very nature. Dismissed from the ancient toils of the spindle and the shuttle, let them not remit their efforts for the comfort of their species; but only, in the place of outward decorations strive to elaborate the ornaments of mind.

"Ere yet to-morrow's sun shall show his head,
The dewy paths of meadows we will tread,
For crowns and chaplets to adorn thy head.
Our noblest maids shall to thy name bequeath
The boughs of Lotos, formed into a wreath.
This monument, thy maiden graces' due,
High on a plain-tree, shall be hung to view:
On the smooth rind the passenger shall see
Thy name engraved, and worship Helen's tree:
Balm, from a silver box distill'd around,
Shall all bedew the roots and scent the ground.
The balm, 'tis true, can aged plants prolong,
But Helen's name will keep it ever young.

If any of my readers should suspect that Helen's skillful use of the lyre was all that provoked so much praise from the maidens, let them carefully review the description, and their error will be corrected. She excelled all the nymphs in osier work, and in ornamenting the well-wrought basket. In the labors of the loom she surpassed mortals; and a goddess alone could pretend to vie with her. These are rehearsed as her principal graces, and are placed at least on an equality with her inimitable skill in music.

By Pallas, mentioned above as the competitor of Helen in the labors of the loom, we are probably to

In illustration of woman's characteristic diligence, I am pleased with the suggestion of some forgotten author, that in ancient times nearly all the female divinities of paganism were unremittingly industrious. There was one notable exception. It was Diana, who, I should wish all to know, lived unmarried, and devoted herself to music, dancing, and the pleasures of the chase, of which she was passionately fond. It is also well enough to mention, that she was honored with certain statues which represented her with three heads-understand Minerva, the daughter of Jupiter, who, like those of horse, dog, and swine. But the pagan goddesses were mostly fabled to be a working race, and were often more fond of business than of beaus. Amidst all their worshiped dignity, they did not despise the distaff. They condescended to regard the labors of the loom, and stooped to give counsel concerning suds and wash-tubs.

Helen, once played on a musical instrument, (not the lyre,) but afterwards threw it away in disgust. Minerva was sometimes called Pallas, and was the patroness of the arts, being invoked especially by such as worked in embroidery. In some of her statues she is represented as sitting, with a distaff in her hand. As an atonement for the hint introduced in the notice of DiThe poetic pictures of the goddesses were borrow-ana, I ought to mention that Minerva also was what ed from the heathens' conception of the true charms of the English would call a spinster; or in home-spun woman, and were probably copied from the living orig-phrase, an old maid. inals of their times. Ancient matrons were industri

ous.

Princesses once employed themselves in toilsome
cares and labors. Of the cruel, exiled Circe, it is said,
"In spinning or the loom she spends the night,
And cedar brands supply her father's light."
Helen is not more celebrated for beauty than for in-
dustry. Both are thus described by Theocritus-
"As when the night and winter disappear,

The purple morning, rising with the year,
Salutes the spring; as her celestial eyes
Adorn the world, and brighten all the skies:
So beauteous Helen shines among the rest-
Tall, slender, straight, with all the GRACES blest."
And what are these graces? The poet thus recites
them-

"Like her no nymph can willing osiers bend

In basket works, which painted streaks commend:
With Pallas, in the loom, she may contend.
And none like her can animate the lyre,
And the mute strings with vocal sounds inspire"

These were the graces of that

"Rosy colored Helen, once the pride
Of Lacedæmon, and of Greece beside."

Passing by other examples of useful industry among the goddesses and heroines of fabulous antiquity, just take for a specimen of Rome's matronly domestic virtues, the inimitable Lucretia, whose character for industry as well as conjugal fidelity, is familiar to you all.

But how pleasant it is to leave profane, deceitful fables, for holy, well assured realities.

I shall now pass, as from winter's night to summer's morn, from the mythologies of heathenism, to the temple-to the ark-to the place of the holy oracles of God. Do not fail to follow me from the relics of the dead to the glory of the living. The living is God's word-a verdict divine, ultimate, eternal. It also, as well as the idyls of Theocritus, affords sketches of female character. I shall select one.

In the 31st chapter of Proverbs you will find a record, gentle reader, which intimately concerns you. You have read it, I trust, a thousand times; but it is so beautiful, and so directly to my purpose, that I will transfer it to this page. Without any unwarrantable fancies, it presents the following picture of a "vir

tuous woman whose price is far above rubies," as she || none is dwelt upon so particularly as diligence. How

was in the "preacher's" day, as she was in the days of our exemplary mothers, and as she must always be in the essential features of her character.

66 Who can find a virtuous woman?

Her price is far above rubies;

The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her;
She will do him good, and not evil all her life;

She seeketh wool and flax,

And worketh willingly with her hands:

uniformly the matriarchal and Israelitish females exemplified this and its sister virtues, we cannot determine. But the scanty hints of Scripture warrant the inference that, from the times of Sarah, who obtained the promise, to the times of Mary, in whom it received its ultimate fulfillment by the birth of Jesus, the sex was not, on the whole, degenerate. It not only furnished eminent examples of the proper domestic virtues of woman, but it gave to the Church prophetesses, whose

She is like merchants' ships, she bringeth food from inspired compositions rouse and admonish the devout afar;

She riseth also while it is yet night,

And giveth meat to her household,

And a portion to her maidens;

She considereth a field, and buyeth it;

With the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard; She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms;

She stretcheth out her hand to the poor,

She reacheth forth her hands to the needy;
She maketh herself coverings of tapestry,
Her clothing is silk and purple;
She openeth her mouth with wisdom,
In her tongue is the law of kindness;
Her children rise up, and call her blessed,
Her husband also, and he praiseth her-
Many daughters have done virtuously,
But thou excellest them all.

"Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain;
But a woman that feareth the Lord,
She shall be praised.

to this day. Miriam, Deborah, Hannah, Abigail, Ruth and Esther may be named as answering Solomon's description of a "virtuous woman."

On this point, how striking the harmony of sacred and profane testimony. The Jewish and Painim Scriptures are here consenting to the same thing. They afford the same pictures of woman's excellences as consisting eminently of industry, without which it is not to be presumed that the cardinal moral virtues can adorn her life and character.

We have now seen, that long before Christianity had inspired woman with heavenly virtues, royal rank and peerless beauty devoted themselves to the pursuits of useful industry. But we have the Gospel. It inculcates diligence as a Christian virtue. It presents for imitation the charitable labors of a Dorcas, and the maternal fidelity of a Eunice and a Lois. Its power on human society has created for woman a sphere almost new, and has opened to her the noblest possible field of action. Shall its oracles and its blessings be trifled with, when even those of heathenism were coveted and revered? Shall woman become indolent and ignoble, because she is no longer doomed to those servile occupations which consumed the industry of ancient Gentile and Jewish females? With her severe and almost slavish toils, were her virtues also abolishThe first is vigilance in the supervision of her fam-ed? Because she no longer gathers "wool and flax," ily" she looks well to the ways of her household." by painful inquisitions, or barters "fine linen, and deThe second is industry to accumulate-"she worketh livers girdles to the merchants," is she to do nothing diligently with her hands; she is like the merchants' but eat and breathe? Then may Heaven speedily reships." The third is charity to distribute-"she endow her with all the deserted cares of her ancient stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth || domestic regimen. Otherwise, the world is a second forth her hands to the needy." The fourth is the over-time undone.

Give her of the fruit of her hands,

Let her own works praise her in the gates!"

In this sketch several graces are represented as forming the character of that woman "whose price is above rubies."

flowing sympathies of benevolence-"in her tongue is But, if she would consider, the Gospel has procured the law of kindness." The fifth and last is a discreet, her a new installation, and proposes to clothe her with an instructive conversation-"she openeth her mouth || more honorable functions. It has now become her prewith wisdom."

This is the divine reckoning of a good woman's virtues; and though it is less to the point, let us glance at her rewards.

rogative, as well as that of man, "to seek and intermeddle with all wisdom." As if to perpetuate the memory of a deed which blasted a sorrowing world, the tree of sanctifying knowledge has been half guard

First, her sons and daughters glory in her name-ed from her approach; but thanks to the Son of God, "her children shall rise up and call her blessed." Second, her husband's trusting heart pays her the tribute of conjugal devotion-"many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all." Third, her graces, diffused like fragrant odors to the very entrances of the city, provoke public homage-"let her own works praise her in the gates."

the prohibition is at last removed, and she may now innocently "take and eat" fruit which is "good for food, pleasant to the eyes, and to be desired to make one wise." And having once tasted to destroy, will she not partake to rescue a world? If she would permit Satan to make her the agent of its ruin, will she not permit Jesus Christ to make her the instrument of

It will be found that, in this list of feminine graces, its restoration? Let her not forget that the redress lies

READING.

very much within her conceded province, and that her || of reading lighter works of taste, that, unless they are movements attract the gaze of civilized mankind.

willing to resign the luxury of being "beguiled," they cannot consult these columns with pleasure or with patience; but if resolved, at some sacrifice, to form a relish for more substantial aliment, in the use of which they may recover a sound mind, it is hoped that the Repository will subserve their righteous purpose. Should such attempt to read it, may it promote their convalescence.

Do not indulge the thought that this is claiming too much of woman. Rather accept the appeal, and yield to its force. Henceforth it is to be emphatically her office to "open her mouth with wisdom," and pour the treasures of her diligently furnished mind into young untutored hearts. Thus she is to train millenial generations for the service of a conquering Christ. Surely, then, she will awake, and realize that she has the investiture of an office charged with such august in-doned the addition of a few words in regard to being terests, and burdened with such overwhelming obligations. She will, awe struck and trembling, yield her whole heart, and soul, and strength, and mind, to its vital and sanctifying duties.

Having said so much about reading, I shall be par

read. As the orator craves audience, so the writer would be tempted to solicit readers, were it not, (for what reason I am ignorant,) that while the speaker is indulged, the scribbler is prohibited by custom. I have not the effrontery to violate this custom; yet, with the privilege of exordium I am disposed to ask a favor of those who do read. My petition to such is, that they read piece by piece, tame and bold, prose and rhyme, from first to last; patiently pursuing the several articles to their close, and dividing to each its due share of time and meditation.

I mentioned the millenium. Females have probably more to do towards ushering in that blessed period than either they, or some others who sigh for its coming, have conceived. When every child whose parents are Christians, shall be trained under such a maternal nurture as fell to the happy lot of Timothy, the day of Christ's coronation will not be far off. He was discipled at a tender age, not by apostolic ministrations, but by the winning admonitions of her who sung his lullaby, and nestled him close to her praying heart. O, for such mothers in all the Israel of God! Happy thelation; so that the antecedent will be an introduction generation that shall obtain them! Then

"Peace shall visit earth, and truth let in
Her wakening daylight on a world of sin-
Shall, like a whirlwind, scatter in its breeze,
The whole dark pile of human mockeries:
Then shall the reign of mind commence on earth;
And starting fresh, as from a second birth,

Man, in the sunshine of the world's new spring,
Shall walk transparent, like some holy thing."

This thorough and connected mode may sometimes try their patience. But it most often happen that different articles will bear to each other an intimate re

to the sequent, or the sequent a farther exposition of the theme discussed in the antecedent. This explains why it is desirable to adopt the method of reading here suggested. And if it should render the task toilsome in the beginning, it will become more pleasant in the end, inasmuch as that is best relished, if relishable at all, which is best understood.

But besides reading the articles in their order, I soIt now remains to be said, that to promote the health-licit the thorough perusal of each. To tell the plain ful cultivation of the female mind, and draw it from trifles into its appropriate sphere of privilege, is understood to be the object of this periodical. With this wise intention its publication was conceived, and has at length been authorized by the suffrage of worthy, discreet men. It will be ascertained, by experiment, || whether it can be made to subserve, in some degree, this most important object.

It is not desirable to conceal the hope and the wish that it may supersede, at least with the religious, such periodicals as are intended merely to amuse, not to sanctify and enlighten. True, the Repository will aim to entertain as well as to instruct. But though it will not always preserve the gravity of a sermon, yet it will never, as is hoped, become the vehicle of silly jests and sickening tales, to offend the chaste sobriety of the wise, and feed the froward merriment of the simple. It will furnish no refection for the morbid mental appetite which craves, as a sot the cup, dish after dish of tragic love and rivalry. For this it has no propensity; and it is not endowed with the prerogative. It is appointed to another field. Its mission may extend to the diseased, but it must offer no hurtful cordials when there is need of rank 1efiners.

truth, I dread nothing so much as being "cut in pieces." If correspondents were to speak, they would doubtless say the same. In their, as well as my own behalf, I therefore anxiously entreat-not that you will read, but that if you do read, having once commenced an article, you will press on to its conclusion. Respect the rights of parentage; but do not pass Solomon's judgment, and cruelly divide the child asunder. If you will have half, take all. You will scarcely demand the reason. Can there be symmetry in that which is rent and mangled? Not if it was ever a perfect whole; and if the articles in this paper should be so unfinished and rude that they will appear as well in fractions as in units, read until that fact is ascertained, and thenceforth act your pleasure. Until then, if you please, never amputate a suffering limb, and then mischievously judge all (and of course condemn all) from the unsightly appearance of a severed, mortified member. If you find it wearisome to travel slowly, as now happens, through ten or twelve columns devoted to one thread-bare theme, think that another has gone before you and made a much heavier journey, sweating and groaning all along under the crushing burden of the quill. If he would thus pioneer your

It is right to warn those who have formed the habit way, you ought patiently to follow after.