If, therefore, you find there is any danger that the external attachment you have formed for your husband is beginning to decline, do not hastily conclude that there is anything wrong-anything which has been misapprehended-in forming the relation. It may be a favorable omen. It certainly will be, if its place is fully supplied by that internal attachment of which I have just now been speaking, and which is the result of doing good.

In this view, as I have already said, you have it in your power to increase the flame of internal love towards him to whom you have consented to stand as an "help-meet," and to an extent to which it is impossible to assign any limits. Wherever you are, and how great soever the attachment between you, and whether, for aught I know, in this state of existence or any other, you may calculate on an ability to increase his happiness and your own love. The secret consists in doing him good.

As to the appropriate means and methods of doing him good, it seems at first view almost unnecessary for me to say one word. And yet I am willing to do so; for there may be those who will not regard me as tedious. I shall not indeed presume to point out the particular ways and means in which a young wife can do good to her husband,

but only to give a few hints. Some of these means have been set forth at full length, in preceding chapters; and others will be involved in the treatment of other topics, in chapters to follow.

One general rule may here be laid down, which is-" Do everything for your husband which your strength and a due regard to your health will admit." I will not say that it were not wise, sometimes, to go even beyond your strength to deny yourself and even to make a self-sacrifice. But I do insist on your going to the borders, at least, of self-denial and self-sacrifice.

Such advice, at first view, may seem to be unreasonable. It may be said that I would make woman a slave. No such thing: I would make her a christian—and a happy one. I would give her ✓ that freedom to which christianity, with its high hopes and promises, bids her to aspire.

She will not long be compelled to be a menial to her husband. He must be a brute, and worse than a brute, whom such a course of active devoted service will not arouse to corresponding action. I am not ignorant of the fact that, in some instances, the more we do for others, the more they will allow us to do for them; and that what is at first considered on all hands as gratuitous on our part, they will ere long, if continued, claim as their due.

But it is seldom thus in the matrimonial relation. Few who bear the shape, and none who have the souls of men, will permit a wife to continue long to do everything in the way I have mentioned. They will yield, and be led gradually to imbibe the same spirit. When this is done-when the husband and wife both strive to do everything in their power for each other—then will they have attained a high degree of felicity. Then, too, will they have secured, most effectually, the power to rise still higher, and to love each other more and more ardently.

It is an almost universal custom to act on the other principle-to do nothing for each other, as we pass along the road of matrimonial life, which we can help-that, like a canker, slowly eats out the life-blood of domestic happiness. Oh that husbands-but I write not now for them-oh that wives were universally wise on this subject; and that they would consider well the tendencies of these things. If I am right, there is much error abroad on this subject, and in few things is a' reform more necessary.

But, it is said, we must be content to wait, with patience, for results; that we must not expect too much of the world immediately; and that woman will be elevated slowly, in the progress of things,"

without extra effort. It may be so.

We hope it will be so. But I do not expect it, nor are expectations of this kind founded in a knowledge of human nature as it is, or as it ever has been.

1.

CHAPTER IX.

DELICACY AND MODESTY.

Many forms of immodesty.

A quotation. Modesty in matrimony. Unchaste language. Example to the husband. Specimens of bad examples.

IT may be thought unnecessary to conjoin modesty with delicacy; as few of those whom this work will reach will need its counsels. A female who is wanting in modesty, it may be said, will not be likely to take up a book like this; much less to heed its contents.

This remark would be more just if the term modesty was as narrow in its application as it has sometimes been regarded-if it referred only to external or overt actions. But there is a great deal of immodesty in the world-and I fear the matrimonial relation does not always exclude itwhich falls far short of overt action.

I have seen this trait of character exhibited, and with the most injurious effects, where not a word was uttered which could be directly blamed; and in some instances, where there were no words at