them, because they are like the beginning of a fire; they tend to burn with fiercer and wilder flames, until all fuel is consumed, and go out only when there is nothing to burn. Of this last kind is the sin of licentiousness; and when the conflagration once breaks out, experience has shown that the chances of reformation are few, indeed. SELECTING A WIFE. The richest treasure a man ever gets in this world is a good wife. The poorest investment he ever makes is a poor wife, no matter how much money she has. Marriage is a transaction which should be removed as far as possible from the moneyed value of either party. The happiest homes everywhere, have been bought and paid for by the mutual earnings after marriage. Nothing is truer than that the good wife in the home is as surely a money-earner as the husband who toils with hand or brain. motto of every young man or woman is, "Marry for love, and work for riches." It may be an old fogy idea, but millions of homes will bear testimony to its truthfulness. The best Some young men act very foolishly in choosing a companion for life; some marry dimples; some ears, some noses; the contest, however, generally lies between the eyes and the hair. The mouth, too, is occasionally married; the chin not so often. Poor partners, these, you will own. But young men do marry all of these, and many other bits of scraps of a wife, instead of the true thing. Such as the marriage is, such is the after-life. He that would have a wife, must marry a true woman. If he can meet with one of equal social position, like education, similar disposition, kindred sympathies, and habits congenial to his own, let him marry. But let him beware of however swan-like, or a marrying a curl, or a neck, voice, however melodious. The idea of a man in his senses, saying, "I take this straight nose, regular teeth, ringlets, pretty foot, musical skill, money, to be my lawful wedded wife." Good qualities are far beyond all these put together A woman may be very plain in her personal appearance, but if she have good domestic qualities, she will prove a better treasure than the brainless, heartless beauty. It will be well in most cases for a young man to pay some attention to the family into which he marries. The saying that a man only marries his wife, and not her relations, is only true to a very limited extent. He becomes one of the family the moment he joins hands with a daughter of it at the altar, and he takes a share in its fortunes and its character. And while there are many worthy girls in lowly and poor families, yet if the family be noted for some characteristics and qualities which will be like a perpetual thorn in your side, you had better not ally yourself with it. For by a wise search you can find other girls equally good without any bad family incumbrance upon them. WHOM NOT TO MARRY. Don t marry a girl whose whole aim in life is simply to dress. The world is full of such. They think of nothing else; they dream of it, live for it, flutter round a drygoods store like butterflies round a gaudy flower, ever on the lookout for the latest style. It is a great stain upon any woman's character when she is disposed to dress extravagantly. Many young women spend all they can get in finery, who, the moment they open their mouth to speak, display a poverty of mind that is positively appalling. Cowper describes this class as "Insolent and self-caressed, By vanity's unwearied finger dressed, rest. A GOOD HOUSEKEEPER. See that you get a good housekeeper, with all the If there is an unlovely sight in the world, it is a listless, dirty, slatternly woman. She would spoil the best furniture and the best house in a short time. If we enter a well-ordered house, the spirit of it prevails over everything, and we feel at once its genial influence. While on the contrary, a disorderly house spreads its evil spirit over all around; and this as a rule, is all owing to the want of a little method. As one drop of dirty water will pollute a glassful, so one untidy habit will upset the happiness of a whole house. Where there is turmoil, there is always discomfort; and such untidy people are always in a kind of low fever. Industrious habits have a very close connection with peace of mind, cheerfulness of spirit, good temper, and bodily health. On the other hand, there is such a thing as being too nice and particular. Suun a wife is well described in the following lines: "It is just as you say, neighbor Green; A treasure indeed is my wife: Such another for bustle and work I never have found in my life. As busy as birds on the wing; "She makes the best bread in the town, Her custards and puddings just right. But then while I eat them she tells Of the care and the worry they bring, Of the martyr-like toil she endures- "My house is as neat as a. pin; You should see how the door-handles shine, And all of the soft-cushioned chairs, And nicely swept carpets are mine. But then she so frets at the dust, At a fly, at a straw, at a string, She knits all my stockings herself, My shirts are bleached white as the snow; My old clothes look better than new, Yet daily more threadbare they grow; But then if a morsel of lint Or dust on my trousers should cling, She is such a fidgety thing! "You have heard of a spirit so meek, The subordinate always to sing; AN AFFECTIONATE WIFE. Strive to get a cheerful, affectionate wife. A good word maketh the heart light. Kind words have a magical power in allaying irritations, lightening burdens, sweetening toil, conciliating affection, and diffusing around a serene and bracing air. They are the oil to the machinery of life. Eliza Cook hath truly written: "A look of kind truth, and a word of good-will, Are the magical helps on life's road; With a mountain to travel they shorten the hill, « Wind and thunder have rolled, yet the wheat-ears of gold, And the red grapes shine, glowing together; So should spirits unite in the heart's harvest light, "They should balance the glad, with the somber and sad, Let the voice of good fellowship call; For while love sings aloud, like a lark in the cloud, |