"That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones polished after the similitude of a palace."-Ps. clxiv. 12. II. THE EDUCATION OF WOMAN. AVID, the great and good King of Israel, was naturally anxious for the prosperity of the people over whom he reigned. Foremost amongst national blessings he reckoned the education of their sons and daughters. Upon the proper culture of both sexes of the youth of any country its true and permanent prosperity very largely depends. The education which is most adapted to prepare those receiving it for the peculiar position and duties of their life must be regarded as the best. Woman was made the equal, in order that she might be the companion and help-meet-the twin soul of man. Home is the sphere in which her powers find their fullest exercise, and her graces their most attractive display. Never does woman appear to greater advantage, and never is she more useful than when she makes home by her presence, skill, and love, the sweetest spot on earth. In this way she renders her most valuable contribution, not only to those dearest to her, but also to society at large. If this be so, and it is incontrovertible, then it follows that the object of her education should be to fit her to be the companion of man,the good angel and presiding genius of his home. Woman should be taught the advantage and pleasure of constant employment. It is evident from the two books from which we learn the will of God, viz., the Book of Nature and the Book of Revelation, that it was plainly God's intention that men and women should lead lives of active and useful labour rather than of listless and fruitless indolence. We are endowed with powers fitting us for toil. We are so constituted that our physical, intellectual, and moral nature, every part and faculty of our being in fact, is developed through exercise, and our highest happiness secured in connection with painstaking and successful labour. The arrangements of our world are such as to make "work" a necessity; but this necessity is a blessing rather than a curse. It is not the result of sin. Adam was placed in the garden of Eden to dress and keep it before the fall. The necessity for work is a safeguard against a thousand evils. Indolence is the prolific cause of misery, disease, and sin; industry the bountiful source of health, virtue, and happiness. Whilst these remarks are true of man and woman alike, there is special need to insist upon them when speaking of the education of woman. One effect of growing civilization and national prosperity has been to raise some persons above the necessity of labour, in order to secure a livelihood; and cut of this has grown a feeling which has descended from the upper to the middle classes in society, that work is a degradation and a dishonour. Especially has it come to be felt that for young women (or young ladies, as even uneducated and unrefined women are now called,) to be engaged in useful labour is a social disadvantage and degradation. Mothers will sometimes work too hard, and perform some of the more unpleasant duties of a household in order to spare their daughters the dis |