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even the most pure and the most fervent, cannot long survive such encounters. The tavern-keeper will bid him welcome. He will have the little snug parlor, for the whist party, neat and in order, and his associates will be careful to avoid offence. They will greet him with the open hand and the smiling brow. Is it strange, that a man who is not governed by christian principle, should, under such circumstances, forget his wife and forsake his home? Is it strange, that he should live with those who are careful to minister to his pleasures?"

He also gives the following excellent advice: "Cultivate a cheerful spirit. Cheerfulness is the twin sister of gratitude. They are born together. They walk hand in hand through life, and the death of the one breaks the heart of the other. Gratitude is the homage which the heart gives to God for his goodness. Cheerfulness is the external manifestation of this praise."

I have said that the importance of cheerfulness in a wife could best be shown, by exhibiting the evils which flow from a want of it. But it may also be shown by examples of the contrary de

scription. I will present one.

Alexis is a day laborer. He was originally indolent; but the wants of a family, beginning to be felt, have aroused him. He now labors incessantly, and labors hard.

In all his efforts, he is seconded and sustained by his wife. It is true she was a little disappointed in her expectations in regard to his circumstances. As he was the son of a wealthy farmer, she thought he would receive that aid from his father which would at least render their circumstances comfortable. But no: the old gripus withholds his aid, to a dollar. He will not lift a finger to encourage. "Let him put his own shoulder to the wheel, and then call for Hercules.”—I like the principle very well, but I should like it also if the old man was sincere in his application of it—if it were not a mere excuse for retaining, at its full size, his own heap.

But as I have already intimated, Emilia, though a little disappointed, is not discouraged. She makes the best of things as they are. She is doing her utmost. And she is doing very much. She has indeed already done much. She has led Alexis into habits of industry, already; she is now leading him to other virtues, and to happiness.

And how is she doing it? Not by wise words, in the form of direct instruction ;-not by her sage counsels ;—not even by her example, alone. What then? It is by her never-tiring cheerfulness; or at least chiefly so.

How is this cheerfulness shown or manifested? To answer this question fully would be to give the whole history of a day. I need only say that her

countenance always wears a smile, an unaffected one, too, when she meets him; and that her every word or action corresponds to the feelings indicated by her countenance. Everything she says or does in his presence warms his heart, and inspires hope. And to inspire hope is to reform and to make happy.

Above all, does she perform her angelic task by the reception she gives him at evening. When he comes home, as often happens, after dark, he finds not only the lighted window and the blazing hearth, but the still more cheering light of his wife's countenance, to welcome him.

He can scarcely feel a want of food, drink or repose, which is not fully anticipated, and for which provision is not made in the most happy manner. Who that is perpetually cheered by those whom he tenderly loves, can help being cheerful? Who can help smiling, that is constantly smiled upon? Who can avoid being happy, where nought exists but happiness?

Had Alexis married any other than Emilia, or a person who, like her, sympathized deeply with him, and had she proved a very angel to him in every other respect, it is doubtful whether he would ever have made the industrious man he now

is. Nay, more; there is every reason to believe he would have gone "down hill" with a velocity

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far greater than that with which he is now moving upwards.

Emilia has saved him. She has led him, through a kind and merciful providence, into the right way. His path, if it be not that of the just, in the scripture sense of the phrase, is at least like it; and is probably destined, like it, to shine brighter and brighter unto the perfect day.

CHAPTER V.

Duty of confidence.

Confiding in gossips.

CONFIDENCE.

Married women not always wives. Fault in education. A bad husband not to be given up. Experiment in trusting. We should have but few secrets.

It may seem idle to suggest to a wife the duty of confiding in her husband. She has evinced her confidence in him, it will be said, by marrying him. Has she not entrusted him with everything dear to her this side of the grave, excepting perhaps the destiny of her immortal spirit? And shall she now be advised to put confidence in him?

But as there are those who bear the name, who are not husbands, so there are to be found married women who are not wives. They have not entire confidence in their husbands, after all. They only confide in them in part. They trust them to a certain extent. Still there is a string of secrets behind, which they dare not communicate, even to them.

I will not say that a wife should bury nothing in her own breast. I will not say that things

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