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We are all imperfect, and do many things that are censurable every day; and our best actions are capable of being so misrepresented as to appear to be not only without merit, but actually odious.

Some women appear to be incapable of keeping a secret. It seems to burn upon their lips till they have uttered it. Let a woman of this description come in possession of a secret, affecting the peace of whole families, and which every tie of humanity would persuade her to bury in utter oblivion, and what does she do? Stay at home and forget it by pursuing her accustomed avocations? Ah! no, wet or dry, cold or hot, out she must go at the earliest hour that it is decent to visit. She calls on her most intimate friend, without perhaps any definite intention of unburdening her mind. But when she arrives, she can think of nothing else. One topic after another is started, but all immediately flag. A strange air of mystery and constraint comes over her, which brings the conversation entirely to a stand. "What is the matter? Has any thing happened? Do tell me what has happened." It is all over. Out it must come, if it costs her her life. But

then she quiets her conscience by exacting a promise of inviolable secrecy. That promise of secrecy however, means that she will tell it only to those of her immediate acquaintance, whom she can trust; so in about two days it is all over town. It is a profound secret until it is found that every body knows it. Thus it is in the power of some two or three women, who are so disposed, to keep any community in a perpetual strife. I have myself known a whole town to be thrown into the most violent excitement, and a division created, which separated families, alienated friends, and entirely broke up all social harmony for years, by one base insinuation of not more than ten words.

It might seem at first sight, that such conduct as this could proceed from nothing but pure malice. But whoever should draw this inference would commit great injustice. In nine cases out of ten it has no worse or deeper motive than love of excitement, fondness for telling news. It proceeds from inconsideration, and the want of something more important to engage their attention. The thoughts of man are busied in other matters. He has not time for gossip even if

he had the inclination. Between regrets and self gratulation on the past, struggle for the present, and plans for the future, he has little time to look into his neighbors' affairs. But women, who are shut out from the exhaustless topics of business and politics, are under a stronger temptation to busy themselves in what is going on immediately around them. It is not malice. For let that very neighbor, whose character in a thoughtless hour they have picked in pieces, be overtaken by sickness and distress, and their hearts are the first to bleed, their hands the first to bring relief.

Women are accused of being strong in their prejudices, personal in their feelings, quick to take offence, and implacable in their resentments. Women are said never to quarrel with any discretion. When once roused they do and say things that never can be forgiven nor forgotten. This certainly, if it be true, is an unfortunate trait of character. It is unfortunate for the world, but still more so for themselves. Imperfect as we all are, occasions of offence are often occurring, and it is very certain that if every real offence, much more every imaginary one, were re

sented and pursued to the utmost, there could be no peace in society. Nothing in the world is more easy than to quarrel, if people are so disposed. The most trivial things may be tortured either into neglect, or freedom or insult. So that it may generally be said, that most quarrels are not so much the consequence of any particular offence, as the manifestation of a state of mind previously existing. The wolf is always sure to discover that the lamb he has determined to devour, has been troubling the water, though he spies it below him in the stream.

This quickness and depth of feeling has a natural cause in the greater susceptibility of the female constitution to impressions of all kinds, and in the feeling of helplessness and dependence. None feel so deeply as those who cannot resist. Woman then, when she considers herself injured has it not in her power to feel or to display the same magnanimity that she might if she were conscious of the ability to vindicate her rights. A sense of wrong sinks deep into her soul, it rankles there, and her lively imagination clothes the perpetrator with all painful and hateful associations, which reason and religious principle

cannot always dispel. Of this fact all women ought to be fully aware, and as they value their own happiness and that of society, they ought to study to moderate their feelings, and take those general and philosophical views of things, which forbid us to lay any thing too much to heart in this short and uncertain life. In judging them too, it must be remembered that this fault grows upon the same branch, and arises from the same peculiarity of temperament whence spring her brightest virtues, her capacity for strong, devoted, and unalterable attachment, and another characteristic no less essential to her happiness, the power of overlooking in those whom she loves, the most glaring faults and imperfections of character.

It is said that woman is irrationally fond of ornament, and is led by that passion into hurtful extravagance. This censure, however just it may be, must be made with discrimination. The propensity to ornament in woman is an instinct, it is universal and unvarying. It is coeval with our race. The oldest book we have, often mentions it, and generally without disapprobation. The catacombs of Egypt are filled with the relics of

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