oic,
Spartan spirit of the young woman who consulted us in reference to the
acceptance of a tempting offer of marriage! She was below medium size
and delicately organized. She hesitated in her answer, because she was
uncertain as to her duty to herself, and to her proposed husband, and on
account of the prospective contingencies of matrimony. After she was
told that it was doubtful whether she could discharge the obligations of
maternity with safety to herself, and yet that she might prove to her
intended husband a true and valuable wife, she quickly answered, her
black eyes radiant with the high purpose of her soul: "If I assent to
this offer, I shall accept the condition and its consequences also, even
if pregnancy be my lot and I know it will cost me my life!" She acceded
to the proposal, and years found them one in happiness; then a daughter
was born, but the bearing and nursing were too much for her delicate
constitution, and she continued to sink until she found rest in the
grave. Of all her beautiful and noble sayings, none reflect more moral
grandeur of spirit than the one in which she expressed her purpose to
prove true to posterity.

THE SIGNS OF PREGNANCY.

The symptoms which indicate pregnancy are cessation of the menses,
enlargement of the mammae, nausea, especially in the morning, distention
of the abdomen, and movement of the foetus. A married woman has reason
to suspect that she may have conceived, when, at the proper time, she
fails to menstruate, especially when she knows that she is liable to
become pregnant. A second menstrual failure strengthens this suspicion,
although there are many other causes which might prevent the appearance
of the menses, such as disease of the uterus, general debility, or
taking cold, and all of these should be taken into account. In the
absence of all apparent influences calculated to obstruct the menses,
the presumption ordinarily is that pregnancy is the cause of their
non-appearance. The evidence is still more conclusive when the mammae and
abdomen enlarge after experiencing morning sickness. Notwithstanding all
these symptoms, the audible sound of the heart, or the movements of the
foetus, are the only _infallible_ signs of a pregnant condition.

THE DURATION OF PREGNANCY.

The ordinary duration of pregnancy is about forty weeks, or 280 days. It
is difficult to foretell exactly when a pregnancy will be completed, for
it cannot be known precisely when it beg