es familiar with its features;
there she communes with it, as with a celestial messenger; till at
length she can almost welcome its presence, and hail it as the harbinger
of a brighter world.

Religion is her only elevating principle. It identifies itself with the
movements of her heart and with the actions of her life, spiritualizing
the one and ennobling the other. Duties, however subordinate, are to the
religious woman never degrading; their principle is their apology. She
does not live amidst the clouds, or abandon herself to mystic
excitement; she is raised above the sordidness, but not above the
concerns, of earth; above its disquietudes, but not above its cares.

Religion is just what woman needs. Without it, she is ever restless and
unhappy; ever wishing to be relieved from duty or from time. She is
either ambitious of display, or greedy of pleasure, or sinks into a
listless apathy, useless to others and unworthy of herself. But when the
light from heaven shines upon her path, it invests every object with a
reflected radiance. Duties, occupations, nay, even trials, are seen
through a bright medium; and the sunshine which gilds her course on
earth, is but the dawning of a far clearer day.

* * * * * *

Transcriber's Note:

The following words were inconsistently hyphenated:

house-wife / housewife
time-piece / timepiece

Other errors:

Original
Page
11 Missing period after 'other'
....each other "_Familiarity_," says....
72 Missing period after 'it'
....could not help it She sang to Nurse....
124 extra 'n' in the name Fanny
....cannot be said that Fannny's health....

***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LADIES' VASE***

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