ng. A wise mother will have her eyes open,
and be ready for every emergency. A few words of common, downright
practical sense, timely uttered by her, may be enough to counteract
some foolish idea or belief put into her daughter's head by others,
whilst if it be left unchecked, it may take such possession of the
mind that it cannot be corrected at a later time.

One false notion rife in the present age is the idea that women,
unless compelled to it by absolute poverty, are out of place when
engaged in domestic affairs. Now mothers should have a care lest their
daughters get hold of this conviction as regard themselves--there is
danger of it; the fashion of the day engenders it, and even the care
that an affectionate family take to keep a girl, during the time of
her education, free from other occupations than those of her tasks, or
her recreations, may lead her to infer that the matters with which she
is never asked to concern herself are, in fact, no concern to her, and
that any attention she may ever bestow on them is not a matter of
simple duty, but of grace, or concession, or stooping, on her part.
Let mothers bring up their daughters from the _first_ with the idea
that in this world it is required to give as well as to receive, to
minister as well as to enjoy; that every person is bound to be useful
in his own sphere, and that a woman's first sphere is the house, and
its concerns and demands. Once really imbued with this belief, a young
girl will usually be anxious to learn all that her mother is disposed
to teach, and will be proud and happy to aid in any domestic
occupations assigned to her. These need never be made so heavy as to
interfere with the peculiar duties or enjoyments of her age. If a
mother wishes to see her daughter become a good, happy, and rational
woman, never let there be contempt for domestic occupations, or suffer
them to be deemed secondary.

2188. A Wife's Power.

The power of a wife for good or evil is irresistible. Home must be the
seat of happiness, or it must be for ever unknown. A good wife is to a
man wisdom, and courage, and strength, and endurance. A bad wife is
confusion, weakness, discomfiture, and despair. No condition is
hopeless where the wife possesses firmness, decision, and economy.
There is no outward prosperity which can counteract indolence,
extravagance, and folly at home. No spirit can long endure ba