t in every outward observance; in this
respect severe with herself and with all around her. Yet this never
prevented her having an eye to the 'main chance,' which was, to get on
in the world. Indeed, to attempt to do so, was with her a fundamental
duty. She loved to pray the Lord to bless 'our basket and our store.'
She dwelt much on the promise of 'a hundred-fold' in this world in
addition to the 'inheritance of everlasting life.' She could repeat all
the practical maxims which abound in the book of Proverbs, and she was
careful, when she feared her husband was about to give way to a generous
impulse in favor of a poor relation or neighbor, to put him in mind of
his own large and increasing household, solemnly cautioning him that he
who looked not well after it, was 'worse than an infidel.' In short,
being fully convinced by application of her natural shrewd sense that
religion was the safest thing for her here and hereafter, she became
religious. In her piety there was manifested but one idea--self.
Whatever she did, was from a sense of duty, and she did her duty because
it was the way to prosperity and heaven.

I have remarked how different were husband and wife. They lived
together, however, without discord, for Mr. Meeker yielded most points
of controversy when they arose, and for the rest his wife was neither
disagreeable nor unamiable. But the poor woman had experienced through
life one great drawback; she had half-a-dozen fine children. Alas! not
one of them resembled her in temper, character, or disposition. All
possessed their father's happy traits, which were developed more and
more as they grew older, despite their mother's incessant warnings and
teachings.

Frank, the first-born, exhibited fondness for books, and early
manifested an earnest desire for a liberal education with a view to the
study of medicine. His father resolved to gratify him. His mother was
opposed to it. She wanted her boy a merchant. 'Doctors,' she said, 'were
mostly a poor set, who were obliged to work very hard by day and by
night, and got little for it. If Frank would only be contented to go
into her cousin's store, in New-York, (he was one of the prominent
wholesale dry-goods jobbers,) why, there would be some hope of him, that
is, if he could cure himself of certain extravagant notions; but to go
through college, and then study medicine! Why couldn't he, at least, be
a lawyer, then there might be a chance for him.'

'But the boy