in,

"I cannot traffic in the trade of words
With that unreasoning sex."?

When will the civilities of social life become, through her influence,
something beside an exchange of heartless forms, or of self-seeking
attentions? Precisely so soon, and so fast as woman shall determine to
reject the empty adulation of fops and simpletons, to be commended only
for what deserves praise, and to be entirely sincere and Christian, in
the social interview, no less than by her own fireside. Until this take
place, society, in fashionable circles, will be, as an authoress
remarks, like "the brilliant assemblies of Paris, a collection of young
men who have nothing to do, and young women who have nothing to say."

The responsibleness of woman extends widely through the world of
Intellect. She is called to preside over schools for the nurture of the
infant mind. Every child receives thus the impress of her taste and
talents. Shall she come to this work, and daily pursue it, without a
thoughtful preparation for her task? Is it for the mother to say, "I may
read little or much, as I please. Of what consequence is the condition
of my mind?" when she can hardly breathe on the germs before her,
without either blighting their beauty, and checking their expansion, or
shedding life, health, and eternal freshness, upon them?

Let no young lady disclaim for herself any lot or portion in those sober
concerns. Hannah More had, at one time, more than a thousand children
under her instruction. Others have recently followed in her steps. Every
woman is, I maintain, by virtue of her sex, a teacher. There are now, or
there sometime may be, minds subjected to her influence, over whose
destinies, for weal or for wo, she will exert a fearful sway. Is it
certain she will never be school-mistress, or mother, or guide and
guardian to another? No, it is certain that, unless her path be strange,
secluded, and anomalous, she will be either the architect, or destroyer
of, or at least, a more than leaden weight on, some human intellect. Let
her reflect on this fact, and conduct herself always in view of it.

At the fireside, what a sum of duties does her power impose? Here she
wields a more than regal sceptre. Wisely did Boaz argue the excellence
of Ruth, when he said, in reply to her modest question, "why have I
found grace in thine eyes?" "It has fully been shewed me, all that thou
hast done unto thy mother-in-law, since the death of thy husband." Su