od, is my most earnest hope and prayer for you.

LETTER III.

AIMS IN LIFE.

_My Dear Daughter:_--There is no disputing the fact that in making plans
for life very different motives and aims influence young girls from
those which influence young men. Every right-minded and
affectionate-natured young girl looks forward to, and hopes most of all
to have, a home of her own, which it shall be her life-work to keep and
guide. To prepare herself rightly to fulfill all the duties that belong
to the mistress of a home, should be the one all-embracing aim of any
young girl's life; but with this should be other aims, which may help to
prepare her for vicissitudes, emergencies, or disasters, and also give
her worthy occupation and interest in life should she never be called
to the duties of a wife and mother.

To speak first of preparation to become the mistress of a home, should
Providence have such a future in store. What qualities are needed to
insure that a woman shall be a happy home-keeper? Certainly, a good
temper, a cheerful disposition, a willingness to give time and thought
to the details of home-keeping, commonly called domestic cares, habits
of order and neatness, and good health, so that one may both give and
receive pleasure while discharging the duties of the home.

This thought of a possible future home, the abode of love and happiness,
should be the greatest safeguard to every young girl in her acquaintance
and association with young men. A high ideal of the exclusiveness of
that affection which must be the foundation of every true and happy
home, should constrain every young girl to exercise the greatest
possible caution in regard to the advances of acquaintances of the
opposite sex. Not that there should be a prudish self-consciousness of
manner, or a disposition to suspect matrimonial intentions in every
young gentleman who is friendly and polite to her, but that all young
men should be firmly prevented from coming into any intimacy of
acquaintance or relationship that might cause unhappy and mortifying
reflection in after-time. Treat all young men kindly and respectfully,
if they are polite and respectful to you. Scorn to encourage any to make
advances which you know you will one day repel. But in discouraging such
advances, be kind and respectful. Never do or say anything wilfully to
wound and give pain to the feelings. Remember that the sharpest grief of
life, as well as its greatest happiness,