LESSON XXVIII.

Domestic Economy.-LETTERS TO A DAUGHTER.

HOWEVER much you may be distinguished for intellectual cultivation, or for proficiency in the more refined and ornamental branches, you can make no claim to a complete education, unless you are considerably acquainted with domestic economy. I am aware that this is a subject towards which many young females feel a great indifference, and even aversion; and there is reason to fear, that in too many instances, this aversion has been heightened, by receiving, in some degree, the parental sanction: but, you may rely upon it, there cannot be a greater mistake upon the subject of female education, than the idea that this branch may, with safety, be either partially or entirely neglected.

With regard to the extent to which you should be informed on this subject, I would say, in general, that you ought to have so much knowledge of it, as will enable you to regulate, with advantage, the concerns of a family. And this knowledge, in order to be of any real profit, must be practical: it can be attained, not by receiving lectures on domestic economy, nor even by observing the management of skilful superintendants, but only by actually mingling and participating in the cares and business of a family.

There are, indeed, some of the domestic arts, which you can hardly be expected to acquire; and which, in the ordinary walks of domestic life, are not very important; but whatever relates to the immediate superintendance and management of household concerns, you cannot neglect, without exposing yourself to inconvenience, which no future exertions may be able completely to remedy.

It is important that you should cultivate a taste for domestic habits, as early as possible. As this is perhaps the most practical part of your education, you cannot safely neglect it for a long period; as the consequence of such neglect probably would be, that you would form other habits uncongenial with domestic employments, and which perhaps might give you an aversion to them, which you would never overcome. Never consider it a hardship,

therefore, to be placed in circumstances which favour your attention to this subject, and even demand your active exertions. Every item of this kind of knowledge which you gain, you will be able, hereafter, to turn to some practical account, which will compensate many-fold for the labour of attaining it.

It is not uncommon for young females, in the higher walks of life, to plead, as an apology for the neglect of this branch of education, the elevation and splendour of their external condition. If this excuse could ever be sustained, you have no right to expect that your worldly circumstances will be such, as to allow you to avail yourself of it but the truth is, that it cannot be admitted in any case. For what if Providence should actually place you in circumstances of wealth, and what the world calls, independence! Would you not still be as really accountable to God for all your possessions, as though you had been limited to a moderate competence?

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Nay, would not your responsibility be increased just in proportion to the abundance which had been bestowed upon you? This, therefore, instead of being an argument for the neglect of the domestic part of your education, is a reason why you should attend to it with the greater care : for if many of the gifts of Providence are entrusted to your management, and you are responsible for the proper improvement of each of them, it is certainly desirable that you should not lack that knowledge, which will enable you to husband these bounties of Heaven in a proper man

ner.

But if you leave the idea of accountability entirely out of the question, there are still other reasons, of great weight, why this part of your education should not be neglected. Without a considerable knowledge of domestic economy, you can never be qualified to preside in the concerns of a family. Though you should be placed in a station which might command all the conveniences and assistance which opulence can furnish, you will never feel at home in your own house, if you have not gained that practical knowledge, which shall enable you to keep your house in order.

You cannot realize half the value of your domestic aid, unless you are capable of exercising a general superintendance, and giving occasional directions; and without

such ability, you will be liable to continual impositions from those, to whom you will be necessitated to confide interests, which ought to remain exclusively in your own hands. Many a large estate has been squandered, and many a family reduced to want, in consequence of a deficiency in this part of female education.

Let me add, if Providence should ever place you at the head of a family, and you are obliged from ignorance of domestic economy, to entrust its concerns to another, you cannot maintain the dignity which appropriately belongs to such a station. You will be subject to a thousand painful mortifications, from discovering that your concerns are improperly managed, and yet being unable to suggest the mode of correction; and though you may try to flatter yourself, that your ignorance on this subject, will be taken for the proof of a polite education, it is much more probable that the unsavoury food, which will sometimes chance to be placed before your guests, will lead them to regret, that you happened to possess so unfortunate an accomplishment.

What I have said hitherto on this subject, has principally been upon the supposition, that you are to be placed in circumstances of external ease and affluence. But I hardly need say, that this is by no means certain. Even if your prospects, in this respect, should be fair, in the outset of domestic life, there are a thousand changes, which may await you, any one of which may cast around you the gloom and desolation of heart-breaking poverty. I could tell you of many, who have begun life, without a cloud being seen to settle upon their temporal prospects, and have closed it in all the degradation and wretchedness, which the most abject want could occasion.

I would fondly indulge the hope, that Heaven may avert such a lot as this from my dear child; but, as it is impossible to tell what scenes of adversity the changes of life may bring along with them, it is unquestionably the part of wisdom, that you should be prepared, so far as possible, for any lot to which Providence may call you. What, then, if you should be destined, in a few years, to the obscure and humble walks of poverty? What if, from the comfortable competence which you now possess, you should sink to a condition, upon which you have, hitherto,

been scarcely able to look, without feelings of compassion, and tears of sympathy?

What if you should see around you a little defenceless family, and all the dreaded evils of poverty clustering upon them, in most melancholy profusion? And what, if, in the midst of all these circumstances of temporal depression, you should be found incapable of devising a plan, or lifting a hand for the relief or comfort of yourself and family? I have seen an elegant, accomplished female, in these very circumstances, which I have described: and who knows but that another such case may occur, and that it may not be the case of my beloved child? Sure I am, that another argument cannot be necessary, to impress you with the importance of the subject of this letter.

In connection with the subject of domestic economy, let me say one word on the importance of your avoiding all needless expense. Though it would mortify me exceedingly to discover in you any indications of an avaricious spirit, I wish you to let all your expenses be regulated, not merely by a regard to your ability, but to your duty and accountableness as a steward of God. Let your dress be always neat and decent, but avoid gaudy and superfluous ornament. It may make the vulgar and ignorant stare, but it will excite the contempt of the wise and discerning. Always be liberal and honourable in any dealings which you may have with the world, but remember that the ostentation of liberality is cautiously to be avoided.

LESSON XXIX.

Conversation.-Letters to a Daughter.

It is obvious, at first view, that no person can converse well, who has not the materials for conversation, in a well stored and cultivated mind. A person of sound mind and good sense, may make it apparent, by a casual remark, on the most unimportant subject; whereas a person of an opposite character, cannot open his mouth, without betraying the secret that he is a fool. If you wish, therefore, to cultivate the gift of Conversation, you must not think to substitute any thing for a cultivated intellect.

You may have the credit of possessing every amiable virtue, and may be admired as a pattern of moral excellence, but you cannot neglect your mind, and yet possess, in any superior degree, the gift of Conversation. I have known some young females endeavour to conceal their ignorance of a subject, not by decently waving it, or by remaining silent, but by venturing some bold and rash opinion.

But this is an experiment, which can never succeed among enlightened people, and which is almost sure to result in painful mortification. Ignorance on subjects upon which you have not had the means of information, is always excusable; but an affected knowledge of things of which you are really ignorant, can never fail to excite contempt.

The next hint, which I wish to give you on this subject is, that you should avoid talking too much. Though your conversation discover ever so much sprightlinesss, or ever so much intelligence, it will cease to be interesting, if it is not conducted with proper deference to those around you. If you have good sense, you will not be under the necessity of talking a great deal, to make it manifest: if you have not good sense, the less you say, the better. Never allow yourself to monopolise the conversation, because you may be among those who look up to you as their superior. If you do this, the weakest of them will be wise enough to charge you with vanity or ostentation; whereas, if you encourage themt o bear part in the conversation, they will respect you for your condescension and courtesy, and will consider it a privilege to enjoy your company.

Cautiously avoid egotism. It always disgusts people of sense, and detracts greatly from the good qualities with which it may be associated. Endeavour to keep yourself as far out of view in your conversation as possible; and when you are obliged to speak of any thing which has a bearing upon your own character, let your modest and unassuming manner protect you from the charge of vanity.

Another kindred fault against which you should guard is pedantry. I will not say that this is one of the peculiar infirmities of your sex; but wherever it appears, it creates such a contrast to the retiring loveliness natural to the female character, that it never fails to excite disgust. Of the two evils, I must acknowledge, for myself, that I