unavoidable, conspire to retard such full development and vigour; but that premature marriage is found among those which prove most exhausting to the constitution, and which generally prevents such young parents from ever having strong and healthy children.

It is to the neglect of those physical laws that we owe many of the dwarfed forms and sickly constitutions that we see around us; the prevention of which can only be secured by the mental enlightenment of both sexes, and a better observance of their moral duties.

Among the engagements that parties are legally and morally bound to fulfil, before they can justly enter into any other contract, are those of any indenture or agreement entered into for their own convenience, or to qualify them for earning a future subsistence. And little hopes are to be entertained of those who, openly or covertly, break through such engagements, and rashly take upon themselves the responsibilities of a family, without provision, care, or thought of duty. And greatly wanting in reflection and judgment must either be, who can agree to risk future happiness with one whose first step has been so wantonly reckless.

Highly culpable also must those be, whose conduct in all other particulars may be blameless, who allow their feelings so far to govern them, as to marry without any means or provision for rendering that state desirable. A furnished lodging, or a miserably furnished home, is more frequently found to produce regrets and dissatisfaction, than to increase the ardour of the affections. When, also, the daily supply of the household is dependant on the week's wages, without any other provision against sickness or loss of employment, that circumstance is by no means calculated to increase the sweets of matrimony. And when, in the midst of their domestic struggles, they find

a family fast gathering around them, they are too apt to express their regrets with bitterness, and to repent, when too late, of the recklessness that has brought so much misery upon them.

To guard against such a state of domestic misery (which, unfortunately, forms the lot of thousands) all those who value their self respect, and truly cherish the object of their affection, should seek to cultivate habits of industry, frugality, and economy, till they have made provision for securing a neat and comfortable home; as well as for helping them over the cares and difficulties they may meet with, in their early career.

We often hear the institution of marriage railed at and condemned by those who have failed to realize the domestic happiness they anticipated. But, if the disappointments of such persons were traced to their righful source, they would be found, for the most part, to lie in their own imprudent and neglectful conduct, rather than in the institution they condemn.

Those who, with dazzled eyes and romantic imaginations, have been influenced in their choice of wife or husband by mere personal attractions; regardless of the qualities of the head or heart, may afterwards strive to conceal their own weakness, and want of judgment, by railing at matrimony.

Those whose burning passions blinded them to every defect of character and disposition in the object of their attachment; and who, young, inexperienced, and thoughtless, rushed unprepared to seal the wedding compact; may, with eyes opened to their folly, be still too proud to acknowledge it, and scoff at the institution which only made it manifest.

Those whose choice was determined by mere sordid selfishness; who looked upon marriage as a means of rank, position, dress and idle pleasures; and upon their partners

as valuable caskets, yielding them the wealth they coveted; those, who thus bartered and sold themselves, now, finding the hollowness of their bargain, and the coldness of a home without a heart, may fail to acknowledge that they took the wrong path to happiness, and foolishly join in the condemnation of wedlock.

But those who, with sincerity, integrity and earnestness of purpose, resolved to make for themselves a home of happiness; and who wisely used the mental and moral powers they were endowed with to render it such; now, in enjoyment of domestic felicity, find cause for blessing rather than condemning, that institution which has made the object of their affection their partner for life.

DUTIES AS DOMESTIC BEINGS.

DUTIES OF HUSBANDS AND WIVES TO EACH OTHER.

ALL those who enter into the marriage state from feelings of mutual affection, and with the expectation of promoting their mutual happiness, will do well to remember that their contract necessarily implies a state of mutual rights, and mutual obligations; whatever law or ceremony may declare to the contrary.

If any notions of superiority, separate interest, or exclusive right, are once entertained by the one party, and acquiesced in by the other, they are almost certain to generate feelings opposed to their domestic welfare.

For it is the assumption of such exclusive right and superiority on the part of many husbands, that leads them to the commission of acts which they would by no means sanction, or excuse, if committed by their less assuming helpmates.

Therefore all those who are desirous of closing up every avenue through which temptation and evil may enter, and who are anxious to guard against all causes for jealousy, jarring, and, discontent, should determine that their domestic rights should be equal, their interests one, and their obligations mutual; and as sacredly to be observed on the part of husband as of wife.

But though their rights may be equal, their duties are dissimilar; his being to provide, by physical or mental labour, for the wants and necessities of the family; hers to perform, or supervise, the duties of the household; to

extend a mother's fostering care to her progeny; and to spread cheerfulness, comfort, and consolation around the domestic hearth.

And in the performance of these duties, let it be remembered, woman stands on a footing of social equality with man; as her labours and co-operation, in her sphere, are as essential to the production of the wealth of society as is his more hardy, and, it may be, laborious portion of the work. For without her solace and domestic aid he would have less inclination to labour, and less of his time to devote to it.

In endeavouring to individualize the moral duties of husband and wife, it may be necessary to glance at the neatly arranged household, and the evening's recreation, of a newly wedded pair, in, what is called, their honeymoon of happiness.

They may have both received the great blessing of a sound education; and thus, with minds able to appreciate the advantages of knowledge, and with kindred tastes in its pursuit, may feel the greatest delight in exploring the wide field before them, and in imparting to each other their gathered stores of information.

But the one may possess advantages in this respect to which the other is a stranger; and more especially in the present neglected and imperfect state of female education. Under such circumstances, what is the husband's duty? What are the means he should adopt, in order that his life's companion may be able to respond to his sentiments, to appreciate his intellectual pursuits, and to be qualified to become the instructor of his children?

May we not confidently state, that few young wives are so perversely blind to the advantages of knowledge, as not to be prepared to receive the information the husband of her affections is desirous to impart to her? Hence it