ance was rudely broken into by a thousand restless and tumultuous waves, and the reflections caught by these were fitful and disturbed in the extreme. She did not attempt to undress, she sat down upon the bed, and nervously pressing her hands together, felt to look upon herself with a hopeless and overwhelming pity. She was so helpless in this; it was so wholly her fate! Her love for George Gilbert had commenced with the first dim recollection of childhood. Upon this first strata of childish affection came the playful intercourse of youth, followed by the esteem and appreciation of her maturer years. She had known, too, much tender care for him; at different periods the fatal disease which lingered in him had threatened speedily to consummate its work, and the latent maternity in a woman's nature makes all such care a very strong and subtle claim upon her sympathy. Her reason and observation had also come in to the verdict of her affections; she had compared him with many others, and always found him their superior. The kind and truthful actions of his life served also, day by day, to strengthen what was already strong enough to endure for ever. So that it seemed the ultimate aim of everything in her life was to create within her "a whole and perfect chrysolite" of love. She had suffered most bitterly through him, as she saw him struggling with a passion as hopeless and steadfast as her own, and this suffering seemed like a last purification of fire which refined her love into something sublime. There were, besides, a thousand dear though almost imperceptible ties, spun out of the familiar knowledge of his individuality of manner, mode of thought and daily life, uniting her to him, so there was no help for it; to exist was to love him. She sprang from the bed, and paced rapidly to and fro, the fever and anguish of her heart at last finding relief in a burst of violent weeping. And during this wild turmoil of passion it seemed as if some secret prison-house of evil spirits had been thrown open within her, for in her imagined efforts to escape the hopeless thraldom of her life, her thoughts violated and sinned against its dearest sanctities. To these dark moments in which we seem given over to the Evil One, our better moments follow like retributory angels to overwhelm us with tenderness and regret; and we find we have gained nothing save an augmented and deeper tenderness for those whose sacred ideals have been outraged.

During all Elizabeth's excitement the little child remained tranquilly sleeping, with his hand grasping the box upon his pillow; and next morning no outward trace remained of the tempest of the night save in Elizabeth's pale cheek and heavy eyes. The pleasant sunshine which greeted her as she stepped into the parlor seemed to deny its having existed even to herself; but the blank exhaustion which succeeds all such emotion was internally too strong a testimony; and weary and helpless she was thankful to cast herself down for rest upon the routine of the day, and the most commonplace necessary employments. Two weeks after this, George and

Elizabeth Gilbert were travelling towards their home, and the little Charley, who had become thoroughly reconciled to his good fortune, was accompanying them.

S.

It was said of Napoleon, that he owed a great part of his wonderful success to his talent for organization. We were not too proud to learn from a foe, even a vanquished one, so we took some lessons from him, and, since his career was closed, we have made rapid advance in our appreciation and practice of organization.

Still there are yet many forces at work, and others lying dormant, waiting for action, to which the principle of organization, even in its simplest and least complicated forms, is neither applied, nor even thought worthy of application.

Within the last three years much has been said, and something has been done, in the way of promoting industry and philanthropy among the female half of society, and many scattered successes in these directions testify to the zeal and ability with which women have taken up their own cause, and have likewise been aided therein by the assistance of the other sex. But to render this movement more expansive, and at the same time stable and enduring, a centre on a broad basis is imperiously demanded; a centre towards which all these efforts may be directed, or from which they may derive support-in short, we want association, and organization of that association. If at this moment London is to be taken as the centre of the movement, it is certain that as yet the Land's End knows not what John o' Groat's is doing, and across St. George's Channel the want of knowledge is greater still. It is evident that while what may be called the improvement of the condition of women must gradually advance, to make it effective, all plans and efforts for that purpose ought to be made generally known throughout the kingdom; and in order to do so, branch societies in communication with the central association ought to be established in every town of the United Islands.

In some of our large manufacturing cities the idea has taken root, and we hope to see ere long good fruits produced as the result. But as women are everywhere, and everywhere their interests are identical, so should it be everywhere made known what is and ought to be done for their benefit, and thus unite all intelligent and worthy women in one bond of union and of sisterhood for the good of all.

An association may certainly lay claim to privileges which can in nowise be granted to private individuals; in union, women can

make that impression which no single woman, however elevated in rank, or raised by ability above her companions, can possibly do.

As women, as well as men, aid in forming public opinion, they ought to represent it, and in this way influence others to judge for themselves in all matters touching them so nearly as health of mind and body, neither of which can exist without the balance being properly adjusted, and the aliment needful for each supplied. It is full time that women should be better taught than to confound the moral virtues, or the mental faculties, or even the physical differences of sex, with what is in reality humanity itself, and as such of primary importance: the divine germ which is to expand and blossom into the immortal, being the gift of God to both sexes without distinction, and to be accounted for accordingly.

We are all aware of the presence amongst us of an astounding superfluity of women, of the want of remunerative employment for these women, of the enforced idleness of many, and of the defective education, mental and physical, (perhaps from a high point of view we might add moral,) of nearly all. The leaven now endeavoring to leaven the lump is not large, and is as yet working itself into the mass rather in a chance fashion. With whatever lively sympathies the sex may be endowed, it is useless to attempt to shut our eyes to the fact that, as yet, the great majority are either ignorant of such a demand upon their exertions, or, if sensible of it, are slow to respond. The public may with truth congratulate the leaders of the movement, whether of one sex or the other, upon their zeal and perseverance, and likewise, although to a more limited extent, upon the practical benefits they have conferred.

We feel inclined to ask, how comes it that women do not more eagerly grasp the hands held out to aid them, by which they may rise in the social scale, and perform those duties to themselves and to the community at large which have hitherto been left undone, or at best performed indolently and carelessly.

Public opinion is now so far enlisted on the side of the question of the improvement of women, that it permits and encourages them to speak for themselves, to declare what they want, and to propose plans they desire to see carried out for the good of all. This is a great step gained; for hitherto, men have persisted upon defining the nature of women, dogmatising on their capabilities, and managing all the affairs of those beings of their imagination, until the so taken care of grown-up children, never being expected to use either their own eyes, or their own ears, became forgetful of the fact that, in common with their directors, they had heads of their own, with eyes and ears for their own special use. A woman may now venture to show a photograph of herself of her own taking, and also to express an opinion about her own affairs, without being told that she knows nothing, and had better not think of matters beyond her province. Her voice is now listened to by those whose approval is worth having.

The idea that women may be of greater use to society than they are at present has manifestly taken root, and only needs time and care to shoot up into a wide-spreading tree. The simplest and surest way of strengthening this idea, and of obtaining practical results, is by women associating themselves for this purpose, and, by some single bond of union, encouraging each other in their labors, however different their works of charity or of utility may

be.

The movement must spread; but in the meanwhile a deal of strength is expended in isolated and unsupported endeavors. It has been again and again reiterated that unless women can influence public opinion in behalf of their wishes, they can do nothing. Now, however valuable such a patronage may be, to confirm whatever is undertaken, it must not be forgotten that even the steadiest and best public opinion is liable to waver, if not to err; therefore no one ought implicitly to depend upon it, or be wholly discouraged by it, should it be temporarily adverse or slow to acknowledge truth in a new form.

It has likewise been said that women are greater conservatives than men, and cling rather to what is, (however inferior,) than strive to advance to what may be, however superior. Be this as it may, (for we have heard the very contrary advanced on this point, as in all others, where men seek to dogmatize on the nature of their sisters,) we cannot have contrary virtues in the same character; and if women have been made to depend on others at all times, and for everything, no surprise need be shown should they be slow to strive for a position of independence only to be obtained by exertion, and by self-dependence, either in the path of industry or in the exercise of philanthropy.

Some writers maintain that, to excite women to be active and helpful, their sympathies exclusively on behalf of others must be excited; that if their own interest be solely addressed, a deaf ear will be turned to all admonitions or exhortations. Very romantic this; nay, almost angelic; but whatever poets may sing, or even one-sided philosophers say, we believe the one sex to be, as the late Sydney Smith said, “infinitely more alike to the other than is supposed ;' and we venture to add, more like, than is in certain quarters and under certain circumstances, welcome. Did women see that it is their interest to unite for the advancement of that interest, as is the case with the other sex when any matter of importance is brought before them, such union no one finding fault with, but on the contrary encouraging as natural and right, they would heartily do

SO.

But hitherto the idea kept before their eyes has been the reverse, and it has been incessantly dinned into their ears, that any strength with which they had been endowed, or could exert, was to be sacrificed rightly or wrongly to the interests of others, although religion and reason alike show, that self-sacrifice is alone demanded in a righteous cause.

We are perfectly aware that self-abnegation is the highest virtue that can be exercised, and this by both sexes alike; yet it is far from being a favorite virtue in the present day; and by the strenuousness with which it is inculcated upon women, a suspicion is engendered, that either they are naturally averse to its performance, or that they are expected to do double duty, to make up for the want of it in others.

We cannot by any process of reasoning be made to comprehend why a woman any more than a man should, for some paltry cause, make herself miserable, give up all her wishes and wants, accept a lie, or do anything at variance with or highly repugnant to her feelings, so long as in an honorable manner she can escape from such moral and mental suicide.

As women are now-when the plain truth is told, and the language of gallantry or of condescension done away with—they are found to be not only deficient in the knowledge of principles, but as may consequently be apprehended, seldom even act upon them when aware of them; and they are likewise wanting in knowledge for the practical purposes of the most ordinary everyday life. All this is greatly owing to want of self-reliance and self-respect, as well as to indolence and ignorance. To act from impulse or only from instinct will no longer suit the times; and if women are now to be considered of more importance to society than heretofore, they must value themselves, and to be really of value, must exercise their reason and perform their tasks with method. They must no longer be content to look on effort as a temporary expediency, no longer regard the acquirement of knowledge as a hard necessity bringing no reward with it. To work is not to be a drudge; to learn is not to be a mere tasked schoolgirl; the highest motives should make women acquire knowledge, as well as practise philanthropy and industry.

This movement for the improvement of the position of women is not one in which the aid of the other sex can be given beyond a limited extent. It is essentially women's affair to help themselves in the first place, and thus render themselves more able to help the other sex to help them in turn.

It is not only as a temporary expediency that women must be more wisely instructed or self-reformed, not merely because at this moment there is a superfluity of them for whom it is difficult for the other sex to provide either with occupation or to maintain in idleness. The matter goes far beyond this; as mankind has advanced from step to step in civilization, women have entered upon successive phases of condition, and in the state of transition now going on, there appears to be demanded for the half, or female division, a more pronounced position than has been as yet accorded to it.

A Christian poet of the day asserts that the heaven of the sex is composed of “love and song." What is this but the teaching of