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But I have not time to delineate the various characters of that motley throng. Here could be plainly seen the dark and malignant purpose, the treacherous wile, the selfish design, the cold and haughty sneer traced all over the soul. But most frequently was I pained to notice that the sweet harmony of truth, love and honesty was disturbed by the croaking and discordant notes of scandal and calumny, veiled under the specious disguise of elegant allusions to "faults of character," "weakness of intellect," or courteous hints of "bad temper," adroitly thowing into the shade a more worthy and modest companion. But these industrious spirits were utterly unable to dispel that halo of light which distinctly revealed its possessors, of whatever name or rank; composing an illustrious nobility from the court of heaven! And whenever I met these resplendent personages in company with my guide, that same soft vibration thrilled upon the ear.

"Now," thought I, "my perplexities are ended. No more shall I wander bewildered and alone, doubtful where to fix my love and admiration. "Tell me," said I imploringly to my guide, "how shall I secure this new and wonderful sense, that henceforth I may only hold intercourse with the good, the beloved of heaven?" "This cannot be," he replied. "Learn, child of the dust, to bear patiently the discipline of your mortal state. Learn to bear the trial which gives strength to virtue; which creates and developes qualities essential to your perfection; which calls for meekness, benevolence, forbearance, forgiveness and love. Learn also, how safe are those amid perils and dangers, who imitate their Master and follow his steps. Guarded by an angel-band. Encircled by Omnipotent Love."

He touched my lips, and I awoke. It was but a dream. Rochester, Mass., March, 1843.

WALKING.-Walking is the best possible exercise. Habituate yourself to walk very far. The Europeans value themselves on having subdued the horse to the use of man; but I doubt whether we have not lost more than we have gained by the use of this animal. No one thing has occasioned so much degeneracy of the human body. An Indian goes on foot nearly as far in a day, for a long journey, as an enfeebled white on his horse, and he will tire the best horses. A little walk of half an hour in the morning when you first rist rise, is advisable. It shakes off sleep, and produces other good effects in the animal economy.-Jefferson's Memoirs.

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SLEEPING APARTMENTS.

SLEEPING APARTMENTS.

"It must not be forgotten," remarks Hufeland, "that we spend a considerable portion of our lives in the bed chamber, and, consequently, that its healthiness or unhealthiness cannot fail of having a very important influence upon our physical well-being."

Every one who is actuated by a due regard for health and real comfort, will consider an equal degree of attention necessary in regard to the size, situation, temperature and cleanliness of the room he occupies during the hours of repose, as of his parlor, drawing room, or any other apartment; and yet, how often do we find families crowded at night into obscure and confined chambers, of dimensions scarcely more ample than those of an old-fashioned closet, while, perhaps, in most instances, the best rooms in the house will be set aside for the sole purpose of ostentatious display.

It is all-important that the largest and most lofty room upon the second floor, be appropriated for the sleeping apartment, and that it be freely ventilated, during the day time, at all seasons when the weather is not rainy, or otherwise very humid. There are few houses, the rooms of which are so situated as to render the latter impracticable; and the influence of the practice upon the health of inmates is too important to permit its being neglected from any slight cause.

A bed chamber should be divested of all unnecessary furniture, and, unless of considerable size, should never contain more than one bed. There cannot be a more pernicious custom than that pursued in many families, of causing the children, more especially, to sleep in small apartments, with two or three beds crowded into the same room.

It is scarcely necessary to observe, that cleanliness, in the most extensive signification of the term, is, if possible, even more necessary, in reference to the bed chamber, than to almost any other apartment.

The practice of sleeping in an appartment which is occupied during the day, is extremely improper. Perfect cleanliness and a sufficient free ventilation cannot, under such circumstances, be preserved, especially during cold weather; hence the atmosphere becomes constantly more vitiated, and altogether unfit for respiration.

While too great a degree of caution cannot be observed to avoid sleeping in damp rooms, beds, or clothing, the tempe

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rature of the bed chamber should, if possible, never be argumented, under the ordinary circumstance of health, by artificial means. As this apartment is to be reserved solely for repose, a fire is never necessary, except perhaps, during uncommonly severe weather; and even then the temperature ought not to exceed fifty degrees.

A sleeping apartment, in which a large fire has been kept for several hours previous to the period of retiring to rest, may to many, at first view, present an appearance of the most perfect comfort; it is, however, at the same time a means of very effectually enervating the system; creating an increased susceptibility to the influence of the cold, and thus opening the way to the attack of some serious diseases, especially of the chest. Happy may they esteem themselves whose means forbid an indulgence in this species of luxury.

A person accustomed to undress in a room without a fire, and to seek repose in a cold bed, will not experience the least inconvenience, even in the severest weather. The natural heat of his body will very speedily render him even more comfortably warm than the individual who sleeps in a heated apartment, and in a bed thus artificially warmed, and who will be extremely liable to a sensation of chillness as soon as the artificial heat is dissipated. But this is not all; the constitution of the former will be rendered more robust, and far less susceptible to the influence of atmospherical vicissitudes, than that of the latter. Journal of Health.

[Written for the Young Lady's Friend.]

A PARTING TRIBUTE.

BY GEORGE STEARNS.

Maria! as hastens the time that we part,
A wildering feeling steals over my heart;

I joy and I sorrow, I hope and I fear;

One thought brings a smile and another a tear;

For things I would cherish and things which I hate,

Alike are revealed in the language of fate,

And many a lilac and many a rose,

Which blossom to cheer us, a thorn will disclose.

But in the long future, whatever our lot,

Whoe'er may forget us, or alike be forgot,
We'll ever be hoping, though now we must sever,
Our parting may end in a meeting forever.
March, 1843.

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A SISTER'S INFLUENCE.

[Written for the Young Lady's Friend.]

A SISTER'S INFLUENCE.

BY MISS ELLEN S. SMITH.

At the present day much is said of the great responsibility resting on the wife and mother, but the influence committed to the relation of sister, is, I fear, less felt, and not so often exerted for good. I have a number of younger brothers, and, from childhood, I have been led to think much and with deep emotion of my influence over them. My attention was called anew to this subject the other day, by a letter from a friend who is so situated, as to be in daily intercourse with young men from all parts of the country. He writes me thus:

"When I see a young man idle, dissipated and who prefers the society of vile men and women to that of the intelligent and virtuous, I take it for granted that he had no sisters, or, what is worse, that he has had unfaithful ones."

When I see a man without refinement or delicacy, unused to the numberless little attentions which make one charm of society, and whose talents, however great they may be, are hidden by his awkwardness, I conclude that his sisters did not strive to make him happy and at home in their society.

When I hear a man talk to a lady as if she understood no other language than that of flattery or nonsense, evidently considering her below himself in mind and intellect, I see at once that if he have sisters, they are, probably, what he takes the person to be whom he is addressing.

But when I see a young man who delights in the society of intelligent, pious females, who listens to their opinions with deference, and anticipates their wishes with true politeness and sympathy, who is gentle, manly and just in all his relations in life, and whose moral principles are firm and his virtue unquestioned, I say to myself, (and I am not often wrong,) that man's school has been the fireside; he has gentle, affectionate, intelligent sisters; he owes them much; society owes them more.

Sister, if my friend judged rightly, (and did he not?) there is a great responsibility resting upon you. Perhaps you have a brother whom you wish to see happy and honored as the instrument of good to those around him. Have you ever realized that it is in your power to make him all this? However young you are, however inexperienced, you have an in

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fluence to exert for good, or evil. To operate for good, this influence must be always alive, always exerted. Great events seldom occur in the every day world, and when they do come, they are not calculated to try the heart so much as the petty vexations and trials which meet us all at every step of our way through life. Your brothers are exposed to many of these from which you are shielded, but it is in your power to guard the fireside from the intrusion of many of these disturbers of its peace. Strive then, to throw around your home so bright a sunshine of kind words and pleasant smiles, that the most pleasant haunts of dissipation will not have power to lure your brother from its shelter. I would not have you assume authority over him-God has not given you this, but he has given you a woman's heart, full of holy sympathies, warm affections, and devoted love.

These are your treasures; in these alone rest your power. Throw these around your brother; let these operate on his heart. Be interested in all which interests him. Study his happiness in all you do. Consult his tastes whenever it is possible. Is he troubled, or vexed by failure in his sports, or studies? Sympathise with him. Is he successful? Rejoice with him. Is he fretful or impatient? Let your patience fail not. Is he unkind? Let the law of kindness dwell ever on your tongue. Is he rough and boisterous? Be you gentle and affectionate. In short, be always on the watch to counteract evil by good. Let your efforts be constant. Let no pursuits, no company which he cannot share, interrupt your engagements to him. Call nothing a trifle which is of consequence to him; but let him see and feel that his happiness and welfare is of the first importance to you.

For a time this course may be self-denying to you, and it may seem without effect on him; but be not discouraged. Your reward will be with you. Each sacrifice will bring it. Every day will increase it in the approbation of your own heart. However it may seem now-a brother's love and improvement in character, will follow your efforts, and you will be each day preparing for the after, though not more sacred duties of wife and mother.

Calias, Me., March, 1843.

You cannot associate with a bad person one hour without receiving some injury. The atmosphere around him is impure; it is more fatal than disease.

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