But a duty there is, which I certainly owe
To a sister so dear, now my partner in woe,
Which I'll strive to perform in the midst of my grief,
Since experience like mine may afford you relief.

First, I'll give you a rule for your conjugal life,
The surest of any for banishing strife;

Spite of all prosing fools to the contrary say,
I beseech you, dear sister, still take your own way!
Some dull household drudges, I know will maintain,
That by yielding with grace you'll materially gain;
That the love and esteem of a husband, outweigh
The substantial delights of unlimited sway;
But what signifies love, if man lays down the law,
Though the subject of contest was only a straw?
Nay, all undue influence so keenly resent,
On no subject whatever be heard to assent.
Should your husband remark that the weather is fine,
Ev'n on that trifling point you had better not join ;
But when matters of consequence chance to occur,
You are ruin'd for life, if you weakly concur.
Should your obstinate tyrant ev'n stick to his plan,
By railing at least, you can vex the goodman,
You'll have present enjoyment in giving him pain,
And perhaps he'll ne'er venture to thwart you again!

In wedlock, some old-fashion'd couples will say
That husband and wife should both pull the same way,
And hint, that if woman too rudely contends,

She may snap the fine cords on which friendship depends :

No such thing!-don't we know, when a knot we would close,

The harder we pull it, the tighter it grows?

Still hold out on each point, though you don't care a

pin,

For what woman of spirit would ever give in!

E'en the patience of Job such a system will tire, And your spouse must at length from the contest retire.

Has

your husband a friend who is dear as his life? Such a vile interloper's the curse of a wife;

Till he's banish'd, you can't call your husband your

own,

And till then you but reign on a tottering throne;
For a cool wary friend, by no passion misled,
May put terrible things in the honest man's head-
So, from morning to night, let it still be your plan,
To dissolve the connexion as fast as you can!

But to you, above all things I still recommend,
To provide yourself soon with a gossiping friend;
All your family feuds in her bosom repose,
All your husband's defects to her freely disclose.
Your spirit she'll praise, and your patience admire,
When your anger burns low, she 'll rekindle the fire;
And should you, from weakness, incline to relent,
Her influence, I hope, will such meanness prevent;
Her company still to your husband's prefer,
And, all coldness to him, be all raptures to her.

When your husband is grave, as men sometimes will be, Choose that season for mirth and extravagant glee;

But when, eased of his cares, he's inclined to be gay, Let your smiles and good humour all vanish away.

Some women there are, who, insipidly sweet,
Their husbands' return with such ecstasies greet—
'Tis no wonder the fools so conceited should grow,
When their presence such wonderful joy can bestow!
When your husband comes home, should you even
rejoice,

Beware lest you show it in looks or in voice;
Your studies or work very coolly pursue,

And, carelessly nodding, cry " How do you do?"

Some wives think their husbands to please and endear,
By being neat as a bride every day of the year;
But such dull uniformity only can tire,

While occasional neatness they 're sure to admire.

But here such an endless variety rise

Of subjects on which I should wish to advise,
That in trying to choose I've bewildered my brain,
And must therefore resolve on concluding my strain.

Now my lecture is done, should it chance to appear,
(As in pastors we see every day in the year,
While with eloquent words they admonish each
brother,)

That my preaching is one thing, my practice another-
Why then, my dear sister, just balance the two,
And the safest, the easiest, and wisest pursue!

Notices of New Books.

The Court and the Courtiers. By Miss C. Sinclair. This jeu d'esprit has been much read and much commented on. For our own part, we consider it as having been too severely handled. It is not a work to be quoted and read in future ages, nor is it intended to be so; 'tis a thing for the day and the hour, and contains an amusing description of the reception of Her Majesty in the Modern Athens, and of the cortège of the noblemen and lords got up for the occasion.

Philosophical Conversations. By Frederick C.
Bakewell.

An excellent book for conveying useful instructions to youth on some of the universal laws of nature. Should it go through another edition, although the language is more simple and plain than that of most books of the kind; yet we think it might be abridged, without obscuring the sense or impairing the style.

Literary Ladies of England. By Mrs. Elwood.

2 vols.

This is an entertaining book; at the same time possesses the fault of most other Biographical Sketchesenlarging on all the virtues and accomplishments of the characters, while omitting to debate the faults, weaknesses, and errors necessary to form a true picture. Thus, when one is inquiring into the character of a domestic, it perhaps would be as wise to inquire into the besetting deficiency, rather than inquiring and requiring that they should possess every possible perfection.

"Therefore, I say unto you, whatsoever things ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them."

AMONGST the numerous duties and privileges of the Christian, none is of greater importance, or ought to be more highly estimated than that of prayer. It is called in Scripture," the gate of Heaven;" but if the numerous words, and said prayers, which are daily uttered in various parts of the world, in a variety of tongues, from various nominally Christian communities, in public assemblies, at the family altar, or even in the secret closet," when the door is shut," is what is here meant by prayer, then the gate is not a strait gate-then the way is not a narrow way; and, instead of there being few that find it, multitudes go in thereat. There is a great difference between saying our prayers, and praying. It was the