TRUE DIGNITY OF WOMAN.

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mortal perfection. Others of the sex have been seen in the same dignified light; and in proportion as women have been inspired with the love of God our Saviour, and influenced in their practice by the uncorrupted principles of the gospel, they have been raised from the debasement of sensual degradation to the dignity of intellectual and moral excellence. Even the most arduous virtues of the christian character, women have displayed in their highest perfection; and in scenes of martyrdom for the name of Jesus, have shown a constancy and a courage which have never been transcended by the most renowned heroes on the field of battle.

It is thus that christianity has improved the condition of the sex. It has imparted to them intrinsic and exalted worth; it has shown them in the unfading charms of moral beauty; it has inspired them with a dignity and adorned. them with virtues which can never fail to be regarded with esteem, with respect, with admiration.

Purity, tenderness, loveliness; are these the distinguished attributes of female excellence? They are also the distinguished attributes of christianity. What more pure, more tender, more lovely than true love to Christ? And when it holds its empire in the female breast, what should be expected but the most delightful and admirable display of all that is most amiable and excellent? It is indeed the genuine religion of the gospel only, which gives perfection to the character of woman. It is the love of the Saviour glowing in the heart, and imparting its influence to every action which gives substance and life to all, which constitutes female excellence, which adds the highest and purest lustre to female graces and charms, and which only can render woman truly angelic."

It is no splendid fiction which I here exhibit. It is a substantial reality; a reality which has been most extensively felt and acknowledged. Not in the scriptures only, but in history, in poetry, and even in novels, corrupt as in general they are, piety is recognized as essential to the fin

ished female character. Men who have no religion themselves, do homage to it in the female form, and are shocked at the idea of a woman destitute of religious principle.

The desire to please has been considered as peculiarly influential in the female breast; and when duly regulated, its influence, no doubt, has been laudable and benign. But are they desirous to render themselves pleasing to their fellow mortals? Are they emulous of the esteem and the applauses of men? And can they be less concerned to render themselves pleasing to their divine Creator? Can they be less solicitous to secure the smiles and favor of Him who is infinitely good? But how shall they render themselves pleasing to God, how secure his smiles and his favor, if not by the love and service of Christ?

On the banks of the Jordan and on the Mount of glory, the voice of the Eternal Father was heard: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him." By many women of Israel this voice was obeyed. They heard the Saviour; they loved and served him. In this they pleased God. For this they received assurances of his gracious approbation and favor, and their names are recorded with honor on the pages of his word, and enrolled with glory in the archives of his kingdom. The names of the affectionate Mary and her faithful companions will be had in glorious remembrance with God, when the proudest monuments of earthly renown shall have passed away with the ruins of the world.

Yes, it is when woman appears truly devoted to her Saviour, that the beneficent Father of all looks down upon her from his throne in the heavens, with infinite compla cency and love. It is then that he recognizes with ineffable delight his last and loveliest workmanship, as truly a help-meet for man; and with smiles of everlasting approbation and favor, gives charge to his angels to protect her through life, and then conduct her to glory.

THE GRAVE OF PAYSON.

BY WILLIAM B. TAPPAN.

I STOOD, in silence and alone,

Just at the Sabbath shut of day, Where, quietly, the modest stone Told me that PAYSON's relics lay. No gorgeous tale nor herald's arms Astonished with their splendid lie, Or hireling praise; in Truth's meek charms It said, "His record is on high."

I gazed around the burial spot,

That looks on Portland's spires below,
And on her thousands who are not,
Did sad yet useful thought bestow;
Here sleep they till the trumpet's tongue
Shall peal along a blazing sky;
Yet who of these - the old and young,
May read his record then on high!

And near, I saw the early grave
Of him who fought at Tripoli;

Who would not live, the Moslem's slave,
Who fell, a martyr with the free.
And wrapt in Freedom's starry flag,
The chief who dared to "do or die;"
And England's son, who could not lag,
Whose deeds his country wrote on high.

What glory lit their spirit's track,

When from the gory deck they flew !
Could wishes woo the heroes back?
Say, did not fame their path pursue?
Oh, gently sleep the youthful brave

Who fall where martial clarions cry,
The men, entombed in earth or wave,
Whose blood-writ record is on high!

I turned again to Payson's clay,
And recollected well how bright
The radiance, far outshining day,
That robed his soaring soul in light.

What music stole awhile from heaven,
To charm away his parting sigh!
What wings to waft him home were given,
Whose holy record was on high!

And give me trembling, said I then,

Some place, my Saviour, where such dwell;

And far above the pride of men,

And pomp of which the worldlings tell,
Will be my lot. Come, haughty kings!
And ye who pass in glitter by,

And feel that ye are abject things,
Whose record is not found on high.

DUTIES OF AMERICAN CITIZENS.

BY LEVI WOODBURY.

WHILE meditating upon our own astonishing progress, as developed in history, and discriminating with care the origin alike of our perils and securities as a people, does it not behoove us to weigh well the importance of our present position? Not our position merely with regard to foreign powers. From them we have, by an early start and rapid progress in the cause of equal rights, long ceased to fear much injury, or to hope for very essential aid, in our further efforts for the thorough improvement of the condition of society in all that is useful or commendable. Nor our position, however the true causes may be distorted or denied - our elevated position in prosperity and honorable estimation, both at home and abroad. But it is our position, so highly responsible, as the only country where the growth of self-government seems fully to have ripened and to have become a model or example to other nations; or, as the case may prove, their scoff and scorn.

roes.

To falter here and now, would therefore probably be to cause the experiment of such a government to fail for ever. It is not sufficient, in this position, to loathe servitude, or to love liberty with all the enthusiasm of Plutarch's heBut we must be warned by our history how to maintain liberty; how to grasp the substance rather than the shadow; to disregard rhetorical flourishes, unless accompanied by deeds; not to be cajoled by holyday finery, or pledges enough to carpet the polls, where integrity and burning zeal do not exist to redeem them; nor to permit ill