Of course, to all well-ordered governments there must be one head, the centre of all action; but inferior officers can ofttimes take the whole burden of petty detail. The silver, the mending, the wash, must be seen to, and here it might be a daughter's pleasant duty to see her mother's instructions faithfully obeyed. How much better this, than adding to the general discomfort and disorderly careless habits, and inconsideration or rudeness to the servants. Then as regards her brothers--the daughter of the household has much to think of: to be considerate for their comfort, to respect their feelings, to care for their amusement, to enter into their plans and pursuits. How many a brother is driven to seek idle, expensive, and too often vicious company from the lack of such sympathy at home! And yet one so often hears--"brothers are so troublesome"--or, "we can't practice just to play for a brother"--or, "the boys have their company, and I have mine." The taste may not always be congenial, but good feeling and gentle manners will accomplish far more than a sarcastic repulse. Thus, in course of time, the stepping-stones safely passed, the girl becomes the young wife--housekeeper--mother--fitted for the duties of her station, and therefore contented with it, finding nothing harsh or irksome in domestic routine, and satisfied with the pleasures and enjoyments of home. Far more likely to do so than she who leads a careless, idle life as a girl--to become a fretful, discontented wife, or neglectful mother. Our Daily Paths! with thorns or flow'rs We can at will bestrew them; What bliss would gild the passing hours, If we but rightly knew them! The way of life is rough at best, But briers yield the roses, So that which leads to joy and rest The hardest path discloses. The weeds that oft we cast away, Their simple beauty scorning, Would form a wreath of purest ray And prove the best adorning. So in our daily paths, 'twere well To call each gift a treasure, However slight, where love can dwell With life-renewing pleasure! * * * * * LACES AND EMBROIDERIES. WE promised, in speaking of new caps, a paragraph in our fashion chat on laces; but, as that has its own material, in discussing the merits of shapes and styles, we lay our laces upon the centre-table instead. We have now in preparation some very new and tasteful designs for chemisettes, to be worn in mourning, every one understanding that embroideries are laid aside with a black dress. For the strictest styles, plain linen, cambric, and Swiss muslin are worn; but when silks or fringed dresses are put on, fluted ruffles, edged with plain narrow lace, on collars and open sleeves, are not out of taste, or edges of needle-work in scallops and points.