As health is indispensable to the discharge of every duty, nothing which sacrifices that blessing is to be allowed in order to gain any other advantage or enjoyment. There are emergencies when it is right to risk health and life to save ourselves and others from greater evils; but these are exceptions, which do not militate against the general rule. Many persons imagine that if they violate the laws of health in order to attend to religious or domestic duties, they are guiltless before God. But such greatly mistake. We directly violate the law, “Thou shalt not kill,” when we do what tends to risk or shorten our own life. The life and happiness of all his creatures are dear to our Creator; and he is as much displeased when we injure our own interests as when we injure those of others. The idea, therefore, that we are excusable if we harm no one but ourselves, is false and pernicious. These, then, are some general principles to guide a woman in systematizing her duties and pursuits. The Creator of all things is a Being of perfect system and order; and, to aid us in our duty in this respect, he has divided our time by a regularly returning day of rest from worldly business. In following this example, the intervening six days may be subdivided to secure similar benefits. In doing this, a certain portion of time must be given to procure the means of livelihood, and for preparing food, raiment, and dwellings. To these objects some must devote more, and others less, attention. The remainder of time not necessarily thus employed might be divided somewhat in this manner: The leisure of two afternoons and evenings could be devoted to religious and benevolent objects, such as religious meetings, charitable associations, school visiting, and attention to the sick and poor. The leisure of two other days might be devoted to intellectual improvement and the pursuits of taste. The leisure of another day might be devoted to social enjoyments, in making or receiving visits; and that of another, to miscellaneous domestic pursuits, not included in the other particulars. It is probable that few persons could carry out such an arrangement very strictly; but every one can make a systematic apportionment of time, and at least _aim_ at accomplishing it; and they can also compare with such a general outline the time which they actually devote to these different objects, for the purpose of modifying any mistaken proportions. Without attempting any such systematic employment of time, and carrying it out, so far as they can control circumstances, most women are rather driven along by the daily occurrences of life; so that, instead of being the intelligent regulators of their own time, they are the mere sport of circumstances. There is nothing which so distinctly marks the difference between wreak and strong minds as the question whether they control circumstances or circumstances control them.