How admirably are brought out, in every part of this Sketch, some of those lessons most profitable for the wife and the mother to practise! What a valuable one, for example, is this! My mother “used to say that it was disagreeable and improper to be bustling about while father was within; and when he was gone out, the work must be done up.” Oh that wives and mothers understood and practised this wisely and well! What different scenes would the cottager’s home present if they did! How many a man would be saved from the alehouse fireside, where comfort and convenience are studied to seduce him into sin, if wives and mothers would but so order their households that when the father returns his coming shall be welcomed by cleanliness and peace, and his home shall be made to him the most blessed and grateful place that he can find! What a beautiful family picture is this whole Sketch! No wonder that our authoress is capable of being such a daughter, when she has had such a mother to instruct her. Think, reader, of the child repeating her lessons beside the wash-tub, and gleaning the rudiments of learning in so simple a school, and from such a preceptor; and then turn to the pages of this Sketch and Essay, and as you read, and admire, and wonder, as you must, adore humbly as you ought, and exclaim, What hath God wrought! It is His work. It is the edifying effect and power of His grace. To Him be all the glory and the praise! LETTER REFERRED TO IN PAGE 15. “SIR,--I have thought it unnecessary to inquire whether a female might be permitted to enter among the competitors for the prizes offered in your advertisement. The subject of the Essay is of equal interest to woman as to man; and this being the case, I have looked upon your restriction as merely confining this effort to the working classes. Whether I judge rightly or not, matters but little; the effort I have made to gather a few thoughts together upon this subject will at least be of use to myself; and should you consider these sheets as containing any thoughts of value, they are at your disposal. They cannot be expected to be free from errors, both in diction and orthography, as this is the first effort of the kind I have ever made; and I may say I am one of those who never enjoyed the advantage of attending school in early days, except for two years, or rather for one; for it was but for two years that one of my sisters and myself attended a sewing-school alternately; one of us remaining at home one week, to assist mother with household labour, or in attending to the younger children, and going to school next week, while the other remained at home. Since that time I have been constantly occupied in household labour, either in my father’s house, or as a servant in other families; and thus I may truly say, that all the education I have enjoyed, was received at the fireside of hard-working parents.