Well, and what then? Why, then the question arises, “Is woman, in the present condition of things, making the best use of all these high qualities?” This question is not suggested by the fact of her giving herself up so entirely to her family. Oh, no! most emphatically no. Children must have their mother. She belongs to them. The best a woman has, the best an arch-angel has, is none too good for the children. No: the question is suggested, partly by the “observations” I have been making, and partly by the recollection of Mrs. Melendy’s remark, that the “three meals take about all day.” I am glad the sewing-circle meets here this week; for, by attending to the conversation, I may learn upon what subjects the minds of at least some fifteen or twenty women chiefly dwell. Another question, and a startling one too, is this: “If woman ever has a chance properly to develop these remarkable qualities of mind, what is going to become of the mental superiority of the dominant sex?” No more, no more! My brain is confused, my soul disquieted within me. Whoever would be tranquil, let him not investigate. IV. THE SEWING-CIRCLE.--HOW IT WAS STARTED. The sewing-circle is in session in the adjoining room. It counts thirty-two members in all,--a goodly number for a population of only twenty-five or thirty families. The gathering to-day is not large; a thunder-storm, and a circus at Elmbridge, conspiring to keep many away. Mrs. Fennel has been telling me about this sewing-circle, and what it is trying, or rather is determined, to do. The people of Tweenit village never had a meeting-house, but have held religious services in the schoolhouse. Now the women want to change all this. They want to build a chapel; and for that purpose they mean to raise eight hundred dollars. “Eight hundred dollars!” I exclaimed when Mrs. Fennel named the sum. “Why, there’s hardly as much money in the place!” “That’s just what the men told us,” she answered; “but we have faith.” “I should think so,” said I, “and works too.” The men, it seems, threw cold water at the very beginning. “Where’s all that money coming from?” “Lumber high!” “Labor high!” “Saddle the place with debt!” “All nonsense! The old schoolhouse is good enough!”