In an editorial notice of all these women editors, the _Journal_ says, “_The Anti-Slavery Standard_, edited by Lydia Maria Child, is one of the best papers in the country.... We do not doubt that the women will have a good influence in this new sphere, as they do in everything else;” and continuing, “_The Lowell Offering_ must be made the instrument of great good. In glancing at its contents and reflecting upon the origin of its articles, our respect for woman and her saving and regenerating power is increased a thousand fold.” In order to keep the continuity of the literary history of the early working-girls, it is well to speak of a contemporary publication called _The Operatives’ Magazine_, published in Lowell by “an association of females,” and edited by Lydia S. Hall and Abby A. Goddard, both factory-girls. The leading editorial stated that “The magazine will contain original articles on religious and literary subjects,” and added that “those which inculcate the doctrines of the Bible as understood by evangelical Christians, without their peculiarities, will be admitted.” Contributions were solicited from “operatives of both sexes.” This magazine was published in 1841-1842, when it was merged in _The Lowell Offering_. Lucy Larcom and her sister Emmeline were contributors, during its existence, to _The Operatives’ Magazine_, which may account for the fact that Lucy Larcom did not write for _The Lowell Offering_ (with the exception of some verses in the first series) while it was under the control of Mr. Thomas; but she became a constant contributor after that date, both to _The Lowell Offering_ and to _The New England Offering_. CHAPTER VII. _THE LOWELL OFFERING_ (CONTINUED). _The Lowell Offering_ was a small, thin magazine of about thirty pages, with one column to the page. The price of the first number was six and a quarter cents. Its title-page was plain, with a motto from Gray; the verse beginning:-- “Full many a gem of purest ray serene.” This motto was used for two years, when another was adopted:-- “Is Saul also among the prophets?” In January, 1845, the magazine had on its outside cover a vignette, a young girl simply dressed, with feet visible and sleeves rolled up. She had a book in one hand, and her shawl and bonnet were thrown over her arm. She was represented as standing in a very sentimental attitude, contemplating a beehive at her right hand. This vignette was adopted, as the editor said, “To represent the New England schoolgirl, of which our factories are made up, standing near a beehive, emblem of industry and intelligence, and in the background the Yankee schoolhouse, church, and factory.” The motto was:-- “The worm on the earth May look up to the star.” This rather abject sentiment was not suited to the independent spirit of most of the contributors, who did not feel a bit like worms; and in the February number it was changed to one from Bunyan:--