"There is much, very much, of which I know nothing," must be the constant feeling of every pupil. "I must press forward; I see how to go on; there are difficulties, but these are not insuperable; there are helps which I can obtain. I know how to gain the information I seek; I must work; there are realities before me; there is a solemn meaning in life, in power, in truth. I am a responsible and immortal being. I am answerable for all the gifts bestowed upon me. Time is a gift, instruction is a gift, life is a gift, influence is a gift. These are God's gifts; to Him I must account for my use of them."

This is the tone of all that they are taught, and this, through God's blessing, will produce a living change on those who are brought under its influence. It is a minor advantage to speak of the change of voice, and manner, and subject, which occurs at the end of each hour, but it is by no means a trifling help to a student. The attention, instead of becoming wearied, is roused and quickened, and fresh life infused into the whole class.

This institution may seem a very unimportant movement to bystanders, to those who are wont to look on the education of girls as something that always has been got through, either in schools, or at home, and who see no particular need of a radical change; but to others who look more deeply into the subject, the question has been perpetually occurring" How have teachers been taught? Has there ever been a regular discipline and train

ing provided for them? Have the upper ranks of society yet been furnished with a system of sound education like that carried out for the poor?" Certainly not; therefore multitudes of ladies who yearly adopt tuition as their only means of support, are generally quite unqualified for the work, and often become disheartened themselves, and their employers do so likewise. It is for these reasons that we hail as a dawn of better things the plans now established, the ulterior blessing of which we believe cannot be at all estimated. We may look not only at the good which it will directly produce, but also at its collateral advantages. And as one wave forces on another till the full tide is produced, so will this institution compel those who would at all compete with it, to press forward in the same march of improve

ment.

The public mind is so decidedly awakened to the duty both of teaching and providing for governesses, that we can neither wonder at the general interest taken in their cause, nor at the different feeling evinced with regard to their true position, and the increased desire shown to treat them as fellow-workers in the important task of education.

The volume of introductory lectures lately published, which were delivered previous to the opening of the respective classes at Queen's College, contains a statement of the plans which are there adopted. But lest any misunderstanding should arise in this matter, it is better distinctly to state,

that on most subjects, the pupils have what are popularly known by the name of lessons, the subjects of which they are obliged to prepare, and not only lectures delivered by the professor to his class.

10

CHAPTER II.

Q

ERRORS OF GOVERNESSES.

"Audi alteram partem."

UEEN'S COLLEGE has been so recently established, that we must wait some_years before its good effects can be widely felt. Few of the present race of teachers can avail themselves of its advantages-though the class to which they belong will ultimately be elevated to a much higher position than that which they at present occupy-and being raised by their education, both the treatment and the remuneration they receive for their services, will be improved in the same proportion.

Yet these blessings will be felt even now by others for can it be supposed that a class which is brought so prominently forward will want able advocates, especially as so many of their employers are actively engaged in benevolent schemes for their benefit?

It is a curious proof of the present feeling towards governesses, that they are made the heroines of many popular novels.

But just in proportion to this reaction in the public mind, must be the expectations formed that they will merit such a change.

Those faults which were formerly concealed or overlooked will now be known and censured, and the pretensions of the unworthy and unqualified exposed.

In the work alluded to in the preceding chapter, the history of Governesses was sketched, including the causes which led to their adoption of that life, the ill-treatment they frequently experienced, and the various trials to which they were subjected, either from the caprice and pride of parents, the tempers of children, or the impertinence of ser

vants.

But it has been said, this was only one side of the picture, and it is true; for does not a mother find it most difficult to select a lady to whom she can confidently entrust her children?

In cases where two parties habitually blame each other, it is fair to suppose either that the truth lies between them, or, at least, that both should be fairly heard before we decide for either.

It seemed less necessary to defend the cause of mothers, because they were the most powerful party; but as they neither could nor ought to be satisfied where they met only with incompetence or deception, so for the sake of the class they employ, as well as for their own, their trials must be described also.

It is wisely ordered that in every condition of life there is reciprocity, mutual help, or hindrance. "No man liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself." "I do no one any harm but myself," is a common, but most erroneous excuse for evil deeds;