laws of the Medes and Persians, which could not be altered. Nevertheless there are many in the country who, although they possess no religion, are in truth a kind and humane people: and I still remember with esteem and gratitude some of my American friends, and admire the stations in which they live. A people who are blest with liberty; the comforts of life independent of any one, and peace without any man to injure them by terror: and a people who are sufficiently plain and hospitable to admit a Lazarus as an equal visitant to their tables. And although necessity may oblige many of them to lay their produce in their chambers, or mend their apparel with divers colors, yet they are worthy of the highest esteem for their industry, economy, cleanliness, kindness, &c.

Since that time, I have found many kind people in these peaceable cottages, and admired their plainness and contentment-their freedom from worldly ambition, and the retirement they seemed to enjoy. How plainly may we see an equal degree of happiness in the humblest circles of society, as we find among the most wealthy in the most opulent circumstances! The latter finds such an increase of goods that he is brought into difficulty, and at length exclaims, "what shall I do? I will pull down my barns and build greater," &c., while the former, with a degree of gratitude and patience, finds his way through every crooked path and perplexity in life. Not that there was anything to envy, in the family alluded to, except they had the plainest comforts of

life, while some are destitute. Nor could I admire the conduct of Mrs. B, who churned her butter, cleaned her house, and as it would seem, did her Saturday's work on the Sabbath; about which time, a young man came in and read or sang over a number of wanton songs. She could notice a word improperly spoken, but would use others too indecent and vulgar to be uttered in the street. Hence I would like to recommend to her notice and practice the graceful manners of Him who used the endearing appellation woman, when he said-Simon, seest thou this-woman? And the blessed relationship in which she stood with him, notwithstanding this plain term, when by virtue of his favor he looked with complacency upon her, and declared she loved much because she had much forgiven.

She

But Mrs. Challenor, (as I shall speak of her,) was a different character. I was at her house occasionally, for a considerable length of time, and think I may say with the strictest truth, that I never heard her speak a word which deserved reproof. avoided all flattering and fawning expressions on the one hand, and what were annoying and vulgar on the other. I never heard her require a child to substitute the word Ma, or Ma'm, for the more endearing and scriptural word Mother; and much less, I presume, would she approve of it in a daughter grown up to womanhood—a term, if proper to any, most proper to children. Nor did I ever hear her speak a word of an absent person, which would annoy or hurt the feelings of the poorest man. She

knew how to "honor all men.'

She avoided lavishing unscriptural titles upon her own sex, while she could violate or depart from an example commanded by an Apostle. 1 Peter iii. 6. Meantime she did not consider that she acted derogatory to that reverence and submission she owed to the person with whom she was made one, when she independently purchased at her own pleasure, what were necessary for her own house, or for the use of her family. She considered herself not a slave or a child, but intrusted with the management of her house, and a fellowhelper with her husband; while she economically endeavored to promote the welfare and peace of those committed to her care.

"Mild, sweet, serene, and tender was her mood,

Nor grave with sternness, nor with lightness free;
Against example, resolutely good,

Fervent in zeal, and warm in charity."

I have thought she was the nearest portraiture of charity, which is kind-unprovoked, merciful, gentle-uniformly the same, and which never faileth of anyone I have ever known. In a word, with much propriety it might be said of her, that

"Grace was in all her steps, heaven in her eye,

In all her gestures sanctity and love."

No. XX.

Want of a proper employment made such a situation unpleasant-and some Americans, as well as Europeans, after such a removal, feel themselves lonesome, disappointed, &c.-Many difficulties and dispensations of Providence in life, call for patience, reflection, prayer, &c., &c.-Such a place more suitable to young men, laborers, men of property, and mechanics.-Teaching a difficult business to follow to any good purpose, even in as well qualified persons as Philetus, Calistus, and Erastus.-Reflections.

I REMAINED about two years in Ohio, and by the blessing of God, even in this woodland and wild country, I was not altogether destitute of comforts and friends; but not finding it practicable to employ myself in what I had been following in England, it was like a season of imprisonment to me. Hence, some people, by going too far west, find themselves in unpleasant circumstances. Nor is this confined exclusively to Europeans, but it has been the case with some Americans likewise. I saw a woman one sabbath, who was crying and sobbing as if she was inconsolable, because her husband had sold off his property in some eastern state, and had brought her into such an uncultivated place. Some others, anxious to do better, when they were tolerably well off, have removed west; but instead of accumulating great riches, have not only sacrificed the comforts of life at great hazard, but have returned back at great loss. And for any people who are well settled, whether in Europe or the eastern states of

America, to go too far west, is like taking leave of their pleasant situations, to dwell in solitary places, where they can never find the same satisfactory society, nor get a home into the same state of cultivation, while they live. It is nevertheless an excellent undertaking to thousands of others, who and in different circumstances.

are young

Not knowing how to employ myself to advantage, like men of hard labor, I used to take a seat among the trees, and spend my leisure hours in writing; and although I knew not how or where to begin, to give any description of the country or the place I was in; yet at length I wrote and improved several publications. But it should be observed, that I have not willingly spoken anything lightly of Ohio, or of the country at large. No, I like the people considerably, and trust I wish them all temporal and spiritual blessings; and nothing would give me greater pleasure concerning them, I presume, than to see them, (as individuals, or as a nation,) set an example to all nations of the earth. It may, indeed, have been my intentions to give some account of such an enterprise, and the difficulties of some people who engage in it. Is not this of considerable importance? Should not even the man who intends running a race for heaven, which is infinitely superior to any earthly inheritance, first sit down and calculate upon the difficulties he may expect to meet with in his journey? Did not our Lord warn people of the dangers they would be exposed to, instead of flattering them with promises of perpetual