a nurse.

extort an unkind or an ungrateful word; and if, whatever the lips may express, the heart is not touched by kindness during illness, any parade of forgiveness would be worse than useless.

Nor must we forget that our duty is in no way affected by the waywardness and irritability of our charge, whatever our comfort may be. To do all in our power to lighten the sufferings of the patient, and contribute in every way to his restoration to health, is the obvious duty of

To lead the thoughts, therefore, to cheerful subjects, to draw the attention from present suffering, to inculcate cheerful submission to the will of the Almighty, and trust and faith in his love, are duties almost more imperative than any others in those who watch by the sick. But if we do not feel these sentiments ourselves, how shall we impart them to others ? If we ourselves have no stay, no truth, no confidence in our heavenly Father, words of consolation from our lips will be but as "sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal.” Sad indeed is it if the hour of pain and suffering is the first in which we begin to think of the future; for it is

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All our food should be as simple as possible, and it is never wise to eat of more than one or two dishes at a meal. Supper is certainly a sociable and pleasant meal, but is said to be very unhealthy. No solid repast should be taken within two hours of bedtime. All stimu- . lants, even strong tea and coffee, are injurious to young persons; and much sugar and butter are very bad, causing bile, and upsetting the stomach. As to sauces, the only one that a young girl needs is a good appetite; she can and ought to dispense with all others.

And last, but not least of the essentials to health, comes a CONTENTED MIND. Wonderful as is the connection between soul and body, we cannot indulge in any violent passion without injuring our whole system; and anxiety will tell upon the constitution and destroy the strongest health.

Whilst doing our best, then, to avert all evils, mental or bodily, from ourselves and those who are dear to us, let us not be over careful and troubled ;" it is one thing to abandon all to a blind reliance on Fate, and another to have a

firm and childlike confidence in the good providence of God. Sorrows and sickness will come to all; but if we have done our best to avert them, we have no self-reproach to embitter us in their endurance. To many a heart has that exquisite song of “ The Pilot” brought comfort and hope in the hour of trial :

« • It is not apathy,' he cried,

• That bids me say to thee,
Fear not, but trust in Providence,

Wherever thou may'st be.
“ 'Twas such a sea as this engulphed

My father's lifeless form;
My only brother's boat went down

In just so wild a storm.
“ And such, perhaps, may be my lot,

And still I'll say to thee,
Fear not, but trust in Providence

Wherever thou may'st be.”

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CHAP. VII.

THE SICK ROOM.

“ When pain and anguish wring the brow,

A ministering angel thou !”-Scott.

“Hath she not soothed me, sick ? enriched me, poor? And banished grief and misery from my

door ? Hath she not cherished every moment’s bliss, And made an Eden of a world like this?”

The work that, whilst professing to counsel young women, omitted all mention of the duties of the sick room, would indeed be imperfect; for where is there to be found one of our sex so isolated as never to be called upon to watch over a suffering friend, or so robust that she is never herself likely to be an unwilling captive on a couch of pain?

Surely there is no young girl who would willingly depute to hirelings the care of a parent, or a younger brother or sister, suffering from one of the many maladies to which we all are liable;

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who would shrink, either in selfish fear or morbid sentiment, from administering to the relief of those she loved ? But as it is possible that some may be deterred from proffering their aid from mistrust of their own powers of usefulness, and as some also are doubtless so ignorant of the duties of a nurse as to be rather a hindrance than a help, I will just give a few directions concerning the most obvious duties of those who are engaged in attending an invalid.

But let me first remark, that those who would leave a suffering parent or friend to the care of a professional nurse, under the idea that her services would be more welcome because she is more skilful than themselves, little krow or guess the blessings which they thus voluntarily forego; for who can estimate the increase of affection which will be lavished on the dutiful daughter who has been her father's faithful nurse during a long illness? Who can tell how the remembrance of a kind and loving sister, soothing and amusing him during a childish illness, may return to the heart of some prodigal brother, and recall him to his duty and his home? Who can