THE FEMALE CHARACTER.

From Bishop Horne's Sermons.

THE picture I shall present, among other advantages, has that of antiquity. It was drawn by a masterly hand near three thousand years ago. The description I mean, is that, left us of a virtuous woman, by the wisest of men, in the last chapter of the book of Proverbs; a description which all mothers and mistresses should teach the female pupils under their care, to read and learn by heart.

"Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies." Such a one is to be found, but not without care and diligence in the search. She is well worth the pains taken in the forming her, and more to be valued by her happy possessor, than all the brightest diamonds in the mines of the east.

"The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil." A well nurtured woman is man's best and truest friend. Her fidelity is inviolable as the covenant of the most High, and her purity unsullied as the light of heaven. Absent, as well as present, her husband relies on her, for the preservation of his possessions, and of herself, the dearest and most precious of all. With such a steward at home, freed from care and anxiety, he goes forth to his own employment, whatever it may be. He has no occasion to rob others by sea or land; to plunder provinces, or starve nations. Instead of her squandering his substance to gratify her own vanity and folly, the economy of his wife furnishes the supplies, and nothing is wanting in due time and place.

"She will do him good, and not evil, all the days of her life." She will never abuse this confidence reposed in her, but endeavour to render herself daily more and more worthy of it. And even if her endeavours should not always meet with the desired success; if the good man should sometimes happen to be a little out of spirits, or out of temper, she will not therefore become so too. Her cheerfulness will revive and restore him. She will still "do him good, and not evil," while he lives; and if she survive him, will continue to shew the same kind attention and regard to his family, and to his character. "My Servius," (said the Roman Valeria, holding in her arms the urn which contained the ashes of her husband-my Servius) though dead to the rest of the world, can never be otherwise than alive to me."

verses.

Solomon's description of a virtuous woman, consists of twenty-two It is worthy observation, that eleven of these verses (half the number) are taken up in setting forth her industry, and the effects of it.

I shall recite all these together, that you may see what a variety of magnificent language is made use of, to describe her different employments, to recommend simplicity of manners, and make good housewifery and honest labour to be admired, in the rich and noble, as well as the poor and obscure among women. For you must bear in mind, that in works of the several kinds here mentioned, queens and princesses, of old time, disdained not to be occupied. You will likewise be pleased to consider, that if the rich are exempted from the necessity of working for themselves, they cannot be better employed than in working for the poor; since the coats and garments" made by the charity of Dorcas, were judged the best proofs of her goodness that could be submitted to the inspection of an apostle.

"She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for they are all clothed with double garments. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry, her clothing is silk and purple. She maketh fine linen and selleth it, and delivereth girdles to the merchant. She perceiveth that her merchandize is good: her candle goeth not out by night. She is like the merchants' ships, she bringeth her food from afar. She considereth a field, and buyeth it; with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard."...... On account of this her marvellous and unceasing diligence, with the many and great advantages derived thereby to her family, well may it be said, as it is said of her, "Strength and honour are her clothing, and she shall rejoice in time

to come."

But the honour is not confined to herself. It extendeth to her friend and her companion in life; "Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land."......That is, he is known as her husband; as a man blessed with such a wife; as indebted, perhaps, for his promotion, to the wealth acquired by her management at home (for honours are seldom open to the poor); for the splendour and elegance of his apparel, to the labour of her hands; and, it may be, for the preservation and establishment of his virtue and integrity, to the encouragement, in all that is just, and good, furnished by her example, as well as by her conversation, the nature of which is thus described

She openeth her mouth with wisdom, and in her tongue is the law of kindness." She thinks before she speaks; and, therefore, neither introduces a bad subject, nor disgraces a good one by an improper manner of discoursing on it. And as charity reigns in her heart, nothing that is uncharitable proceeds out of her mouth: all is lenient and healing. To express the whole in a few words, she says nothing that is foolish, and nothing that is ill-natured. But her charity is shewn in deeds as well as words

"She stretched out her hand to the poor: yea, she reached forth her hands to the needy." This is yet another good effect of her economy and management. She is not only able to provide plentifully for her household, but has always something in store for the poor. Since what avails a charitable disposition, where vanity, folly, and extrava

gance have taken away the power to exert it? In vain is "the hand stretched out," when there is nothing in it.

Having thus considered this finished character of the virtuous woman, we shall not be surprised at the praise bestowed on it, in the remaining verses of the chapter.

"Her children rise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her," saying, "Many daughters have done virtuously; but thou excellest them all." Happy the children of such a mother; they will be living proofs of the care taken by her in their education, when she taught them to walk, by the paths of honour and virtue, to the mansions of rest and glory. Happy the husband of such a wife, who sees all things prosper under her direction, and the blessing of heaven derived to his family through her. They will all join in proclaiming, that among women who do well, honour is chiefly due to the virtuous and diligent wife, the affectionate and sensible mother

"Favour," or rather gracefulness is deceitful, and beauty is vain but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised." A graceful person, and a set of fine features, are valuable things, but they are not always to be trusted; they may conceal tempers and dispositions very different from those we expected to find: and bitterer than worm-wood must then be the disappointment of the man, who has been directed in his choice by no other considerations. This, I say, may be the case. Let us hope it is not often so. God forbid it should. The face ought to be an index to the mind, and when all is fair without, "all should be glorious within." But let beauty have its due praise, and suppose what you will of it-suppose all that the poets say of it be true: still the wise man tells you, it is vain, it is in its nature transient, fleeting, perishing; it is the flower of the spring which must fade in autumn; and when the blossom falls, if no fruit succeed, of what value is the tree? The grave is already opening for the most elegant person that moves, and the worms are in waiting to feed on the fairest face that is beholden. Labour, then, for that which endureth for ever: let your chief pains be bestowed on that part of the human composition, which shall flourish in immortal youth, when the world and all that is in it shall disappear, and come no more into mind. "A woman that feareth the Lord, she shall

be praised."

"Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates."

The crown, which her own hands have thus formed, shall be placed upon her head, as it were by general consent, even in this life, and her good deeds, celebrated in the public assemblies, shall diffuse an odour grateful as the smell of Eden, as the cloud of frankincense ascending from the holy altar. When her task is ended, the answer of a good conscience, and the blessings of all around, sweeter than the sweetest music, shall chant her to her repose.

Such is the female character, and such the importance of forming it by education. Without education it cannot be formed; for we are all born equally ignorant, and are what we are by instruction.

A REMARKABLE NARRATIVE ·

OF THE

Providential Manner,

In which M. DE CAUMONT, the youngest Son of M. DE LA FORCE, and afterwards the celebrated Marshal DE LA FORCE, escaped the general Massacre at Paris, on St. Bartholomew's Day, 1752.

EVD VERY one knows in what manner the Admiral de Coligny was wounded, and, a few days after, murdered, in his own house, and thrown out of the window of his apartments.

Not far from his house lived a horse-dealer, who had sold some horses to M. de la Force, the father, and foreseeing the calamities with which the Reformed Religion was threatened, determined to repair immediately to M. de la Force, to inform him of what he had observed.

He went to the front of the Louvre, to cross the water, as the nearest way to the Rue de Seine, where that nobleman lived, but found all the boats employed; he was therefore obliged to go down to the right of the Thuilleries, where, for the most part, they were always plying, and found it no less impossible to obtain one there.

Impelled by his regard for his benefactor, he instantly stripped; and, fastening his clothes on his head, swam over, and went directly to the house of M. de la Force; where, having given information of what he had seen, he left him, and went to find his brother, M. de Caumont, to inform himn of this alarming event.

The latter immediately arose, and went to communicate the intelligence to the principal Nobility, who were of the Reformed Religion, and resided in the Fauxbourg St. Germain; that they might consult on the proper methods.to avoid the impending mischief.

When they had met, they resolved, by the advice of M. de Caumont, who always believed this transaction was disapproved of by the King, to address themselves to his Majesty; and, with that view, immediately proceeded, in a body, towards the river by the Rue de Seine; but they found it impossible to pass over to the Louvre, as not a single boat was to be found, on that side of the river. This too plainly shewed that their situation was very critical.

This was on Sunday morning, August 24th, 1752, an hour before daylight.

They immediately resolved to return home, mount their horses, and assemble again in the Pre-aux-Clercs*, there prepare to defend themselves, if they should be attacked; or if they had time, to retire to their respec tive country seats.

* A Meadow so called,

At break of day, they received information that all the boats of the Seine were full of soldiers, who, as soon as they had landed, poured along the Rue de Seine.

The most active of these Nobles met, as they had agreed, in the Preaux-Clercs, and thence retired to their estates in the country. The two brothers, Messrs. de la Force, were there on horseback.

The elder accompanied the other Nobles in their retreat; but the younger, perceiving his children were not yet on horseback, and determining not to leave them, returned home, barricadoed the doors, and retired to his apart

ment.

Presently the gate was attacked by a number of soldiers, violently exclaiming, with execrations, Open! open!

He accordingly ordered it to be opened by a maid-servant, resolving to wait the event patiently, in his chamber, and resign himself to the will of God.

Directly the court-yard was full of soldiers, led on by a Captain, named Martin, who, with a great number of them, ran, with their swords drawn, up to the apartment in which was M. de la Force, crying, Kill; kill! and, having secured the weapons of all who were in the house, they collected them in one corner of the chamber, saying, If you desire to pray to God, pray immediately, for you have not a moment to live.

M. de la Force, the father, directly replied, with calmness and fortitude, Sir, use your pleasure! I, certainly have no long time to live; but have compassion on these children, who can have offended no one, and from whose death you can derive no advantage, It is in my power to pay you a considerable ransom, which assuredly will be more to your advantage than the shedding of innocent blood.

Although they were not inattentive to this proposition, they resolved to pillage. But not finding the key of the coffers, the valet de chambre, who kept them, having made his escape, they dragged them into the middle of the court-yard, and forced them open with pokers.

After this, they returned to their former threatnings; crying out, with dreadful oaths, that their orders were to kill all they met, and to spare

none.

Their hearts, however, were so far softened by the persuasive language of M. de la Force, and by the hope of 2000 crowns, which he had promised them as a ransom, that, at length, Martin, the Captain, said to the family of de la Force, "all of you follow me!"

When they had come down stairs, he made them tear their handkerchiefs, to place them in the form of a cross on their hats, and turn back the sleeve of their right arm, quite to the top of the shoulder; which was the signal by which the murderers were to know each other.

Their company consisted of the father and his two sons, their valet de chambre, named Du Gast, and their page, La Vigerie. They were led along the banks of the Seine, which they crossed, opposite the Louvre. They then no longer doubted but they should be presently massacred, for they saw several Protesants murdered before their faces, and thrown into the river, which, in many parts was become red with blood.

When they arrived at the house of Martin, he, being desirous of returning to the like pillage, told M. de la Force that, if he would give his word that neither he nor his children would stir from that place, he would leave him in the custody of two Swiss soldiers. At the same time, he recommended him to make all possible dispatch in raising the ransom

money.