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In tracing evils of any kind, which exist in society, we must, after all, be brought up against the great cause of all mischief—­mismanagement in education; and this remark applies with peculiar force to the leading fault of the present day, viz. extravagance.  It is useless to expend our ingenuity in purifying the stream, unless the fountain be cleansed.  If young men and young women are brought up to consider frugality contemptible, and industry degrading, it is vain to expect they will at once become prudent and useful, when the cares of life press heavily upon them.  Generally speaking, when misfortune comes upon those who have been accustomed to thoughtless expenditure, it sinks them to discouragement, or, what is worse, drives them to desperation.  It is true there are exceptions.  There are a few, an honorable few, who, late in life, with Roman severity of resolution, learn the long-neglected lesson of economy.  But how small is the number, compared with the whole mass of the population!  And with what bitter agony, with what biting humiliation, is the hard lesson often learned!  How easily might it have been engrafted on early habits, and naturally and gracefully ’grown with their growth, and strengthened with their strength!’

Yet it was but lately that I visited a family, not of ’moderate fortune,’ but of no fortune at all; one of those people who live ‘nobody knows how;’ and I found a young girl, about sixteen, practising on the piano, while an elderly lady beside her was darning her stockings.  I was told (for the mother was proud of bringing up her child so genteelly) that the daughter had almost forgotten how to sew, and that a woman was hired into the house to do her mending!  ’But why,’ said I, ’have you suffered your daughter to be ignorant of so useful an employment?  If she is poor, the knowledge will be necessary to her; if she is rich, it is the easiest thing in the world to lay it aside, if she chooses; she will merely be a better judge whether her work is well done by others.’  ‘That is true,’ replied the mother; ’and I always meant she should learn; but she never has seemed to have any time.  When she was eight years old, she could put a shirt together pretty well; but since that, her music, and her dancing, and her school, have taken up her whole time.  I did mean she should learn some domestic habits this winter; but she has so many visiters, and is obliged to go out so much, that I suppose I must give it up.  I don’t like to say too much about it; for, poor girl! she does so love company, and she does so hate anything like care and confinement! Now is her time to enjoy herself, you know.  Let her take all the comfort she can, while she is single!’ ‘But,’ said I, ’you wish her to marry some time or other; and, in all probability, she will marry.  When will she learn how to perform the duties, which are necessary and important to every mistress of a family?’ ’Oh, she will learn them when she is obliged to,’ answered the injudicious mother; ’at all events, I am determined she shall enjoy herself while she is young.’