than in the companionship of almost any one.  Notwithstanding all this neglect and indifference, how willingly is every little office performed that adds to the brother’s comfort!  How much care is there for him who gives back so little in return!  The sister’s love is as unselfish as it is unostentatious.  It is shown in acts, not in professions.  How can any young man be indifferent to such love?  How can he fail in its full and free reciprocation?

A regard for himself, as well as for his sisters, should lead a young man to be much with them.  Their influence in softening, polishing, and refining his character, will be very great.  They have perceptions of the propriety and fitness of things far quicker than he has; and this he will soon see if he observe their remarks upon the persons with whom they come in contact, and the circumstances that transpire around them.  While he is reasoning on the subject, and balancing many things in his mind before coming to a satisfactory conclusion, they, by a kind of intuition, have settled the whole matter, and settled it, he will find, truly.  In the graver things of life, a man’s judgment is more to be relied upon than a woman’s, because here a regular course of reasoning from premises laid down is required, and this a man is much more able to do than a woman; but in matters of taste and propriety, and in the quick appreciation of character, a woman’s perceptions are worth far more than a man’s judgment.  And in the more weighty and serious matters of life, a man will always find that he will receive aid, in coming to a nice decision, from a wife or sister who loves him, if he will only carefully lay the whole subject before her, with the reasons that appeal to his judgment, and be guided in some measure by her perceptions of what is right.  This is because man is in the province of the understanding, which acts by thought, and woman in the province of the affections, which act by perceptions; not that a man does not have perceptions and a woman reason, but the leading characteristic difference between the sexes is as stated, and each comes to conclusions mainly by either the one or the other of these two modes.  This position, which we believe to be the true one in regard to the difference between the sexes, demonstrates the great use of female society, especially the society of those who feel some interest in and affection for us.  In such society, there is a reciprocation of benefits that is nearly, if not quite, equal.  And nowhere can this reciprocation be of greater utility than among brothers and sisters, just entering upon life, with all their knowledge of human character and human life to gain.

BROTHERS.

[The following suggestions, on the relation and duties of a sister to her brother, are taken from a volume by the Author of this book, entitled, “Advice to Young Ladies on their Duties and Conduct in Life.”]