The Young Lady's Counsellor by Daniel Wise

186 THE rOUNG LADY S COUNSELLOR.
tion, upon whose observance so much of the true
pleasure of life depends.
Self-culture also implies suitable efforts it
strengthen and expand the intellect, by readinir, .•5
reflection, and by writing- down your thoughts,
Reading suitable books stores the mind with facts
and principles ; reflection converts those facts and
principles into a real mental alim.ent, and thus quickens
the soul into growth ; while writing tends to
precision of thought and beauty of expression.
Every young lady should, therefore, read much,
reflect more, and write as frequently and carefully
as she has opportunity.
The principal object of reading, with most young
persons, is pleasure. They seek for excited sensi
bilities and a charmed imagination. Hence, novels
and poetry form the staple of their reading. Grave
history, graver science, and dull philosophy, they
eschew, while they actually abhor the sober pages
of theology. The novel is well thumbed ; the poem,
if it is not too Miitonic, is well turned down at the
corrers; but poor Gibbon, Mosheim, Newton, Buf