I am a plain man, a farmer, and what the world calls an oldfashioned fellow; I have a wife, and six daughters, and two sons-all these children I had thought to have brought up with some credit-that my girls at least should have made good house-wives for the farmers of the neighborhood.

I chose for my own partner the blooming daughter of a neighboring farmer-not one of your delicate, nervous, teasipping ladies of the present day; but a robust and active damsel, who could rise with the dawn, milk her father's cows, attend to the hen-house and dairy, and at breakfast could dispose of as much beef-steak as any lady in the days of good queen Bess; no vagaries about the rights of woman, or the equality of the sexes, ever disturbed her quiet brain-on the contrary, both precept and example had taught her that important lesson, to love, honor, and obey her lord and master.Now in the family statute-book there was no law so fondly cherished, none considered of such vital importance as this: "That a deep and humbling sense of their inferiority to, and entire dependence on the males, should be, with unceasing care, inculcated on the females." This idea was to be presented to them in a thousand shapes; to grow with their growth, and strengthen with their strength; and as a means to this end, the extent and limits of their education were exactly defined-it consisted in reading, writing, and arithmetic to the rule of three-the Bible, the Whole duty of Man, and the Art of Cookery, by Mrs. Hannah Glass, made up their library-all beyond was forbidden ground. Of the fruit of the tree of knowledge, they might in no wise eat; this was prohibited under the severest pains and penalties. Deeply impressed with the importance of this law, it was the fixed determination of myself and wife, to educate our daughters in strict conformity to it-and though I say it that should not, with our three eldest we succeeded completely-aye, shew me, who can, three more notable and house-wifely women than Bridget, Winnifred, and Dinah-girls that can turn their hand to any thing-milk a cow, iron a shirt, mend a stocking, or make a pudding. And I defy any one to catch them idling over a book, except on Sundays, and then strictly within the pale of the law; none of your novels or histories, but one of the books above mentioned. To me it is wonderful, that women so calculated to make reasonable men happy, should remain still on hand. Of my three younger daughters, would that I could say as much they have blasted all my hopes, broken the statutes of the family, and thrown my household into confusion.

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About eighteen months past, a sister of my wife's came visit us-she was a true town-lady, with all the airs, and ces, and high-flown notions, and delicate sensibilities of tribe-a reading lady too! but this fact I did not know some time afterwards. Towards the conclusion of her visit began to suspect that something was in the wind. I saw quent consultations going on among the women; they wou get into a knot in a corner, and whisper most earnestly, ever now and then casting towards me a look of apprehensiondaughter Grace, too, my fourth girl, was uncommonly assid ous to me if I called at any time for my favorite beverag butter-milk, it was sure to be handed by Grace—as soon as entered the house at my smoking hours, Grace flew to get m pipe and tobacco.

At length the batteries were opened in form, and the attack commenced; as we sat round the dinner-table, my wife's siste observed that she had a great favor to ask of me—her neice Grace, she said, was her namesake, that she was a great favor ite with her, that the girl had been brought up in the country that she was now grown quite a woman, and begged that would permit her to take her to the city, and show her some thing of life. I replied, that the request was one that I could by no means grant; why should she be parading off to the city to catch the infection of its manners, or to be ridiculed and laughed at as an awkward country hoyden ? Grace said not a word, but I could see, by the flush of her cheek, and the toss of her head, that she scorned my words; my three eldest girls broke forth at once in high dudgeon—" She go to the city, truly! a high thing, marry come up! fish of one, and flesh of another! they had been women grown many a long day, and no city for them-in doors and out of doors, late and early, hot and cold, they were to work, while madam Grace, forsooth, was to be made a lady of!" I quieted my girls, and told them the thing should not be.

Now all this time my wife Deborah had not uttered a word, and still I thought she looked as if she wished Grace success. To be further assured of her wishes on this subject, I waited till we were alone, and then as our manner is, when an impor tant subject is on the carpet, I opened the discussion:-" Deborah, my dear, you have not given your opinion on this subject; I hope you do not wish to expose our child to this dangerous and useless trip!" She replied, "Husband, I would not differ with you before company, because I know my place-but why

d'nt we indulge the girl? She has been brought up acling to the statues, (statutes, wife!) and there is no danger

beside, why should not she have a chance to look about and make her fortune? Look at neighbor Gubbins' darter all; she went a trip to the city, and she is now married to a iman, and keeps her carriage; to be sure comparisons are rous, (odious, you mean, Deborah,) ah, I am no dictionary man-but I mean that Sall Gubbins is not to compare to · Grace in beauty." The discussion was lengthy, but finally uffered myself to be persuaded, though unconvinced, and sented to the trip.

She was gone six months; and when she returned I scarceknew my child-instead of the plump, rosy-cheeked country rl, with health, and life, and activity in every muscle, I saw a in, emaciated, delicate figure, with a cheek of snow, and lanid step, moving slowly towards us-all the warm habiliments the country thrown aside-even the snug pocket; and in eir place a thin muslin dress, and a thing which I think they ery properly call, a ridicule. A gush of parental affection lled my eyes, and taking her in my arms, I inquired why she ad not informed us of her illness, and why she traveled in uch a dress as must bring her life into imminent hazard. Smiing at my apprehensions, she replied that she had not been ill, hat to be sure she was rather in delicate health, which proceeded from the extreme sensibility of her nervous system! out that she had gotten some composing drops from Dr. Bolus, a celebrated physician, which she found of great use. All this was rue and worm-wood to me-but the worst was yet to come. I found my lady's mind more metamorphosed than her body. She had been reading novels, plays, and histories! I now found there was no time to be lost. I strictly prohibited the bringing any book into my family; positively forbid Grace to hold conversations on what she had read, and commanded her regularly to take her turn week-about with her sisters in managing the household affairs, a thing which, under various pretexts, she had since her return neglected. These were irksome duties to her now-but she was forced to submit, and things seemed to be getting right again, when you, Mr. Bachelor, stepped in and ruined all my hopes. One morning, after I had been kept waiting for my breakfast some time, I determined to go myself and see what the girls were about. I stepped softly into their room, the door was open, and I found Grace reading aloud from a newspaper, with an agitated voice and im

passioned manner, while my two youngest daughters were sitting round her, devouring her words, and the tears trickling down their cheeks-so deeply engaged were they, that my approach was entirely unperceived. I determined to keep my station in silence, till I discovered the extent of the mischief. It was your fifth number, Mr. Bachelor, and the matter which was beguiling these simple damsels of their tears, was your foolish story of a Roman woman, Agippina, I think you call her. I burst in upon the girls, snatched the paper from them, and in a voice of authority, summoned them to the hall. They all appeared and took their seats in silence. I proceeded with great form, produced the statute-book, read the law, charged Grace with her offense, inveighed bitterly against its enormity, and called upon her to know what she could say in her defense. She rose, and to my astonishment and dismay, addressed me thus: "Father, I respect your authority within reasonable limits, but you demand too much—I am now eighteen, capable, if ever, to think for myself, and I hope in this free country, that women have some rights. The law which you have read I revolt against-it is gothic, obsolete, and I deny its authority. Have not women souls? Have they not reason? is it not given them for a guide, and is it not a duty which they owe to themselves, and to heaven, to improve their talent, and not like the unprofitable servant to bury it?"

Astonishment held me dumb; my two youngest instantly rose and avowed their sister's sentiments, and even Deborah, my old and faithful help-mate; Deborah, the wife of my bosom, took sides against me! My three eldest stuck to me, but gave me little aid things of this sort are not their forte. Finding such determined opposition, and supported by such numbers, I thought it best not to proceed to extremities, but gave the culprits one week to consider and repent of their ways-assuring them that I would be master in my family, and that the name of Squaretoes should not be disgraced. But see, Mr. Bachelor, the straits to which you have reduced me-my rules violated— my authority trampled on-my family in open rebellion: how, sir, can you repair this injury-what amends can you make me for order and good government destroyed, and anarchy and disorder introduced, and confusion worse confounded?

Your injured and offended fellow-citizen,
OBADIAH SQUARETOES.

AN ACCOMPLISHED YOUNG LADY.-HALLECK.

She shone at every concert; where are bought
Tickets, by all who wish them, for a dollar;
She patronised the theater, and thought

That Wallack looked extremely well in Rolla;
She fell in love, as all the ladies do,
With Mr. Simpson-talked as loudly, too

As any beauty of the highest grade,

To the gay circle in the box beside her; And when the pit-half vexed and half afraid,

With looks of smothered indignation eyed her;
She calmly met their gaze, and stood before 'em,
Smiling at vulgar taste, and mock decorum.

And though by no means a "Bas bleu," she had
For literature, a most becoming passion;
Had skimmed the latest novels, good and bad,

And read the Croakers, when they were in fashion;
And Doctor Chalmers' sermons, of a Sunday;
And Woodworth's Cabinet, and the new Salmagundi.

She was among the first and warmest patrons
Of G******'s conversaziones, where

In rainbow groups, our bright eyed maids and matrons,
On science bent, assemble; to prepare
Themselves for acting well, in life, their part
As wives and mothers. There she learned by heart

Words, to the witches in Macbeth unknown.
Hydraulics, hydrostatics, and pneumatics,
Dioptrics, optics, katoptrics, carbon,

Chlorine, and iodine, and aerostatics;
Also, why frogs, for want of air, expire;
And how to set the Tappan sea on fire!

In all the modern languages she was

Exceedingly well versed; and had devoted,
To their attainment, far more time than has
By the best teachers lately, been allotted;
For she had taken lessons, twice a week,
For a full month in each; and she could speak