mother. She is the teacher and exemplar, from whom the future citizens of the Republic derive their first lessons in knowledge, manners, and morals. In this view, it seems to follow that the chief duty of American politicians and legislators is somewhat different from that which is usually assigned to them. The great object of our laws should be to insure that our nation shall be composed of well-ordered, intelligent, and virtuous families, and none other. When this object is achieved, all other desirable ends are attained with it. Freedom, wealth, art, science, the social charities, all that refines. and exalts a nation, will flourish as flowers and fruits natural to such a soil. And this brings us to the direct and logical conclusion, that the education of American women - such an education as will fit them to be the centres of our household commonwealths, and the trainers of the nation's children - is the most important object to which our statesmen can give their attention. If we could only convince our lawgivers of this fact, and persuade them that the subjects which ordinarily engross their minds, questions of the currency, the tariff, protection, free-trade, and the like, however important, are insignificant compared with that of the proper education of the future wives and mothers of our nation, we should feel that we have achieved a great national gain. It is well that public lands should be given to found agricultural colleges in every State; but if our national legislature would set an example to the States, by furnishing, in the same manner, the means of establishing in each of them a model school for girls, and a seminary for young women, it would confer a more important benefit upon the nation than has resulted from any act ever before passed by any Congress. Such, gentle reader, is our Fourth-of-July oration. If not as eloquent as some productions of the sort to which you have had the happiness of listening, we may at least affirm that it is dictated by a no less sincere love of our common country. May peace and safety, and that brotherly concord which springs from an enlightened love of liberty, law, and virtue, bless our land, and unite all its households, from ocean to ocean, in the bonds of charity and good will forever! SONG OF THE FLOWER ANGELS. For the Fourth of July. We tend the flowers of every hue, The red is love's sweet blushing hue, In Eastern lands the seeds we cast; But weeds would choke, or drought would blast, . Sweet Love was lost in Passion's fires, All wilted, withered where they grew, Then to the Western World we came, Faith and hope and love were sown, And, oh, how strong the plants have grown! For freedom, eagle-pinioned, flew, And bore the red and white and blue. Now in one Banner fair to see, Red and white and blue! The red and white are leaves of light, And stars as flowers the blue bedight; Has guardian angels,* strong and true, "Angels that excel in strength."-Ps. ciii. 20. W II. ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF MEN. E Americans are too grave a people; we laugh too little; we amuse ourselves too little; we make business the "be-all and the end-all" of life. Work is both better done, and more thoroughly done, when varied and intermingled with recreation. There are many amusements and accomplishments which should form part of the training of every young man. This is far better understood across the water than with us, and we should be glad to see the games of the universities of Oxford and Cambridge introduced amongst us. Boxing, fencing, boating, riding, and dancing are all both useful and desirable amusements, which should be cultivated, as tending to muscular development and personal health; and, to those who are aware how much mental effort is aided and stimulated by a sound condition of body, nothing which can produce such condition will seem of slight importance. Thus for the amusements; for the accomplishments, we would place first a knowledge of music, which, by some strange freak of fashion or custom, has, until lately, been considered more for women, and beneath the dignity of men. Surely, whatever brings out and cultivates man's softer qualities, whatever refines the home and home enjoyments, should never be so considered. An English writer says, and with much truth, "I believe that there is a taste for music in every child born, and that, if it disappears in after-life, it is for want of cultivation. Was there ever yet a baby which could not be sung to sleep?" However this may be, to play on some one instrument is of more value to a man than at first sight appears. To the character it is a refiner. Music is the medicine of the soul: it soothes the wrinkles of a hard life of business, and lifts us from thoughts of money, intrigue, enterprises, hatred, and disgust, to a calmer, more heavenly frame of mind. To a man himself, therefore, the power to play is of use. He may not always have a sister, wife, or daughter, to sing and play to him; he may not always be within reach of the opera or concert-rooms; and then, too, half the enjoyment of music is gone when you cannot enjoy it as you list, and of what kind you need, gay or grave, as your fancy lies. It is an indulgence to a pure mind, and it is one of those few indulgences which are free from harm. A knowledge of languages is perhaps the most useful accomplishment one can possess. Independent of the wide field of literature thus opened, it makes one at home in whatever quarter of the globe he may chance to be thrown, and enlarges greatly the sphere of enjoyment. It seems scarcely necessary to add, that every young man should possess a knowledge of current literature and |