Morning Star

From the Female Advocate

It has been a custom in all Christian countries, for ages, at the commencement of a new year, to notice it as something memorable-to speak of the past and exhort to diligence in future, &c. But let me say a few words to females both in city and country, on a subject and probably subjects which have not been so particularly mentioned to us, as females, in the paper. Suppose we take for a starting point the subject which has frequently been presented on a general scale (I mean the subject of Temperance) and bring it down to some definite rules; and make these rules our undeviating practice for the present year. Suppose first we adopt a rule of rising at five-"while it is yet night, that we may give meat to our household." Suppose our breakfast be of the plainest kind; without tea, without coffee, without meat. Suppose we exclude our snuff boxes from our bags, our pockets, and our mantel pieces. Suppose we spend none of our mornings in the kitchen, preparing meats, puddings, and pastries to poison our families at dinner. Suppose we spend none of our afternoons in idle gossiping among our neighbors, "to tell or to hear some strange thing." —Suppose we prepare no tea at night, to make us nervous, and probably sleepless; and suppose that we adjust our concerns so that a little time can be spared each evening, for reading and reflection? When we have acceded to this, suppose that we examine our wardrobe, and if we find a superfluous garment, impart to those who have none. Suppose we make our garments such as becometh women professing godliness-reducing a little the size of sleeves— lopping off feathers, ribbons, &c. Suppose we take the ornaments from our ears, necks and fingers. Suppose, too, we look into our parlors, at our mahogany, chimney ornaments, glasses, carpets, &c. &c. and brasses if you please-and see if we do'not find something for the "lust of the eye and the pride of life;" and if we should find any thing for vain show, suppose we should turn it to some good account: that we might cut off a right hand or pluck out a right eye for the advancement of good, and the peace of our own conscience.