schools of the Sunday-School Union in 1839 were 4,936, the number of teachers 433. A large proportion of the scholars were above fifteen years old, and worked in the mills; more than 600 had joined the several churches in that year. There are besides four or five schools not included in the union. Thus in a population of 20,000, 6,000 are connected with Sunday-schools, either as teachers or scholars. Among the favourable influences of Lowell, is the vigilant moral police of the mills, and a still more efficient all-pervading power in the jealous watchfulness of the female operatives themselves. They have an honest conscientious pride in the preservation of their character as a class. Their censorship is despotic, and no overseer or superintendent could disregard it with impunity. The tie between the clergy and their flocks is, in New England, very strong, and the removal from domestic protection renders it peculiarly so between the factory girl and her pastor. Being sensible of the advantage, even in a pecuniary view, of education, the managers of the Lowell mills take no small care to place it within reach of all.

The Lowell Lyceum and Lowell Institute, both established for the diffusion of useful knowledge by means of lectures, are remarkably well attended. The price of tickets to twenty-five lectures is 1 dol. for males, 50 cents for females. They have social meetings termed Improvement Circles, in which communications, previously revised by the gentlemen in charge, are read, the names of the writers not being announced. In one of these the communications are chiefly of a religious character. In the other the largest range of subject is allowed, and the greatest variety of style indulged. The reading of these articles forms the sole amusement of these evenings. The meetings of each are once a fortnight. A selection from the budgets of articles, furnished to these Circles, was the commencement of the Lowell Offering, of which the two gentlemen in charge of the Improvement Circles are editors. The meetings are free to all who choose to attend, and they are considered as having given a remarkable impulse to the intellectual energies of the population.

In this account we have given, it will be said, the bright side of the picture, the favourable influences that are at work at Lowell. There will be many, we are aware, who do not avail themselves of these means of improvement. But it is a great thing that the bright side is the prominent one. every society there will be some above, some below, the mass. But the great majority take their colour from public opinion, and their character rises or falls, as its tendencies are improving,

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or the contrary. In Lowell its tendencies are to continued elevation, and the operatives, after a residence averaging four years, disperse over the states, carrying with them, to spread in their future homes, the habits and tastes formed there.

In estimating the extracts we shall give, our readers must bear in mind, that these contributions are the recreations of female operatives employed in the mills twelve hours each day. To enlighten the world, or any extended portion of society, is not their mission. They are, most probably, to be wives and mothers; and good judgment, right views, and right feelings, with some enlargement and cultivation of mind, are what they will most need. They are American operatives, and so practically open is every rank to the ambition of the industrious and moral citizen, that what their future station may be they cannot guess; but whether high or low, the sound estimate of happiness, of respectability, of the uses of wealth and knowledge, the love of nature, and the cultivation evidenced in these volumes, will enable them to employ well competency and leisure, or to enliven and adorn a life of labour.

We anticipate great good from this periodical. We can imagine the interest which must be felt as each new number makes its appearance, the way each article will be canvassedthe subject by some, the manner in which it is treated by others, the probable author by a third set. In all cases the conversation will be likely to be of a higher stamp than if the periodical had not appeared, and this is no light benefit among such a congregation of young females, with so much time for conversation. The number of contributors is too great to make the literary fame of any one a very perilous distinction; the nature of the contributions need make no one despair of becoming one of the literary class. There is a great difference between that degree of cultivation which enables a person to take pleasure in reading, and that which would enable him to write even a short article which will read tolerably in print. And the necessary steady thought on the contemplated contribution, or even vague literary castles in the air, form a better employment of the leisure for thought afforded by their occupation, than the visions of silk gowns, which seem to form a prominent object of ambition to female operatives on both sides the Atlantic, or the envy of those who possess them, or the contempt of those who do not.

The editors state as their objects in the establishment of the periodical, "to encourage the cultivation of talent," "and to correct an erroneous idea which generally prevails in relation to the intelligence of persons employed in the mills." The real

name and residence of the writer of each article is to be furnished to the editors, which they pledge themselves to keep secret. And while they claim the usual editorial rights in preparing articles for the press, "they resolved carefully to avoid any alteration which might affect the sentiment or style of the several writers.'

وو

The first number made its appearance October 1st, 1840. It consists of sixteen quarto pages in double columns. The contributions are not of very great length, and are of considerable variety of subject and style; we will give a table of contents with the signatures, and then make some extracts, as the best method of enabling our readers to judge of the periodical and, through that, of the writers.

History of a Hemlock Broom, written by itself.-Hannah.
A Mother's Love.-M.

Beauty of Leaves.-H. S.

Woman's Proper Sphere.-B.
Blessings of Memory.-Dorothea.

A Letter about Old Maids.-Betsy.
Recollections of an Old Maid, No. I.
Autumn's Doings. A Poem.-Cynthia.
Pleasures of Science.-Ella.

The Garden of Science.-Ella.

Tomb of Washington. A Poem.-Adelaide.

Shall we know each other in Heaven.-Emmeline.

Mr. Birch and Mr. Spence.-B. H. J.

Longings of the Spirit.-Guileda.

Beauty and Wealth.-E. S.

Autumn Reflections.-Mary.

Mount Auburn.-Zillah.

Thoughts on a Rainy Day.-I.

Old Bachelor's Friend.-Twenty Four.

The first extract we shall give is from a paper on the Beauty of Leaves.

Although much has been said, sung, preached, and written, concerning flowers, as the ministers of love, and the tokens of the goodness of God to the sons of men, and all with perfect justice, yet I think that there is another class of objects, whose testimony is still more eloquent and lasting-I refer to LEAVES.

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I have no wish to dispute the loveliness of flowers; on the contrary I admire them, and adore the beneficence which gave them to us; but leaves call for still more devout gratitude.

"Consider the desolate appearance of creation in winter; yet even then we have some leaves. How much more desolate would the earth appear, if we never could enjoy the cool refreshing shade of leaves in

summer. Even flowers are not perfect in an ornamental view, unless decorated with leaves. Not so with leaves. The presence of flowers, though desirable, is not indispensably necessary to the perfection or beauty of leaves. The bouquet which love binds as a tribute of affection, would be very deficient without leaves. And who could twine an acceptable wreath without leaves?

"Another excellence is, their greater duration. We have leaves from April to November, without our care or cultivation; we have them with a little care the whole year.

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Although they are often blended by art for ornament, yet how very often are leaves separately chosen, to give beauty to the artist's performance. That art acknowledges the superior beauty of leaves, we may infer from the innumerable specimens which may be seen in walking through one of our principal streets. Behold this collection of printed muslin; leaves are most numerous. The bookbinding bears testimony in favour of my position: for many a leaf adorns the exterior of the treasuries of knowledge and literature. Behold this embroidery store, mark the nice precision and accuracy with which leaves are interwoven with the finest texture. Even the chirographer rests not until he is able to trace a border of leaves round the most beautiful specimens of his art."

Woman's Proper Sphere, though a trite subject, is one on which it is so important for woman to think rightly, that her genuine thoughts on it must always possess some interest. There is much very true, though not new, in the following remarks:

"Is it from an ambitious wish to shine as man's equal in the same scenes in which he mingles ? To be in spirit and practice a true woman, were, methinks, a holier ambition. Or is it a desire to be engaged in what she conceives higher and nobler duties, and those more worthy of herself? I fear she greatly misapplies terms if she fancies she discovers any of more importance than those which might daily come under her own observation. Does she wish for a more extensive influence than that which emanates from woman at home? Let her beware, that in the enlargement of the circle, the nature of its influence be not changed. The peculiar and happy influence of woman ceases when exercised beyond certain limits; and the silent rebuke with which she visits vice, as she meets it on her own threshhold, acts more effectually than a thousand reproofs uttered through a public medium. It is to her situation as woman that this influence is owing: and while she can command the respect of the world, it will be sure to be felt; and this, if true to herself, she cannot fail of securing.

"But although we would not see woman engaged in the pursuits of man, we would not have her ignorant and uninterested in regard to them. She may aid if she may not lead. It is her part to offer the kind words of sympathy and encouragement, and I may add, without

presumption, to advise and counsel. How necessary, then, that she should understand the nature of these pursuits, that she may truly sympathize with and encourage those with whom she may be associated. In this way, and through man, her influence must and will be felt; and it is no light thing to exercise it aright. If she be beautiful, she has but another talent for which she is accountable to her Creator for the manner in which she improves it; and instead of filling her mind with pride and vanity, it should teach humility; for her pathway is beset with many dangers, concealed from view by the bright and gaudy flowers of flattery, which are ever luring the young and fair of the earth from virtue. Let her trust in God and pray, lest the loveliness with which he has endowed her may prove a fearful curse, not only to herself, but to all who may come within the circle of her influence.

" Guided by high and holy principles, woman is not merely admired, but loved and respected. Fervent in her devotion to whatever is pure and good, and earnest in her efforts to promote the cause of truth and right, she will hence, by her weakness, throw impediments in the way of those who may be influenced by her love. But when they are called from her, to mingle in scenes of difficulty and danger, she forgets the selfishness which would bind them by their own firesides, and standing nobly up, even like the Switzer's Wife, bids them go, while her prayers for their safety and success are ascending to Him who alone can surely protect from evil. And in so doing she merits the thrilling sentence of approval which broke from the lips of Werner, as he responded to his young wife's appeal :

He sprang up like a warrior youth awaking

To clarion sounds upon the ringing air,

He caught her to his breast, while proud tears breaking
From his dark eyes fell o'er her braided hair;

And worthy art thou, was his joyous cry,

That man for thee should gird himself and die.'

The Recollections of an Old Maid, which appear in several numbers, are very spirited sketches of the companions of her early life. They are natural and characteristic, and would be read with pleasure and interest from their merits only. We understand the writer who signs herself BETSY, is one of the few who has preserved an effectual incognito. We will extract her introductory account of herself, and her first Recollection, entire :

"" A LETTER ABOUT OLD MAIDS.

"Mr. Editor:-I am one of that unlucky, derided, and almost despised set of females called spinsters, single sisters, lay nuns, &c.; but who are more usually known by the appellation of Old Maids. That I have never been married is not my own fault, for I never refused an offer in my life; neither have I by disdain, coldness, or indifference, kept my male acquaintance at a distance. I have always had, and still