images their domestic life, and opens the first scene of its history. "I can never marry again,” said a young widow to the noble-looking man who was urging his suit: I must live my children." for "Be my wife," replied the lover: "your children shall be our children.” The wife of Washington was worthy of his faithful love and full confidence: these he gave her. His was the true faith in woman as the "help-meet for man;" and he wanted his wife to be with him! She was with him when he took command of the army at Boston; and with him during every winter when the army was in camp. Her presence was his pleasure, her sympathy his support, next to faith in God. And in this faith the wife set the example as wives should do; softening the man's stern will by ever having on her tongue the "law of kindness." Thus George and Martha Washington were, in their married life, an example of conjugal faith and domestic enjoyment, which may be truly styled the noblest majesty of human nature,- -the twain made one. And this oneship, devoted to God's service, is the way of righteous ness. How mean beside this moral majesty of manhood, founded on goodness, seems the hero-worship paid the great warriors of history! Take all the names,— Alexander, Cæsar, Napoleon, Peter of Russia and Frederic of Prussia, both styled "the Great." What example of manly virtue in home-life, of justice to woman, of faith in goodness, have any of these heroes left to guide men in the way of honor and duty and true nobleness? Washington only, of all the highest heroic names which hold their place through military deeds, has no sorrow in its sound, no sin on its brightness of fame. It seems but a fitting tribute to the Christian virtues of this husband and wife, that the home where they lived and died, and the tomb where they rest together in the blessed hope of a glorious resurrection, should be watched over by the guardian care of WOMAN. This sacred charge the women of America have now in trust. The homestead (two hundred acres), the home, the tomb of Washington and his wife, are made sure as a perpetual inheritance of the people of the United States, because the title-deeds are sure to the women who have purchased and paid for this, the holiest place in uninspired history. Would this guardianship of woman be fitting over the tomb of any other celebrated hero? Could women sympathize with the warrior's fame of Alexander, Cæsar, Napoleon? or in any greatness won by force, fraud, selfishness, and sin? Bear in mind, that whatever crushes out moral power destroys the Christian virtues, and that these are chiefly termed feminine virtues. Man's despotic power has always wronged and degraded woman. To honor the tombs of such heroes would seem unnatural and awful, as though we could imagine the women of Bethlehem carrying sweet spices to embalm the body of Herod! Washington only, among the world's heroes, deserves the homage of women; and to him only has it been given. This is his greatest distinction, and should be held up as the crowning glory of our Great Republic. In the heart of this free land, there is a domain consecrated to peace, goodness, and Christian love, where war, covetousness, and disunion can never come. "The Mount-Vernon Ladies' Association of the Union" holds right and rule over this domain. The sacred trust has not been invaded by a hostile footstep during the four long years of the late terrible war. The thunderings of battle have been heard on every side; but the storms have never reached that place of peace, where woman has kept her quiet watch over the dust of Washington.* PART SECOND. I. - SHAPING AN AMERICAN HOME. OW to make home happy is a question about HOW which there has been much excellent discourse, as we dare say our readers are aware. "How to make our homes comfortable" is another important question, on which much less has been said; and yet there is hardly a subject on which information and advice are more required. There are few men or women in our country, who, at some period of their lives, have not to take part in choosing or erecting a house to live in, and in making a home out of it; and very sad blunders many of them commit in the process. We propose in this article to offer a few hints which some of our readers, who have this duty in prospect, may find useful. In selecting or constructing a residence, health is, of course, the first consideration. There are localities which are known to be sickly; and no sensible man, unless constrained by some call of duty which cannot be resisted, will set up his homestead in such a place. So long as men can be found to face the cannon's mouth for a shilling a day, there will be plenty to rush into unhealthy regions where money is to be made; but we hope that no reader of these lines will be so reckless as to seek the chance of a fortune with the likelihood of a broken constitution. There is, however, much room for choice, even in districts which are justly deemed favorable to health. No one will or at least no one should - fix his house on low and moist ground, when he can secure a high and dry foundation. Every one, we hope, would, by natural instinct, prefer an open, cheerful, picturesque situation to one of an opposite character. But there are points of equal importance which are apt to be slighted. How many, for example, in choosing a place of residence, either in town or country, think of the direction in which it fronts, as a matter of great moment? And yet there are few things on which the health of the residents so much depends. The sun, be it remembered, is to our planet the great source of life and health. We may say of it in a literal sense what is said morally of the Sun of Righteousness, that it rises with healing in its wings. The rooms in which the inmates of a house spend most of their time should enjoy the direct sunlight for the greater part of the day. In the country, with a little contrivance, this can be readily managed. In the city, it is not always so easy; but, as a general rule, if your house is on the north or west side of the street, you should make your chief "living-rooms," as architects call |