True womanhood, memorials of E. Hessel

The object of the work-Miss Hessel's mental and moral featuresLocal and domestic influences-Melton Mowbray-At a Boardingschool in Leeds-Reminiscences of her school-days by a fellowpupil-Death of her eldest sister-Noble purposes.

THE writer first became acquainted with the subject of this memoir in November, 1838, when she was but nine years old, having been born on the 10th of April, 1829. The occasion was one of mournful interest. Death had invaded her father's house, and smitten the first-born-her beloved and highly-gifted brother John. Years rolled on, and it was not till the summer of 1855 that the acquaintance was renewed. She was then a tall, well-proportioned woman. Her features identified her as the sister of his lamented friend, the Rev. John Hessel, and it required little intercourse to satisfy him that there were other than physical resemblances. An elevation of sentiment, a refinement of taste, and a copiousness of choice language, distinguished her. To these were added a charming frankness. Rumour had pronounced her gifted, but personal acquaintance convinced him "the half had not been told."

The intercourse thus renewed was not likely speedily to terminate. In the following spring she resided for nearly four weeks under his roof, and thus opportunity was afforded for intimate acquaintance. His first impressions were amply confirmed. Amiability, disinterestedness, generosity, and artlessness, were eminently conspicuous, and her aptitude for domestic duties indicated the just views she entertained of their relation to social comfort.

The design of this book, however, is not to erect a monument to the departed, much less to magnify her virtues, but to furnish such a record of her character, aspirations, and attainments, as may animate our daughters to aspire to excellencies which will qualify them to adorn and bless the world. Miss Hessel's chief excellencies were such as lie within the reach of all. She owed much, doubtless, to original endowment, but more to self-culture. Few educated persons were less indebted to preceptors. In common with most young people she was the subject of foolish notions, and injudicious habits. Happily, as she approached womanhood, she discovered and endeavoured to remedy these. Soliciting divine assistance, she resolutely determined to attain the nobility of a true woman, and she succeeded. It would have required a sagacity more than ordinary, to have discerned the woman of five and twenty in the girl of fifteen.

The man of science can analyze the ingredients entering into the composition of a plant, but where is the moral chemist who shall tell us all that has contributed to the formation of any human character? Facts are not wanting, however, to enable us to form a sufficiently accurate estimate of the influences operating upon Miss Hessel's youth, and the peculiarities of her mental and moral nature.

Her reflective powers were early developed. Often might she have been seen wandering in the neighbouring lane, wrapt in deep thought. What could those bright objects

YOUTHFUL CHARACTERISTICS.

be above, which we called stars? How could the Almighty always have existed? Why was evil permitted, and why, in particular, were so many vexations allowed to cross her path? How, considering such facts, could the Divine Being possess infinite benevolence? These were some of the questions which taxed and troubled that young brain. As a natural consequence she eagerly thirsted after knowledge. Unfortunately she had access to but few suitable books. The Pilgrim's Progress, a few volumes of the Methodist Magazine, with a few others of less importance, constituted the domestic library. Borrowing was of course resorted to, but the books thus obtained were generally of a class she knew to be prohibited.

This inquisitiveness was associated with intense susceptibility. The sigh of the storm she regarded as celestial music. As her slender form staggered under its violence, she would exultingly repeat

"O! I love the winds when they spurn control,

For they suit my own bond-hating soul;

I like to hear them sweeping past,

Like the eagle's pinions, free and fast ;

But a pang will rise, with sad alloy,

To soften my spring and sink my joy,

When I think how dismal their voices must be
To a mother who hath a child at sea!"

It cannot surprise us that her broodings often stirred the profoundest depths of her soul. Judge of a girl of sixteen pacing the long garden walks in the cold moonlight, sitting down on the ground, and clasping her hands, uttering in a voice of such passionate earnestness, as even startled herself: "I would gladly die this moment to solve that problem." That girl could be no cipher in the world. She could be no mere unit. For good or evil, she was destined to exert considerable influence.

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