"Nature often enshrines gallant and noble hearts in weak bosoms

oftenest in female breasts."-DICKENS.

“O fear not in a world like this,

And thou shalt know ere longKnow how sublime a thing it is To suffer and be strong.”

- LONGFELLOW.

PREFACE.

WOMAN is described as “ the weaker sex,” referring to her physical constitution, which, says Shakespeare, is

“Soft, and weak, and smooth,

Unapt to toil and trouble in the world." But if weakness is ascribed to her resolution, to her strength of will, to her courage, the term is not correct. Woman, in courage, in

, resolution, in purpose, is man's equal, often his superior. In seasons of emergency her expedients are many and practical; in sickness and sorrow, though overwhelmed with woe, she never forgets the duty which the situation demands : her hand soothes the brow of the sufferer, and stills with gentlest voice the forebodings of evil. When subjected to tyranny and outrage, no other course being open to her, she bears her lot with patient hope; and when the opportunity is presented, she does not hesitate to use extreme expe nts in freeing herself from the thraldom of oppres