Enquire within upon everything

2186. Advice to Young Ladies. i. If you have blue eyes you need not languish: if black eyes, you need not stare. ii. If you have pretty feet there is no occasion to wear short petticoats: if you are doubtful as to that point, there can be no harm in letting the petticoats be long. iii. If you have good teeth, do not laugh in order to show them: if bad teeth do not laugh less than the occasion may warrant. iv. If you have pretty hands and arms, you may play on the harp if you play well: if they are disposed to be clumsy, work tapestry. v. If you have a bad voice, speak in a subdued tone: if you have the finest voice in the world, never speak in a high tone. vi. If you dance well, dance but seldom; if ill, never dance at all. vii. If you sing well, make no previous excuses: if indifferently, do not hesitate when you are asked, for few people are judges of singing, but every one is sensible of a desire to please. viii. To preserve beauty, rise early. ix. To preserve esteem, be gentle. x. To obtain power, be condescending. xi. To live happily, try to promote the happiness of others. 2187. Daughters. Mothers who wish not only to discharge well their own duties in the domestic circle, but to train up their daughters for a later day to make happy and comfortable firesides for their families, should watch well, and guard well, the notions which they imbibe and with which they grow up. There will be many persons ready to fill their young heads with false and vain fancies, and there is so much always afloat in society opposed to duty and common sense, that if mothers do not watch well, their children may contract ideas very fatal to their future happiness and usefulness, and hold them till they grow into habits of thought or feeling. A wise mother will have her eyes open, and be ready for every emergency. A few words of common, downright practical sense, timely uttered by her, may be enough to counteract some foolish idea or belief put into her daughter's head by others, whilst if it be left unchecked, it may take such possession of the mind that it cannot be corrected at a later time.