Page:Advice to young ladies on their duties and conduct in life - Arthur - 1849.djvu/27

Rh first important era in the life of a young maiden is when she finally leaves school. This is the time when she begins to think for herself, and is left in more than ordinary freedom to act for herself Up to this period, she has lived in obedience to her parents, guardians, or teachers, in all things. She has gone to school, and pursued her studies there under the entire direction of others, submitting her will and her judgment to the will and judgment of others, as older and wiser than herself For years, her mind has been fully occupied with the various branches of knowledge which it has been deemed by others right that she should acquire. But now, books of instruction are laid aside; the strict rules of the seminary are no longer observed; the mind that has been for a long time active in the pursuits of knowledge sinks into repose.

This, which we have called the first important era in a woman’s life, may, with justice, be rather called the most important era in her life; for her whole future life will be affected by