Page:Advice to young ladies on their duties and conduct in life - Arthur - 1849.djvu/84

76 was, after a time, fortunate enough to gain her consent to be married. She made him a frugal, industrious wife, and an excellent companion. About five years afterwards, he went into business on a small capital, which they had saved from his salary, and was quite successful. He did not become, it is true, a very rich man, nor his wife a great lady; but they were in good circumstances, and able to give their children every advantage of education, and the means of usefulness and advancement in the world.

Out of ten young girls in the work-room where Ann learned her trade, all with no better advantages than she had possessed, seven married men of low minds and vulgar habits, and never rose above their original condition. Two were more like Ann, and they were sought by young men of a better class. One of them did not marry at all.

No matter how many and great may be the disadvantages under which a young girl may labor,—she may yet rise, if she will, very much above the points, in external condition, from which she started in life. And in proportion as she thus rises will she find a higher degree of happiness, and be able to do far more good than otherwise would be possible to her.

Every thing that tends to elevate the lower