consonant with feminine gentleness and humility, and if really felt in its true reverential significance, will be a stimulus to the very weakest.

Those who are convinced that biography teaches principles by the most direct method, that of example,-those who desire to emulate excellence, those who by a retrospect of the past, hope to gain strength for the present and the future, will, perhaps, read with no indifferent eye the following brief memorials of some genuine working women.

17

CHAPTER II.

MRS. TRIMMER.

WRITINGS OF THE SATIRISTS.-ESTABLISHMENT OF SABBATH-SCHOOLS.-BIRTH AND PARENTAGE OF SARAH KIRBY (AFTERWARDS TRIMMER). CHILDHOOD. REMOVAL TO LONDON.-ATTRACTS THE NOTICE OF DR. JOHNSON.-COURSE OF READING.-MARRIAGE.DOMESTIC OCCUPATIONS.--HAPPY FAMILY CIRCLE.ESTABLISHMENT OF SCHOOLS AT BRENTFORD.-WRITINGS FOR THE YOUNG, AND FOR SERVANTS.-ARRANGEMENT OF TIME. OBSERVANCE OF THE SABBATH.FAMILY BEREAVEMENTS-WIDOWHOOD, DEATH.

AMONG the thousands of thoughtful women who have read Dr. Young's "Night Thoughts," how very few comparatively have read his satires. And yet, if they would form an estimate of the poet and his times, they must read his early writings, for in them is contained a picture of his mind and of his age, truthfully yet painfully sketched. Every popular poet of the "Augustan age" of English literature thought it incumbent on him to become, not the eulogist, but the satirist of women. Or, if they eulogized

с

a few favourites in nigh-flown artificial strains, they made the amende to themselves and society by severe general strictures. They were teachers who justified the unsparing use of the lash by having a few special favourites. So repulsive was their severity, so completely did they comprehend the punishment, rather than the prevention, of folly, that modern readers might be pardoned, if they rushed to the conclusion that the lash of the satirist may have often roused indignation and defiance, but never did anything in the way of improving those attacked. The writer frankly owns that this was her opinion, and that looking into her own heart, she could never have felt any other emotion than sorrowing indignation towards men, who, like Pope and Swift, used their special privilege as scholars, and authors, to say nothing of their gifts as poets, to malign and contemn the sex, who at that time were often condemned to ignorance, and laughed at if they sought for knowledge, and thus prevented from improvement or self-defence. It was bad enough for society to have degraded women into frivolity and weakness:-to upbraid them for being what prejudice and neglect had made them, seemed a refinement of despotism. And yet it must be confessed, the most ungenerous sarcasm is pre

ferable to flattery; for the one, however unpalatable, may contain a wholesome medicine, the other is always an insidious poison.

Dr. Young's satires had a higher motive, and reading them formed an era in the moral and mental development of a young girl, who became in after-life one of the most valuable women of the end of the last, and beginning of the present century-a woman who deserves to be ranked high among educational reformers and experimental philanthropists. Dr. Young's satires on woman made her early in life resolve to endeavour to avoid the follies and frivolities he condemned; and a crisis having occurred in the mental state of the mass of the people, by the arrangements of Providence, the subject of our sketch was among the first in labouring to remove the gross darkness of ignorance by means of Sabbath-schools.

When the benevolent Robert Raikes, of Gloucester, first commenced Sunday-schools, he was regarded by many excellent persons as a mere enthusiast; and others were absolutely opposed to his efforts. Those who approved were doubtful and timid as to the result. The manifest success that crowned the labour of faith and love was a wonderful triumph, and very speedily throughout wide England-nay,

throughout the United Kingdom-Sunday-schools were in active operation, and were acknowledged by all to be an agency for good that all succeeding generations would labour to perpetuate. The first woman in England who entered cordially and energetically into this scheme of Sabbath instruction for the young, particularly of the poorer classes, was Mrs. Trimmer of Brentford; a name interesting in the annals of education for many valuable elementary religious works; a woman whose life was a practical exemplification of her writings.

Sarah Kirby (afterwards Trimmer) was born at Ipswich, January 17th, 1741. Her father was an artist-architectural drawing being his special department. He was a man of great general information and high character, insomuch that his society was sought after in the most exclusive circles. The Clergy of Ipswich had formed a kind of Club or Literary Society for themselves only, but the attainments of Mr. Kirby induced them, contrary to their usage, to solicit him to become a member. The wife of this excellent man was in all respects a helpmate. Their family was very small, consisting only of Sarah, and a brother younger than herself. There is nothing remarkable recorded of the childhood of the subject of our sketch. She was an affec