own dear mother.  I can never forget the struggle I had on one occasion.  A lady came to pass a day in the family.  The conversation happened to turn upon the importance and efficacy of prayer.  Here now, I thought, is an opportunity I may never have again to express an opinion on a subject I had thought so much about; and summoning to my aid all the resolution I could, I ventured to remark, “the Bible says, ’the effectual and fervent prayer of the righteous prevaileth much.’” I saw a smile pass over the radiant and beautiful countenance of my aunt, and I instantly conjectured that I had misquoted the passage.  For a long time, as I had opportunity, I turned over the pages of my Bible, before I could detect my mistake.  I cannot say how long a period elapsed, after I left this pleasant family, before the family-altar was erected, but I believe not a very long period.  One thing I am grateful to record, that when my aunt died at middle age, all with her was “peace,” “peace,” “sweet peace.”  And my venerated uncle recently fell asleep in Jesus, at the advanced age of more than fourscore years, like a shock of corn fully ripe.

* * * * *

INTELLECTUAL POWER OF WOMAN.

BY REV.  S. W. FISHER.

There has been a long-standing dispute respecting the intellectual powers of the two sexes, and the consequent style of education suitable to each.  Happily, the truth on this subject may be fully spoken, without obliging me to exalt the father at the expense of the mother, or ennoble man by denying the essential equality of woman.  It is among the things settled by experience, that, equal or not equal in talents, woman, the moment she escapes from the despotism of brute force, and is suffered to unfold and exercise her powers in her own legitimate sphere, shares with man the sceptre of influence; and without presuming to wrest from him a visible authority, by the mere force of her gentle nature silently directs that authority, and so rules the world.  She may not debate in the senate or preside at the bar—­she may not read philosophy in the university or preach in the sanctuary—­she may not direct the national councils or lead armies to battle; but there is a style of influence resulting from her peculiar nature which constitutes her power and gives it greatness.  As the sexes were designed to fill different positions in the economy of life, it would not be in harmony with the manifestations of divine wisdom in all things else to suppose that the powers of each were not peculiarly fitted for their own appropriate sphere.  Woman gains nothing—­she always loses when she leaves her own sphere for that of man.  When she forsakes the household and the gentler duties of domestic life for the labors of the field, the pulpit, the rostrum, the court-room, she always descends from her own bright station, and invariably fails to ascend that of man.  She falls between the two; and the world gazes at