The first stitches of the sewing-work of a little child are about as good as those of the mature man.

The taking of small stitches, involving minute and equable measurements of space, is a part of every girl's training; she becomes skilled, before she is aware of it, in one of the nicest peculiarities of astronomical observation.
"The ear of a child is less trained, except in the case of a musical education; but the touch is a delicate sense given in exquisite degree to a girl, and her training comes in to its aid.

She threads a needle almost as soon as she speaks; she touches threads as delicate as the spider-web of a micrometer.
"Then comes in the girl's habit of patient and quiet work, peculiarly fitted to routine observations.

The girl who can stitch from morning to night would find two or three hours in the observatory a relief.".