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and adds an additional luster to what she already possesses。
I mean that disposition in woman which enables her; in sorrow;
in grief; and in distress; to bear all with enduring patience。
This she has done; and can and will do; amid the din of war and
clash of arms。 Scenes and occurrences which; to every appearance;
are calculated to rend the heart with the profoundest emotions of trouble;
do not fetter that exalted principle imbued in her very nature。
It is true; her tender and feeling heart may often be moved (as she
is thus constituted); but she is not conquered; she has not given up
to the harlequin of disappointments; her energies have not become
clouded in the last movement of misfortune; but she is continually
invigorated by the archetype of her affections。 She may bury her face
in her hands; and let the tear of anguish roll; she may promenade
the delightful walks of some garden; decorated with all the flowers
of nature; or she may steal out along some gently rippling stream;
and there; as the silver waters uninterruptedly move forward;
shed her silent tears; they mingle with the waves; and take a last
farewell of their agitated home; to seek a peaceful dwelling among
the rolling floods; yet there is a voice rushing from her breast;
that proclaims VICTORY along the whole line and battlement of
her affections。 That voice is the voice of patience and resignation;
that voice is one that bears everything calmly and dispassionately;
amid the most distressing scenes; when the fates are arrayed against
her peace; and apparently plotting for her destruction; still she
is resigned。
Woman's affections are deep; consequently her troubles may be made
to sink deep。 Although you may not be able to mark the traces of her
grief and the furrowings of her anguish upon her winning countenance;
yet be assured they are nevertheless preying upon her inward person;
sapping the very foundation of that heart which alone was made
for the weal and not the woe of man。 The deep recesses of the soul
are fields for their operation。 But they are not destined simply
to take the regions of the heart for their dominion; they are not
satisfied merely with interrupting her better feelings; but after
a while you may see the blooming cheek beginning to droop and fade;
her intelligent eye no longer sparkles with the starry light of heaven;
her vibrating pulse long since changed its regular motion; and her
palpitating bosom beats once more for the midday of her glory。
Anxiety and care ultimately throw her into the arms of the haggard
and grim monster death。 But; oh; how patient; under every
pining influence! Let us view the matter in bolder colors;
see her when the dearest object of her affections recklessly seeks
every bacchanalian pleasure; contents himself with the last rubbish
of creation。 With what solicitude she awaits his return! Sleep fails
to perform its officeshe weeps while the nocturnal shades of the
night triumph in the stillness。 Bending over some favorite book;
whilst the author throws before her mind the most beautiful imagery;
she startles at every sound。 The midnight silence is broken
by the solemn announcement of the return of another morning。
He is still absent; she listens for that voice which has so often
been greeted by the melodies of her own; but; alas! stern silence
is all that she receives for her vigilance。
Mark her unwearied watchfulness; as the night passes away。
At last; brutalized by the accursed thing; he staggers along
with rage; and; shivering with cold; he makes his appearance。
Not a murmur is heard from her lips。 On the contrary; she meets him
with a smileshe caresses him with tender arms; with all the gentleness
and softness of her sex。 Here; then; is seen her disposition;
beautifully arrayed。 Woman; thou art more to be admired than the spicy
gales of Arabia; and more sought for than the gold of Golconda。
We believe that Woman should associate freely with man; and we believe
that it is for the preservation of her rights。 She should become
acquainted with the metaphysical designs of those who condescended
to sing the siren song of flattery。 This; we think; should be
according to the unwritten law of decorum; which is stamped upon
every innocent heart。 The precepts of prudery are often steeped
in the guilt of contamination; which blasts the expectations of
better moments。 Truth; and beautiful dreamsloveliness; and delicacy
of character; with cherished affections of the ideal woman
gentle hopes and aspirations; are enough to uphold her in the storms
of darkness; without the transferred colorings of a stained sufferer。
How often have we seen it in our public prints; that woman occupies
a false station in the world! and some have gone so far as to say it
was an unnatural one。 So long has she been regarded a weak creature;
by the rabble and illiteratethey have looked upon her as an
insufficient actress on the great stage of human lifea mere puppet;
to fill up the drama of human existencea thoughtless; inactive being
that she has too often come to the same conclusion herself; and has
sometimes forgotten her high destination; in the meridian of her glory。
We have but little sympathy or patience for those who treat her as
a mere Rosy Melindiwho are always fishing for pretty complements
who are satisfied by the gossamer of Romance; and who can be
allured by the verbosity of high…flown words; rich in language;
but poor and barren in sentiment。 Beset; as she has been; by the
intellectual vulgar; the selfish; the designing; the cunning; the hidden;
and the artfulno wonder she has sometimes folded her wings in despair;
and forgotten her HEAVENLY mission in the delirium of imagination;
no wonder she searches out some wild desert; to find a peaceful home。
But this cannot always continue。 A new era is moving gently onward;
old things are rapidly passing away; old superstitions; old prejudices;
and old notions are now bidding farewell to their old associates
and companions; and giving way to one whose wings are plumed
with the light of heaven and tinged by the dews of the morning。
There is a remnant of blessedness that clings to her in spite of all
evil influence; there is enough of the Divine Master left to accomplish
the noblest work ever achieved under the canopy of the vaulted skies;
and that time is fast approaching; when the picture of the true
woman will shine from its frame of glory; to captivate; to win back;
to restore; and to call into being once more; THE OBJECT OF HER MISSION。
Star of the brave! thy glory shed;
O'er all the earth; thy army led
Bold meteor of immortal birth!
Why come from Heaven to dwell on Earth?
Mighty and glorious are the days of youth; happy the moments
of the LOVER; mingled with smiles and tears of his devoted;
and long to be remembered are the achievements which he gains with a
palpitating heart and a trembling hand。 A bright a