The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1837-09-09

literary and religious institutions, esPeclahy
those embracing both sexes, should be head
ed and controlled by man; while the mod
est and retiring, though not less valuable
and powerful influences of her personal
character and conversation upon her do
mestic circle, her neighbors and associates,
and through them upon the world, together
with the fruits of her intellect, impaired not
in public lectures but by private instruction,
or communicated to the world through the
medium of the press, belong to woman
But let itnot be supposed that her agen-
cy is to be restricted to mere temporal af-
fairs. She ought not, like sister of old,
be numbered with much serving to the
neglect of other and higher duties. TO
'look well to the ways of her household
and eat not the bread of idleness,' to see
that whatever her husband provides, tells to
advantage, in the neat and tasteful apparel,
the we'll spread table, the comfort and hap
pihess of her family, is of course a duty
never 10 be neglected; but more, much
more than this, remains for her to do. 1t
is hers also to nourish and adorn the young
and growing minds; to cause her inStruc-
tionS to distil upon them as the dew; as
the small rain upon the tender herb, and as
showers that water the earth; to bend and
direct the infant twig in the way it should
grow, that it may grow, that it may shoot
erect toward heaven; to put forth a moth
er's restraining and elevating influence upon
her sons, that they may be as plants grown
up in their YOUTH and TO bestow moth
er's guardianship and delicate care upon
her daughters, that 'they may be as corner
stones polished after the simlihde of a
palace;" to exert holy influence upon
her husband, and by her sweet and tender
sympathies to calm his anxious mind,
smooth his ruffled brow, and cheer him in
the path of self denying duty and Of high
ehdeavor-to diffuse all arotind her, as she
minges in society, the pure and mighty in
fuences of female piety, always savoring
of delicacy, modesty, good sense, intelli-
gence, and transparent benevolence--and
all this, if you please, adorned with a fin
ished culture, sparkling with chastened and
refined wit, and attended with whatever
may be most attractive and commanding in
the peculiar graces and beauties of the fe-
male character-these are the noblest yir-
tues of woman, these are what render her
what she was made to be, if we may cred
it the bible, the help that is meet or suita-
BILE for ftian-such is the help he needs.
And who will say that they are not as i'm
portant, as honorable, as elevated, and that
they do not invite and give ample scope to
as high intellectual and moral cultivation,
as the Distinguishing duties of men!
How sadly then do they mistake, who
suppose that the sacred writers depress the
female sex, when they so much restrict
their influence to personal, essential. in
trinsic elevation and goodness! This in
fact is the only true excellence, the most
glorious of all power. Even the man who
must needs stretch for an office, or cover
some public notoriety to make himself felt
IN the world, or to secure honor, is but a
sorry man: how much more is she but =
sorry woman, who must needs resort to
these adventitiOus means of influence or
distinction! No-so far from DEPRESSING
the female sex, it was the wise intent or
Providence in this arrangement to elevate
her to the highest point of the most excel
lent worth and influence; to protect her
who was to be the model of all that is lovo
ly IN character, and the source of the most
transforming and benign influence upon tbe
world from all temptation to seek the moro
outward and vulgar forms of boror-to
SHINE IN the adventitious distinctions or oc
flee, to challenge for her fair name = ,I.ao
IN the rude ballot box, or among tbe cardi
dates for public office, or ia the noisy hall.
OF state-tO covet for herself a share iii
A ~ aI.