The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-12-31
For the Voice of Freedom.
The influence of Woman
Upon THE CHARACTER AND HAPPINESS OF
MAN.

Upon THE CHARACTER AND HAPPINESS OF
MAN.
When the world came into being at the
word of the Almighty, and giided away upon
its trackless round among the shining orbs of
heaven, he surveyed his handy work. and in
the greatness of his wisdom pronounced it
"good" Angels gazed with rapture upon
the new accession to existence; the morn
ing stars sang together, and all the sons Of
God shouted for joy"
This glorious structure WAS created for the
special residence of Man, who was formed in
the noble image of his Maker, and placed in
the midst of all its brightness and beauty, TO
rule over the new world. In wisdom he gave
all created beings appropriate names, as they
gathered around him at the word Of their
ureator;-he feared not the power Of the ele-
plant or the rhinoceros the serpent and the
tockatrice were harmless in his presence, and
the lion and tiger lay down at his feet He
revelled in the sweets of Paradise, and en- oy-
ed undisturbed, undispued sway he held
converse with heavenly intelligences, and
basked in the smiles of his Maker. But man,
view him as you WILL is social being; he
had no equal to taste with him his cup of bliss,
lone to share his Joys. Loneliness fingered
among the lovely shades, and echoed through
;he bowers of Eden,-it breathcd upon the
fragrant sweets, and stamped its impress on
the flowers Of Paradise.
:" In vain the night bird carold on the Steep
TO hail the sun, slow wheeling from the deep,
In vain the viewless seraph, lingering near,
At silent midnight charmed the listning ear;
In vain to sooh the melancholy shade
Aerial notes, in mingling measure payedf
The world was sad, the garden WAS wild,
-4l,a inY,,n Gin ilOI7
The Almighty, ever mindful of the happi-
ness of his creatures, saw it was not good
that man should be alone" SO he formed
woman, as a help meet, suitable, fit for man,
and in all the loveliness Of youth, purity and
innocence, brought her unto him, to crown
his joys, and complete the perfection Of his
paradise.
A celebrated writer supposes that man chose
rather to be partaker in the fall than retain
his bliss and return to his loneliness He
would not renquish the society of woman,
though he faced his Makers frown, and for
feitcd his glorious heritage Be it rs it may,
it is an undeniable fact, that woman has ever
exerted powerful influence upon the char
acter and happiness of man, from his cradle
to his grave.
The mothers influence controls the mind
Of infancy as her fostering care bends the
twio the tree bears the bright honors Of man
hood, or dwindles into a truitless insignif-
cant shrub. The character Of Washington,
which stands unrvaed in excellence, was
moulded by a widowed mother; and the
pages Of history are adorned with the names
Of many whose widowed mothers kindled the
fires of genius and patriotism in their young
hearts, which afterward blazed with bright
ness that astonished the world. The like
number cannot be produced whose early
training depended upon the forming hand of
!. widowed father, however wise and good.
A pious mother gives deep toned moral
character to the mind Of her son. An emil
nent divine says: {" My mother at the earliest
period of my remembrance, would lay her hand
upon my head, and teach me to repeat after
her child's prayer. i early lost her, butth
act stamped the character Of my future life
and saved me from infdety. l saw many
changes, and was exposed to much temptation,
hut that soft voice would steal like sun
beam into my darkened soul, and that very
touch-the pressure of that gentle hand would
cross my brain, causing me to pause in the
midst of my folly, and reflection saved me"
Oh woman eternity alone can unfold the
greatness and extent OF thy influence
But perhaps an director would ask, "what
has woman done for our country z, 1t was
the patriotism, and valor, and blood, and suf
ferinps of man which rescued our country
from the iron grasp of oppression but I ask,
without the influence of woman, would Amer
lea have become free My wife--my daugh-
ter. or. nv beloved--was the watchword that
nerved the hero's heart in the day of battle;
it was to preserve his home from the M
halowed footstep of the bold invader, that he
fought vim :ser's ssraFnssa and MAKE chs