Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1850-04-19
MISCELLANY.
WOMAN LOT---HOW HARD.
BY REV. JOHN s. C. ABBOT.

woman lOl is IN many respects.
hard one. She is peculiarly exposed to
ad ersily, and yet he is deprived of most
If those resources which enable men to
NEE, calamity. and triumph over it.
man may, in some sense. be the
creator Of his own destiny. All the av-
enurs of W alih and influence and power
are open before him. The wide world
is his home. and, with energy Of charac-
ter, he can, if he fail in one enlprprise,
try ano'ller. Every trade, every proles.
sion is free to his choice. The bound.
less West soIicls him to cultivate lhe
soil. California opens to him her gold
mines. Every river, every lake. and all
oceans are fields inviting his energies.
But how different are the chances of
woman. when the hour of adversely falls
upon her. She is, perhaps, left a wild
ow with enieebled health, no property,
and a family of young and helpless chill
dren. She can se,k no partner to be a
ia iher To her little ones. ana lo repair the
breach in her shattered household. She
can open boarding house, if she chance
To have friends to provide her with the
means. But the adventure is SD hazar-
dous To one all inexperienced in such an
enterprise, that success can hardly be
anticipated. She can have recourse to
her needle, but what can a mother, sur.
rounded by helpless children, do with a
needle, TO Obtain support! Ii she has a
cultivated mind. she can take school,
and seems almost the only available re-
source open before her.
few years ago, there might have
been seen, in one of the most gorgeous
rquipages sweeping down Broadway, a
lady, in The most snowy garb of fashion.
E cry luxury embellished her house.
The shops of Paris had been ransacked
to furnish her parlors. Occupying one
of The most fashionable residences in
the city. and her husband having been
emnenlly successful in business, she was
regarded with envious eyes. by those who
had been less fortunate in the strife Of
life. Forgetful of her humble origin,
she looked hautily down upon those from
whose society she had emerged into her
position of wealth and brlliance. A few
years of splendor passed away, when re-
verses came; every dollar of property
was lost; The carriage and servants disap-
peared; the fashionable residence was
ahandoned; and the humbled family, who,
in the loss of property, had lost the only
tile To distinction, were forgotten, as
they sought refuge in an humble dwelling
IL an obscure street. A few years OF
struggling with absolute penury passed
away. lien the husband died, and the
wife was left, with no means, and with
np EN- r. les tor Obtaining "A iivelihood.--
The suiiering they endured in their prl-
ai"ns during The slow process ni hum
hhng prize. ~ iongue can tell. But
when hc gurm.iis are worn ihteadbare.
and hunger is gnawing al The hear, even
'hr strongest pride must yield. Not
long ago. lhIs same woman was seen in
a cod winer's day shis ering, as the
h. en- air pierced her Thin shawl which
covered her shoJ!ners, soliciting, from
door to door. d situation as nurse, To
rare one! There is hardly resident in
any of our cities who cannot relate many
similar occurrences in hls own expert
ence. A good education might have di-
vested these reverses of all their bitteresI
panss. Ii is true, that an amiable and
energetic character, without education,
would have opened many doors and ma
ny hears 10 one thus plunged in ad,er-
si,y. Few in This country, need come
to absolute want, who have the DISPOSE
ZION and lae ability to render themselves
useful. But good education is. to a
woman of energetic character an indepen-
dence.
few years ago, in one Of The interi-
or towns of New England, there was
wedding, under circumstances which
gave unusual promise OF happiness to
parties united. Thee oung lady was
beautiful and highly accomplished, of
good parentage, aud surrounded by a cir
Gle Of relatives, intelligent and refined.
The young gentleman was a physician
of very eminent pr1mise. Polished in
manners. gifted with high poetic taste,
and skilled in his profession he was en-
uering upon, apparently, a very brilliant
ceree: Of his practice. in the mids, Of a
circle of iamllies Of unusual opulence
aud refinement The lot of Leonora
was considered by all as truly enviable.
She received a, her nuplials, the congrat-
ulaiions of all her friends, and was led,
by her happy husband. to home. appa-
ren,ly, as high favored as earth could pos
sihly present. A few years Of happiness
glideJ swiftly away. The destinations
OF DIR. g.. ds a social companion, and
The beauty and accomplishment Of his
bride, opened before them every door OF
festive enjoyment. In those days. ..old
Cogniac," ..Hollahds," and strong Nv est
India" stood upon every sideboard, and
wine sparkled IN every entertainment.
The popular ply sician, at every call, was
invited To drink. 1t would not do to de-
cline the invitation, either from the poor
or the rich. DIR. G., became drunkard.
We need not go through the painful reci-
ial, with which all are familiar, Of this
career. from opulence to penury and woe.