The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 184?-1851, 1850-06-05
Sci ECT T A l. T. .
From Sartain's Magazine.
MIGHT vs.. RIGHT.
by MISS C. NJ. sEDGwIcK.

"There is no wealth but the labor of man''-or
woman.
ANNE CLEVELAND vas the daughter of E
wealthy farmer She had good New Eng
land school education, and was we'll bred ana
well laugh, at home in the virtues and man.
ners that constitute domestic social life. Her
father died year before her marriage. lie
left will dividing his property equally be-
tween his son and daughter, giving TO the sou
tie homestead with all its accumulated rural
riches, and 10 The daughter the largest share
Of the personal property, amounting to six or
seven thousand dollars. This little fortune,
the earnings Of life Of labor and frugalty,
became at Anne's marriage the property OF
her husband. She had no longer any right
to control it; to keep, or expend it. 1t would
seem, to the perceptions OF common sense
and common justice, that the property of a
woman received from her father should be
hers, and should be appropriated as 10 secure
her Independence, aHd TO maintain and edu.
cate her children. But the laws Of barba
rous aye decided otherwise, and it is hard 10
right wrong deeply fixed in the usages of
society, and long transmitted habits Anne
Cleveland married John Warren. He was
the youngest child, bed by his parents, AMI
let off from all heavy work and difficult tasks
by his good natured elder brothers. Anne's
judgment was perhaps warped by his agree
abeness, and an exterior with little less o
the rustic, and little mere of the gentleman
,han belonged 10 her other admirers; fol
many admirers had Anne Cleveland attract
cd by her charming counlenance, Ter virtues
her sweet manners, to say nothing Of the
''plenty that feeds tho lovers fire."
This plenty obtained with Anne's hand
was soon vested in n stock Of goods, ant
Warren opened dry goods shop in smaI
town in the vicinity Of Boston, He had moi
thought of his qualifications for merchandise
but only Of escaping from distasleruI farming
and frugal life. lie went on tolerlbIy fol
five or six years, living genteelly and reckless
ly; expecting that next years gains woult
bring round the excess Of this years expen
ses.
When sixteen years of their married III,
had passed, they were living in single
room in the most crowded street Of Roxbnry
Massachusetts. Mrs. Warren's inheritance
had long been gone from them, every penny
of it. The lives of three children had been
sacrificed To unhealthy locations, and to the
oyer:asked and wasted strength of thci
mother. Three survived-a girl fifteen year
old, whom the mother by incredible exer
iions was educating to be tencber, boy 0
twelve, who was still living nj home, and
delicate, pale, little sTugsler for life, Jessie
a girl Of three years. Mrs Warren was muc
changed in those sixteen Yeas. Her rouuc
blooming cheek was pale and sunken. lie
dark, abundant chesnut hair had become thi
and gray Her sweet, dove like eye, over
taxed by use and watching, was faded, an
her whole person shrunken. Yet she ha
gained the great victory. The buoyancy {
youth had given place 10 most gentle su.
mission aud resignation, and the igh, {
hope 10 most sweet patience.
This blessed patience, and even q certai
degtee Of cheerfulness, was visible, as sl
sat one July evening, sewing by the light
single lamp, while her boy was getting b
Iaatn lesson beside her, and at inier,a
threading her needle.
''Dcar motbe,,'' he said, "I will alwa.
thread your needles il you will not we
those hprrid spectacles; they make you loo
u numbered years old, besides hiding yot
sweet eyes"
." "Ah, George, all children hate their mot
'ef's spectacles, believe. They do not liI
TO sec those they hove getting old; but "
tnusr aake up your mind TO it, cann
Heave off work, aud | canno, see in the eve
ming without them
George picked up the lamp wick and Ih
said, "There is no use se--lbe oil is bad.
wish we had some Of The lights that are bur
ing away for nothing in rich mems houses
.'Coyet not your nelghbor's goods, my sOr
ui31A ACovetl ! don't covct, motser, only wi
gi Il makes me feel so, mother, to see you W
4 king your eyes out. Wig do you work
8 late, motherf You work laier and later, a
that shoe binding, you say, is SO trying
your eyes"
t3Sa"Ihavs good reason for doing extra wo
now, George; lave kept up without dc
ta,and have now fifty five dollars due to me
y Mr.. Doyle's.n
gall "Then you have good right TO stop va
work, molher,n said George, affectonOte
taking tho shoe from her, "and u you wo
q shall mike you"
icG sNo, give /, to me, George. must ha
p sixty dollars, and then shall treat myself
res. and recreation too. Anne must hO
Much hus been snid and IL saying about
rights of women. Ii the rights 70 their own =
perty, By inheritnnce; or by their own labor, {
first OF social Eights,) and the right OF the custc
Of her children (the fFst OF natures rights,) ",
secured to them, the rest might be left 10 the As
pEETs Of character and conduct.