The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1850-03-13
wOMAN,s LOT--HOW HARD.
From Mrs Whittlesey's Magazine for Mothers.
nYsREv. JOHN S. G. ABBOTT
BE not elated with prosperyThe value of good Edu
cation to Woman. 'N 80 atf

BY REV. JOHN s. C. ABBOTT.
BE not elaed with prosperyThe value of good Edu-
cation to Woman. '@ feEs
Wonian's lot is in many respects, a hard
one .-She is peculiarly exposed to adversely, and
yet she is deprived of most of those res ources
which enable men to meet calamity, and to tri-
umph over it. man may, in some sense, be
the creator Of his own destiny. All the avenues
OF influence, and wealth and power are open be.
fore him. The wide world is his home, and, with
energy Of character, he can, fhe fail in one
enterprise, try another Every trade, every
profession is free to his choice. The boundless
West solicits him to cultivate the soil. Califor
mia opens to him her gold mines. Every river,
every lake, and all oceans are fields inviting his
energies, M F.. .
But how different are the chances ola wo-
man, when the hour of adversely falls upon her
She is, perhaps, left widow with enfeebled
health, no property, and family of young and
helpless children.--She can seek no partner to
be father to her little ones, and to repair the
breach in her shattered household. She can
open a boarding house, if she chance to have
friends to provide her with the means But
the adventure is so hazardous to one all nexpe-
rienced in such an enterprise, that success can
hardly be anticipated. She can have recourse
to herneedle. butwhat can mother, surrounded
by helpless children, do with needle to obtain
support If she has cultivated mind, she can
take school, and seems almost the only availa-
BILE resource open before her. s- as... ....r..
Afew years ago, there might have been seen,
in one of the most gorgeous equipages sweeping
down Broadway, a lady, in the most snowy
garb of fashion. Every luxury embellished her
home.-The shops of Paris had been ransacked
to furnish her parlors. Occupying one of the
most fashionable residences of the city, and her
husband having been eminen:ly successful in
business, she was regarded with envious ewes,
by those who had been less fortunate in the
strife OF life. Forgetful of her humble origin,
she looked haughtily down upon those from
whose society she had emerged into her position
of wealth and brilliance. A few years of splen-
dor passed away, when reverses came every
dollar of property was lost the carriage and SER
wants disappeared the fashionable residence was
abandoned; and the humbled family, who, in the
loss ofproparty, had lost the only title to dstnc-
ton, were forgotten, as they sought refuge in an
humble dwelling in obscure street A few
years of struggling with absolute penurv passed
away, when the husband died, and the wife was
lett, with no means, and with no energies for
obtaining livelihood. The suffering endured
in their privations during the slow process of
hunbling pride, no tongue can tell. But when
the garments are worn threadbare, and hunger
is gnawing at the heart, the strongest prid:
must yield. Not long ago, this same woman
was seen in a cold winters day, shiverng, as
the keen air pierced her thin shawl which cover
ed her shoulders, soliciting, from door to door,
situation as nurse, to take care of children |
Is this case rare one' There is hardly resi-
dent in any one of our great cities who cannot |
relate many similar occurrences in his own
experience. good education might have
Invested these reverses Of all their bitterest
pangs. 1t is true, that an amiabe and energetic |
character, without education, would have opened
many doors and many hearts to one thus plunged |
into adversely. Few in this country, need come
to absolute want, who have the disposition and |
the ability to render themselves useful But a
good education is, to woman of energetic char
acter, an independence.
A few years ago, in one of the interior towns
OF New England, there wedding, under
circumstances which gave unusual promise of
happiness to the parties united. The young lady
was beautiful and highly accomplished, of good
parentage, and surrounded by circle of relatives
intelligent and refined. The young gentleman
was physician of very eminent promise Po-
lished in manners, gifted with high poetic TASTE
and skilled in his profession he was entering up
on, apparently, very brilliant career of practice
in the midst of circle of families of unusual Cd.
ulence and refinement. The lot Of Lconora was
considered by all as truly enviablc She recc-
ved at her nuptals, the congratulations of all her
friends, and was led, by her happy husband, to
home, apparently, as highly favored as earth
could possibly present. A few years of happ-
ness glided swiftly away. The destinations of
Dr. e., as social companion, and the beauty
and accomplishments of his bride, opened before
them every door OF festive enjoyment. In those
days, cold Cogniac,' Hollands and strong
'sWest India stood upon every sideboard, and
wine sparkled in every entertainment The po-
Pular physician, at every call, was invited to
drink. 1t would not do to decline the invitation,
either from the poor or the rich. Dr. G.. became
a drunkard We need not 90 through the pain
tu recital, with which all are familiar Of this |
dreadful career, from opulence to perjury and |
woe.
Drunkenness has been peculiarly the vice of
the noble, of the generous, of the magnanimous |
The man of warm heart, Of ocia affections, and
OF attractive manners, was just the to be ur-
ed ~ those destinations, social and intellectual,
which gathered around the wine cup, where
there was ever found the "feast of reason and
the "how Of soul. Prone to yield to the persua-
slons of others, and to selfsurrender to promote
the enjoyment of friends, he was led along, by
insensible steps, to thraldom to the most dread
fnl appetite, which ever cursed the children of
men. DR.. G. fell from a commanding height, |
ind he sank to corresponding depth His ruin |
was utter and irretrievabe. He became bloa-
ted inebriate, lost to all sense of humanity, and
was often seen staggering through the streets,
surrounded by group OF derisive school-boys
OF whom he would be begging pennies to pur-
chase rum now making speeches in prose, and
again in verse, for the reward of penny. He
at length wandered away, and was one cold win
ter morning, found frozen as stiff as block of
ice, upon bleak plain, over which the winds
and the SHOWS of a January night had been fer
cely driving.
Leonora was left, the drunkard's penniless
widow, with three little children looking to her
for bread She had friends who were ready to
take care of her, and do what they could to allie
viate the woes Of a heart thus hopelessly broken.
Different friends would afford a home for each
of the children, and brother would gladly have
received her underhis roof. For some time
before the death of the ruined inebriate, the fam
lily of Leonora had been entirely supported by her
friends. She, however, with characteristic ener-
gy, now resolved that she would no longer be
dependent, but that she would have her own
home, and keep her own loved children with
her.
She opened school. Her highly cultivated
mind was her ample capital for the enterprise =
She was eminently successful. Time passed its
alternating influences over her wounded heart.
Her home again became happy one, as her no
BILE sons grew up, her pride and her Joy. Her
u. ~ III Il