The Port Gibson herald, and correspondent. (Port Gibson, Claiborne Co., Miss.) 1848-18??, 1850-11-22
influence of Woman,

| precious of earthly treasures ever bestowed
upon any man, was the deep devotion oi
woman's heart. He who can trife with
such treasure shows himself very stupid
or very base. He has that in his power,
of more worth, than the mines of Golcon-
da. They cannot of themselves, make
hun happy; but the pure affections of a
woman's heart, are perennial spring OF
bliss, to him who properly appreciates
them. How much such reflections as
these, if habituaIly cherished, preserve
the husband from the intoxicating cup, and
all those vices which degrade him, and
bring wretchedness into the family circle.
The foregoing Thoughts are beautifully
and most impressively illustrated, in the
following extract from lecture, delivered
some years ago in Philadelphia, by R.
Norris
The influence of women over the desti-
ny of men and nations, has been mighty
in all ages of the world. The story of
Virtue and the band of Roman matrons,
who induced Coriolanus to lay down his
arms-the history of Lucrelia, of Virginia,
and the daughters of Marcus Fabius-
were related to prove this truth.
An anecdote was related of Robert Bar
clay, who commanded the British squad
ron at the battle of Lake Erie. He lost
his right arm and one of his legs in that
battle. Feeling acutely that he was
mere wreck, on his return to England, he
sent friend to a lady to whom he had
been engaged, offering to release her from
the engagement. ..Tell him. said the
noble girl, 'that will joyfully marry him,
if ne has only enough Of body left to hold
mis- soul.'
Another anecdote was given of two
beautiful and fashionable girls Of Philadel-
phia. Fifteen years ago they were the
most attractive objects of every circle
which they visited. They were friends.
The news suddenly came to one of them,
that her friend had been suddenly seized
with the smallpox, that disease SO fright
full to all beauties. Though demonstrated
with against such course, she determined
to visit that sick bed. HHer heart told her
that she ought to go''-and she did 60
and hour by hour, day by day, night by
night, sat by the side of her suffering friend.
That friend recovered, and the noble hear
ted girl escaped contagion. Such a noble
and heroic act would plead with the tongue
of an angel before the tribunal Of Just
and true God.
Another thrilling story was related of
the young wife watching by the bedside
of her sick husband-a tale of truth. 1t
was the night on which the physicians
had said the disease must reach its crisis.
How intensely did she watch those fea-
lures throughout the entire night-count
every breath, and note the slightest move
ment. She finally sees with delight that
he has fallen into deep sleep, that his
forehead was moist, the fever had been
broken she falls upon her knees long and
fervently. When she rose the husband
slept, and ray which came through the
half closed window, lay still upon his FORE
head; promise, she fondly thought, that
the day of recovery was at hand. And
he did recover, but the gentle wife was
doomed to pay the penalty of her unwea-
rying attention; the moment that dated
the period of his recovery, also marked
that of her doom. Her death scene was
touching, beautiful, sublime. Her young
husband knelt by her bedside conVulsed
with grief, but pledging himself in the
most solemn manner. so to govern his life
as to insure at its close hope of meeting
his self-martyred wife, amid the glorious
mansions of the blest. She died with a
faint smile upon her features.
So much for devotion-whethcr in
the young beauty, the gentle sister, or the
doting wife. In how many dear relations
does she stand to US. Mother-sister-
daughter, wife. The English language
does not contain four words calculated 10
call forth deeper fountains of emotion, or
kindle associations dearer and fonder to
the human heart.