Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1850-06-21
MIS- ELAN ECU s..
From the Lady's Book.
wOMAN's RIGHTS.
BY HADDIE LANE.

ing aside the stocking she had been
knitting, and interrupting me in most
interesting discussion with cousin Tom
'Haddie. what do you mean by the words
.Woman's Rights!' They have passed
your lips at least dozen times within
the last ten minutes
why, antie, was just wishing to ex-
ercise my rights as Toms physician,
and | was vowing, to give him such a
dose Of rats bane as would rid the
world forever of such pest
i was sorry, my Haddie, to hear you
speak jestingly on such grave subject;
but get your bonnet, and join me in a
walk through the village, and you will
find, | hope, before we return, that you
have numerous and noble rights. You
will learn that which will make you
iremble for yourself, lest you should
misuse your talents
Greatly wondering what aunt Debbie
could mean, was soon equipped, and
found her waiting in the hall. As we
descended the steps together, noticed
shade Of sadness on her brow, her lips
lost their usual smile, and there was a
slight tremor in her voice when she
spoke.
Here, Miss Haddie, shall want your
help; which will you carry, The basket
or the bundle!
Neither, Aunt Debbie,' l replied,
snatching up the basket, however,
Where are you going to take me, aunt!'
l asked after we had gone some distance.
The basket is not as light as it might be,
and the bundle is of respectable size.'
My aunt answered by leading the
way into narrow lane, which imme-
diaiely recognized as leading to the cot
tage of Widow Green, whose daughter
was one of my old playmates.
Really, aunt, things seem so changed
since ] went to school. have not
heard from Mary Green this many a
long day. expect she is married-the
bride of some rustic Ichabode or Peter.
sHaddie, can you-will you be grave
for the next five minutes! promised
to tell you of woman's rights, and you
should be serious
She knocked at the door; a feeble
voice babe US enter. / followed aunt
Debbie, who walked 10 a corner Of the
room. There, on a low bed, lay a was
ted form in whose dark eyes lurked
lingering resemblance to her who was
once the village beauty. 1t was with
difficulty that checked the exclamation
of surprise that sprang 10 my lips, but a
glance from Aunt Debbie warned me,
and ! sat down silently by the bedside.
Could that be Mary Green9 The rosy
cheeks, the laughing glances were gone.
SO young TO die!' | murmured. Just
my age
Come here, Haddie, said Aunt Deb
bic, cheerfully; 'here is an old friend.'
A sweet smile hovered on the sick
girls lips, and bent over her.
.Changed--sadly changed she said.
Yes, Mary, changed. said Aunt Deb
bic; but gladly changed, from thought
less, giddy girl. to true Christians; from
a proud girl to an humble sufferer
True, most true, trust Mary an
swered.
.Haddie, dear l spoke only Of my
face. / am about to die, Haddie-I am
in dreadful agony sometimes-yet be-
lieve me, would not be as once was
for all the wealth of worlds. am far
happier now than even in those merry
days wheu we used to run races to the
school house and wonder il queens were
as gay as we. Your aunt, Haddie, has
made me Christian--has told me OF
my God
A violent cough interrupted her.
feared that the spirit had flown as she
fell back heavily on the pillow; but her
eyes gently unclosed, and she was about
to proceed, when Aunt Debbie spoke
'Another time, Mary; not now
She acquiesced.
Tearfully, but silently, l watched my
aunt, now arranging the pillows, now
holding cup of water TO Mary's parch.
ed lips; then unbarring the window,
she let in a glorious stream of sunlight
to the room. Seating herself by the
bedside. and taking one thin hand be.
tween her own, she read chapter from
the Bible. The words were simple, bu,
they spoke of hope beyond the grave
of the glorious heaven, where Mary Sc
soon would be. My tears flowed fast;
when my aunt closing the book, knel
down on the earthen floor motioning fol
me to do the same. The golden sun
light seemed to rest like halo on my
aunt's head, as her calm clear voice ut.
tered the words of prayer.
The thought flashed across my mind
this then is one of woman's duties-o
woman's rights. Noble--truly noble
A glorious right, to smooth the thorny
pillow of the dying. to point out the way
of life to troubled spirit, to cheer the
fainting soul with words of hope.
We left the cottage as noiselessly a
we had entered it. We walked on unit
we came to the last house in the village
Aunt Debbie opened the gate, scattering
flock Of chickens who had taken VI
lodgings for the night thereon. Wha
was that dirty object in the doorway
| always conside red myself passionately
fond of children, but / confess my hear
reyolted at the view of that unsighlly
object Jts face heUrimmsd with Dir