North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1851-11-05
For the Standard.
SCENES IN OUR PARISH,

BY Country Parsons Daughter. For sale by POM
ERoY. - |
The republication of work of this nature, TWEEN
ty years after its first appearance, speaks highly
in lis praise that but little comm is needed from our
pen Though simply what il processes be, sketch
es taken from the life of country parsons daugh-
ter. it is evidently the production OF mind capable
not only of deriving beauty and instruction from the
everyday and events, duties and pleasures OF
quiet country life, but of pleasantly imPartIng the
same to the reader. In this country we know but
little of such life except from books. The s. go
ahead spirit pervades every nook and corner OF our
land, and though less poetical are infinitely more
thriving and stirring than the English: Country life
in England and America very different things
Miss Milford in IS Our Village" work of the same
nature the before SO beautifully describes
the former that hang over her page, wondering
all the time the spell which binds u.s. when read
ing only of village school, evening walk, wood
land ramble, or some equally simple and apparently
trivial subject. ...r..-a.l
The Parsons Daughter, or rather Mrs. Holmes,
possesses in eminent degree the faculty of finding
Books in the running BROOKS
Sermons in stones, and good in everything
Speaking of the old custom of dressing our chur-
ches at Christmas with evergreens, she says, 81
know there good people who object to this dress-
ing up - various grounds, and some prudent ones
who think it needless waste of strawberries and
plantations. But the children who cried Hosanna
did not begrudge the palm-boughs and branches OF
that were strewed in His way, the remembrance
of whose blessed coming we to-day celebrate with
deep gratitude and fervent joy. o! love customs
haIlowed by the use of oursforetathers" So we be-
lieve do most persons, yet how often do old
customs fall gradually into disuse, without at
tempt being made to prevent it. by those who in thelr
hearts regret it. The present edition of this little
book is greatly improved by memoir of the autho-
ress, written since her death, by her sister. In this
day of w omans Rights Conventions it is pleasant to
read of who though often before the public as an
authoress, forgot her duties as daughter, wife
and mother; but made her valuable works the Sec
onday object of her life and deemed those rights
-despised by the turbulent holders of Conventions
the highest and hottest of her life. Far 5e it from
US to deny the rights of Woman; the contrary we
would warmly 1eiend them; but as a writer in Har-
Per- Magazine very justly observes, " she has no
right to be man, We would, however, if posi-
Bile, gladly establish third and intermediate for
those who uneasy themselves, and not satisfied with
the position which Christianity has assigned to
man, seek break down the barriers which society
has established; not for the purpose of expressing,
but of protecting her, There are, however, not want
ing Others who in seeking TO avoid one extreme. are
in danger of running into the Others and too closely
prescribing the rights, but the duties of wves
and mothers. Many woman, from mistaken idea
of her domestic duties, utterly neglects her social
ones, and at time when her children, particularly
her daughters, most require her counsel and watch
full Is absorbed In providing for the wants OF
the body, be under the necessity of leaving the
training OF the mind and heart 10 governesses and tea
cheers, and permits her daughter at sixteen
teen to enter arena of life with eXpe-
;enced friend and guide than companions of her
age. Why do we so often see women, who have had
only to adorn their minds with those high dceomp-
lishments graceful and becoming in woman, in
few years at best after marriage neglect them all,
what is oftener the case considerher education
finished as they leave the school room 2 We
would not be understood as wishing a woman to neg
lect her domestic duties, the contrary they should
ever receive her first attention. No cares for
his wife to read Virgil, solve problem in Euclid,
charm his ear by her music, it, in order to do so she
negects her children or his home comforts. But
there is reason why this should follow
quence. In our country, every woman whose hus-
band is in comfortable circumstances, can, if she
pleases. find time for both and hope shall
not be considered wishing her step out of her
sphere, when say she should be able, if necessary,
to educate her daughters and prepare her sons for
college. We do not say that she should do but
only, if Necessary, she should be able do it. In
deed, the present plan of teaching, when children
are expected to learn their lessons home, and only
recte them at school, the mother has by far the
difficult part of their education her hands while
the teacher receives the credit of their improvement
| We recommend the present edition of " Scenes
in oarsh,'' to all who anxious to keep the
happy medium they will there it is possible for
woman to write book, improve herself and others,
and yet not step out of her sphere neglec, her du
ties a daughter wife and mother.
/ The AMERICAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE GREAT