Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-11-09
Train your Dauugdsters TO some Use
full Occupation.

"Change is written on the tide,
On the forests lca(y pride,
On the strcamlcts gancing bright
On the jcwcrd crown Of night;
All, whcreer the eye can rcst
Show it lcgbly imprcst"
IL was not reared for hardShip-I was trained
to be a lady".- said destitute young woman
of American parentage, who had seen some
twenty summers. Suppressed emotions almost
choked her utterance, while she solicited employ
ment. a short conversation evinced her inca
pacity to accomplish anything that would be
rcmuncraliyc. Dining her childhood and rarfy
youth, her parents were well off, She was sent
to school, more or less and taught to sewa little
at home; also, to play and sing a few tunes, but
not expecting she would ever have to earn her
own living she had been taught nothing solely
to that end. Before she was, of age her father
died insolrent. All their effects, save the abso-
lutte nccessarics Of housekeeping, had been sold
to meet the demands of creditors, and more re-
Gently they had parted with these necessarics to
procure bread. Their home was now broken up,
and herself and sisters must either work or starve
or do worse. But their trouble was that they
had no trade, could not teach school, were not
accustomed to housc-work Or ncedle-work, and
nobody would employ them. Poor forlorn
young women! How truly pitiabic their con-
dition! And yet their unthinking parents had
mingled for them this bitter cup Too indul
gcnt to require them to be indllstrious-too IT,
resolute TO aid them in forming habits of perse-
vering application, their morning Of life had been
wasted in idle dalliance, making no provision for
fe's yicisstudes. Had parental fathfulness
been added to parental fondness, how different
now had been the prospects of these inefficient
and almost helpless daughters. But their case,
ptiablc as it is, illustrates that of hundreds who
have been similarly trained and who are to-day
rcaping the same bitter fruits.
No condition in life is exempt from changes
and trials-and no class so inperatively require
early preparatory discipline for these trials as
our daughters. What parent can lay his hand
upon his present possessions and say they shall
be mine Tomorrow! Who can make such GER
tain provision for his children as to secure them
against rcvcrscs and render sclfreliancc and the
means Of selfsupport Of noimportance? If they
have not these personal resources, what are they
to do to escape the lot of the dependent pauper,
in case Of emergencies? boating parent, as you
gaze upon your beloved daughters, ought you
not to think Of this, and not only think but act
Ought you not to select for her some avocation
on which she may rely for an honorable liveli-
hood III case of the failure of all other resources,
and sec to it that she becomes SO perfected in
some useful calling that its duties may be per-
fcctcd with alacrty, and with the conscious plea
sure of being useful to herself and to others. DO
we hear some one cxcaim, What my daughter
learn tradc-ft herself for tcacher-a book
kecper-a housc-kecper-a nursc-a woman of
all work! No, never! She is born to higher
expectations. The enjoyment of her youthful
years shall not be marred by the contemplation
ofsuch destiny. I expect her to fill the station
of a wife, and that her husband will be willing
and able to support her. Misguided parent,
suppose these expectations should be realized for
time. Can you have any guarantee that she
will rot outlive her husband? Any guarantee
against illness and reverscs Of fortune? Suppose
parental and conjugal regard shall strew flowers
in all her carly pathway-and then bereavement
and destitution strew after them the thorlls
which she has never learned to tread down., or
brush aside, with womanly fortitude and noble
ness of purpose. Suppose that she has never
learned to do and bear, and also that her mind
may have a kingdom of its own'-that lites dis
cplne is needful, and though not joyous but
grievous in the prescnt--may still be borne, and