The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1853-01-25
woman's Mission.
BY ALICE GREEN

How important is the mission of woman, and
yet how few appear to understand or feel the re-
sponsibility of the position she occupies. Il ap-
pears to be the general opinion that if lady has
received fashionable education, and can figure
well in the parlor, and equally well in the kitch
en-, if occasion requires, that is all that IS neces
sary, and if to this a moderate share Of beauty
is added, It's enough to constitute her paragon,
Now all this is necessary and proper but is there
not something more for her TO dof Were we
placed here merely to occupy space, to $ while
away the hous.n z or assist in E driving dull care
EaWay,as to- eaptisate the mind; tof charm the
sensesf Is this the extent of our mission IN this
sin-fallen world i-Shall we say, because we may
never enroll our names among the great and i. :
lustrious ones of earth, that 9 ours IS q limited
sphere of action n True, we may none of us
be Luther, Wesley, or a Whitfield, Wash
ington, Bolivar, or Kossuth, q Newton, q
Franklin, Fulton; it is not in our province to
occupy the Presidential Chair, nor speak In Con
gressional halls but is not ours more glorious
mission a-one which angels might look down
and smile upoua 1t is ours to educate our fu-
ture statesmen ours toguide the youthful mind
in the ways of wisdom and true piety, to isstil
love of good and hatred Of evil Into those minds
from which the future laws Of our nation are to
emanate. As the first rudiments ofschildren's
education ever deyolves on woman, let US re-
member that what is leasned in youth is seldom,
if ever, forgotton-that . as the twig IS bent the
tree is Inclined" We are to a certain extent
exertinr an influence which viii be felt by this
nation and the world, long after we have passed
away, and our names are forgotten yet our IN
huence which we now exert will still be felt;
either for good or evil. Eternity alone can reveal
how much veal or woe, has been disseminated
through the world by womans influence in Te
gard to the proper or improper educaton Of
youth. Let us,not think, then, that ours is a
limited sphere of action, though we may not win
laurels or worldly honors; though we may never
reach the temple of fame, nor reyel on the sum-
nit of the cloud-clapped hill of'science, yet we
may win brighter laurels than these. We should
not seek for worldly agrandizement; ours is a
holier mission. There is much for us to do-let
us not be idle in this great field Of action" but
"let us work for some good, be it ever so lowly
labor, all labor, is noble and holy" Let us, with
"hearts entwined, aspire to raise our being high
er." If there is not enough for us to do in the
bone circles, let us go forth into the world
minister to the sick and suffering, comfort the
bereaved, cheer the sad, encourage the despond-
ing, relieve suffering humanity wherever we find
it-for this is part of our mission. Nor is
this all: we may assist in carrying the light OF
eternal life to those that are in heather darkness;
let us be armed by faith, and winged by pray
er," and there is no undertaking too great for
us-and though there be much of Bitterness
mingled in our cup Of life, and we meet with
many discouragements and disappointments, let
us "cast our bread upon the waters" assured it
will return to us after many days" Letsus do
what our hands find to do, with our might, and
we shall gather for ourselves the lanrel of peace,
and receive crown of Immortality.
Literary MiscelMny.