The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-02-23
For the National Era.
IS SHE HAPPYI
BY NINA MYRTLE.

What is fame to heart yearning for af
lection, and finding it not 1t is like the vic.
tors wreath to him who is parched with fever
and longing for the one cooling draught-thC
cup of cold water"
This was the language of one who had been
crowned with the laurel wreath of fame, and
on whom was lavished all tho world has tC
bcstow OF honor, and yet her heart hungered
Is she happy! ID q question | have often
asked, concerning one who is walking in the
same path, aid breathing the same atmosphere
of praise and adulation | sometimes ask her
if 1t is enough! if this is sufficient for her wo.
mans heart and she answers "yesn But
never yet believed her Why those tears
when there 3 no visible cause Why docs che
start as if guilty When suddenly reused from
reverys Why docs she instantly assume
that gay and careless air, lest we should know
that she is ever sad?
have seen her when she thought no eve
was near and DO listening ear was by, with
her face buried IN her hands and the hot
tears falling thick and fast while sobs seemed
rending her bosom. IL should ask her then
the cause OF her weeping, she would answer
nothing for woman must not speak the
truth concerning her hearts yearnings
And there are those who envy her-who
think she glories in the worlds homage, and
loves its hollow prais, Oh, what an answer
would her heart give back, could it speak from
it's hidden depths Her name is on every
tongue but to her it is only mockery
The unthinking world calls her cold and
heartiesS-they cODtemptuously speak of her
as one who prefers tiattery to lOve--to whom
the breath of fame is sweeter than the gush-
ings of affection. She smiles, gay, glad smile,
when they tell her of the crown which is to
deck her brow, and they think she will wear it
proudly. They know not how her soul tram
pies it in the dust
"Why does she not renouncs that which
gives her no pleasure Z"
literary man, in His advice to another
concerning the care Of his health, says: How
ever happy he may be in the domestic circle
he must have something else to feed his temper
and his ambition :"
I" And ia this also true Of woman lo "Non
fesrlessly answer, though there will be a
nothing for her "te nper or her ambition
if there is enough for her heart. Gcd did not
make man and woman equal and alike in all
things-what stupid world it would have
BEEN If he had There are diversities of
gifts" What is lacking in one, is made up in
another
But it as true that woman must have some
thing to feed both her temper and ambition,
unless her heart is full The excitement of a
literary life, or Of any other which affords con-
slant occupation, is net sufficient for the hap
pines, of which she is capable - for which
her soul hunge!s;" but it preserves her elas-
ITCHY and her usefulness aye, and sometimes
save, her from idiocy or from madness!
"Why has she never marrieda This is wo-
mans sphere, and the duties Of the household
are woman's duties" is the stereotypod answer
to all this. Yes, but they are duties which
cannot be performed with any degree Of accept
ance when the heart is not engaged. Into
other channels the heart may lie forced, but
into this n:ver, as the thousand wretched homes
into which woman has come with only her
head and her hands abundantly prove.
I" Is she happytn No. not in the sense in
which you put the question but she is too true
a woman to consent to make others miserable.
by taking upon her vows which she can never
fulfil-by consenting to preside over HOME.
while her heart is still wandering-by attempt.
ing to diffuse light and life into the freside
circle when her own bosom is without the
love, the warmth giving element, which alone
can link in harmony the family bonds.
Oh, how happy she would be, and how hap
oy she could make others, surrounded by those
n whom her affections delighted. How con.
'eniai to her would be those quiet duties and
'entle ofiiees which bless a home "but there is |
God In heaven who says thou mayest like |
o DO this but thou must do that.n
when woman reigns in any other empire
han home, it is from stern necessity, which
onverts her into a martyr. But it is to the
estlees, weary ones of earth, that we look for
ne mighty deeds which shake the world and
eform society. One whohas spent his lie in
says, nothing is ever accomplished
the world by tho happy" yet there are