The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1856-10-16
FEMALE INFLUENCE.

How exalted is the situation of females a
the present day, compared with what it ha
been in years gone by Time was when tn
wife was treated more like degraded meni
al than as friend and counselor; the siste
as a servant, instead of beloved and choic,
companion. The chief end and aim of wo
mans existence seemed to consist in attend
ing to and supplying the wants of man full
filling his imperious mandates with the mos
implicit obedience. a.A
The daughters were early consigned to the
toilsome, though healthful labors Of the loom
and spinning wheel or, by harder fate
compelled to toll in the field Will. the SONS
were permitted TO grow up in luxury and idle
ness, or to pore over the classics and range
through the regions ofdncient lore : ImmefJ.
ed in care and labor, woman was suffered t,
pass through tie world unnoticed and un-
cared for-enjoying no opportunities for the
cultivation of the intellectual faculties and
the improvement of the mind. Men seemed
TO imagine that females bad no powers OF
mind, or capacities for intellectual enjoyment
50 lately as the sixteenth century, Latin
Author wrote book to prove that women
are not rational beings, have no souls, and
that there awaits them no life or happiness be-
yond the grave" li.
How different, say. is the situation of
females at the present day Elevated by
education and Christianity to their proper
rank and station in society-placed on an
equality with man--tleir influence may be
felt by all around them. Raised from the
state seryile degradation in which they were
for long time placed, they now stand up in
their true dignity, conscious that they, too,
are rational beings, endowed with immortal
minds and spowers Of intellect, designed by
their Creator TO fit them for high attainments
AMI noble pursuits to exert powerful and
salutary influence upon thier fellow-men.
Female influence, is it true, is not exerted in
the same manner as that of males ; yet, in
her appropriate sphere, woman may be as
useful 10 The world as they She may con-
tribute her full proportion to eplighten and
benefit mankind. Not in noisy, public de-
ba.a should Ler voice be heard or her inllu-
ence fult; not in loud and clamorous har-
augue but her silent iun Ience should be
cx'rted in her own home-impartirg life and
Joy 10 the domestic circle and in the abodes
Of want, of sickness. and of misery-there
should the tones Of her gentle voice be heard,
500 h NJ the sufferers Noe there Sd oull SHE
klndy y administer 10 the wants of the needy,
aud tendorly pour consolation into the
wounds of the broken hearted. Who, like
sister, can cheer and console the stll cted
brother, pouring into his heart the balm Of
consolation, aid greeting his troubled ear
with the sweet accents Of love and aft. Ction ?
Who, with untiring as,iduty, can watch BY
The bedside, smooth the pillow, and vi ipe the
e 4 e. IL.
the dyn man, like the atlyctionate, devoted
wife? Who. like the fond and tender-heart-
ed daughter, can support and care for the
ag,a parent in h-r declining years
How especially important, how necessary,
that woman should be thoroughly imtued
with the holy principles of religion that her
heart be chasten-d and subdued by the ele-
vatng and purify ing influences of the Cos
pei of peace aud love Without this, it is
impossible for her to fulfill her part in the
sphere she was designed to occupy. There
must be a firmly rooted principe Of holiness
and truth in the heart, dlTasing Itself through
out every action in lifei creating a calm and
noble dignity of character, combined with
cheerful meekness and simplicity. 4 female
possessing these traits of character. will not
fail to ez.rt benign and happy influence on
the minds Of those around her, wherever she
may be. BY her gentle reprOofs and admo-
ni.ions, by the words of encouragement and
appreciation, by the endearing accents of love
and kindness, and above all by her example,
she viii make her influence felt and regarded.
Possessing these noble principles, she will be
prepared TO go forward in every duly, en-
during trials, prvations, and suffering with
patience and humility enjoying the smi es
Of her heavenly Father, and the conscious
ness Of having performed her duty to her
Maker, herself, and her fellow-men.
How few. comparatively, possess this
character How different m ght be the state
Of society, compared with what it now is,
did every female, instead of wasting so much
time in vain and trivial talk and amusement,
endeavor, by careful cultivation
of the mind and heart, and by daily applica-
ton to the great Fountain of truth and wis
dom, to obtain and preserve these noble vir-
tues Then, indeed, would she rightly full
fill her part in the station which her Maker
has allotted her-iraining and preparing her
self and heI fellow. creatures for happiness
and usefulness here, and for glory and i'm
hcreafer.-AosEsr's Magazine.
. b. II. F.
BkycoR ME