Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-05-29


seaie OF being, should awaken high-souled pnrpO-
Ses' and emotions, should make her ready and able
'oco operate, if not to lead, in all great questions
Oh public good. She who gives the 6rst impulse TO
aspiring genins,-who encourages the first tiD1id ef
'Ort who unfolds the FIRST germs OF power in the
qnetude of home, must not merely reHecs pOr-
tlon Of the general enlightenment, she is also en-
titled to become burning lens, collecting and con-
eentrating the scattered rays of intelligence, and
thus forming public opinion whose light shall
bless and beautify the world. She who can realize
that her first look is an educator must also remem-
Der that Philosophy from the lips Of wise and
sensible women gIides quietly, but with strong ef-
feet into the mind, through the feelings Of the
heart = We stand now as if awaiting the avatar
Of that woman who with love Of truth equalled
only by her love of humanity, shall arise Tor our re-
demptiou from false life. We feel that we are
ignorant, but we are wiling, nay anxious to be
taught. We shudder at chsins, and pray to
be redeemed from our falsiii,s. The moraiDg star
of our redemption has arisen in the east the pre-
sage of hope is before us, where then are the Mag
who will guide Us to our Woman-savior! Who
will tell US where to find her, the newly anointed OF
Divinity, with halo upon her brow" baptised
with the spirit and with FIRE ?" Alas do we not
look for such one in vaiui Must not every one
of US be her own redeemer? Let US then begin to
take more exalted view Of our position, and our
powers, let US look more earnestly upon
quirements and our responsibilities. Let each one
of strive to remedy her defective training,
that she may be enabled to transmit sounder sy:-
tenn to her children. Let US take into considera-
ton the experience of Cboctaw Chief, and edu-
cate our daug hters to become mothers. The Chiefs
| argument was forcible one. Says she writer from
whom quote -
"When / lived among The Cboctaw Indians, l
held consultation with Que of their principal
chiefs respecting the successive stages ofheir pro-
gress in the arts and virtues of civilized life, and,
| among other thin gs, he informed at their first
start they fell into a mistake-they only sent their
boys TO school, They became intelligent men, but
they married uneducated aud uncigized wives;
and the result that the children were all like
the mother, and the father lost bis interest in
both wife and chill dren. "And now, " said he, Ill
we could dJcate only one class of our children,
we would choose the girls; TOR 0hen they become
mothers, they pould educate their sons"
And this reminds me that there is one most i'm
portant item in the education of girls which the
great majority Of mothers wilfully neglect;
viz: the management and training of childhood
1t is natural for them to look forward to tue time
when they too shall become mothers, they
gard this as their destiny, and yet up to that very
hour and often, alas forever, they remain in igno-
rance Of this the most important perhaps of ell the
duties of woman. speak from sad experience. 81
speak that which l do know, and testify that which
have SEEN" Every mother must be aware that
there are duties in connection with the relation of
mother and child which none but she can adequate
y perform, responsibilities to be met which nothing
but her cOnstancy and devotion can fully sustain.
Would il not be better then that She as far as lies
in her power, instruct her daughters in regard to a
destiny the cares and responsibilities of which they
cannot shrink from, or neglect without culpablity!
Ought not the daughters Of our day to be taught
the art Of managing and ins,rucfng children not
physically merely, but also intellectually aud moral
lyH If woman aspires to be reformer this is, or
ought to be her great work, but alas bow few OF
US are ever prepared for IL Occasionally we may
chance to stumble upon the right way, but if we do,
it is rather by accident, or instinct than the result
of design the part of our early teachers; if we
act from knowledge, it is wisdom gained by ne
cessity, and our instructor has been hard expert
ence
Again | would urge upon woman to look up to
her vocation. Let her not be discouraged by the
difficulties that now surround her. She will labor
in vain with her feeble to sweep away the msts
Of prejudice which cling about her pathway, but let
her not attempt that let her rise above such clouds
into the clear, lining day beyond, and leave them
at her feet. Let the good mother never forget the
lambs committed to her care. Some may perchance
be missing from her little flock, and often she may
turn away in the midst of her peasantest duties to
hide the rising tears, while memory whispers sadly
to her heart:-
81 miss him whe7 the wild flowers come
In the garden where he played;
And miss him more in the winter time
When the flowers have all decayed;
see his toys, and his empty chair,
And the horse he used to ride.
And sim they speak with silent speech
or the little boy that died"
But let her not mourn for those who have now
no need for any care of hers, who are forever
gathered to the bosom Of Him who ''took little
children in bis arms aud blessed them:" and Who
now teaches them "as never man tsught" Ony
let her be more careful, more watchtful tor those
that yet remain. If tabor est orare" when ap-
piled to ordinary occupation, how much more so
to the work Of the mother. Her whole life is
prayer-worship. She adopts the motto of the
monks Of CID, though she does not 90 into the
closter to practice it. She should allow her chill
dren TO see that Der 'labor is worship" and a
labor of love" II is only thus that che can mould
her daughter into true woman, with spirit only
"a little lower than the angels" Il Is only thus
that che can train her son into that most noble
definition Of a true gentleman--"a human being
combining mans courage, with a wOman's ten
deruess." 1t is only thus that her children will
experience in her love, that which viii give them
faith in the infinite love OF which she teaches
them. Her example is to them its best illustration
If a mother be ever tempted by ease, or pleasure,
or any selfish motive TO neglect her precious
charge, let Der call to her remembrance the beau.
tful Indian legend Of the Lost Soul Thus il
runs; "AmoDg the birds of Perm is one known as
eel alma perdsda," for the following reason An
Iodan girl while collecting flowers and basam, left
her child alone in the forest and on returning
TO the place where che bad left it, she coulI not
find Il. Calling aloud he name, the only reply she
received was the singularly mournful note of this
bird, never heard until then, but which was from
that time denominated tie lest SOUL" Let no
vain wanderings after balsam and blossoms, the
comforts and pleasures Of the world induce the
mother TO css sight Of the precious trust commit
ted to her keeping, lest she return with Wild and
bitter walings 20 6nd il indeed ",oss soul" Pray
God we may oil be faithful unto death, and may
our children repay rs with that touching conf
denee and love which Is exempI6ed in little bows