Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1858-03-03
DAUGHTERS.

Mothers, who wish not only to discharge we'll
their own duties in the domestic circle, but to
train up their daug hters at later day to make
happy and comfortable tireSides for their fami-
l;ea, should watch we'll, and guard well, the no.
Sons which they imbbe and with which they
grow up. There will be so many persons ready
u ill their young hca Is with false and vain
fancies, and there is - much always afoat in
society opposed to duty AMI common sense, that
if mothers do not watch well, they may con-
tract ideas very fatal to their future happiness
and usefulness, and them till they grow into
l,abits of thought or feeling. \ wise mother
will have her eyes open, and be ready for every
case. a few words of common, downright, res
pectable, practical sense, timely uttered by her
may be enough to counteract some foolish idea
or belief put into her daughters head by Others
whilst, il it be left unchecked, it may TAKE such
possession Of the mind that it cannot later be
corrected. One main ialSity abroad in this age
is the notion, that women, unless compelled to
it by absolute poverty, are out Of place w.en
engaged in domestic affairs. Now, mothers should
have care lest their daughters get hold of this
conviction rs regards thenselves-there is dam
ger of it; the fashion Of the day endangers it,
and the care that an ahectiopate family take to
keep girl, during the time Of her education,
free from other occupations than those of her
tasks or her rccrcatons, also endangers it. It is
possible that affection may err i'll pushing this
care too far; for as education means fitting
for life, and as wonans life is much connected
with domestic and family affairs, or ought to be
so, if the indulgent consideration Of parents alb
stains from all demands upon tue young pupil
of the school not connected with her books or
her play, will she not naturally infer that the
matters with which she is never asked to con-
Germ herself are, i'll fact, no concern to her, and
that any attention she ever may bestow On them
is not matter of simple duty, but of grace, or
concession, or stoooing, on her part? Let moth
ers avoid suc;, danger. If they would do so,
they must bring up their daughters from the
first with the idea that in this world it is re-
quired to give as well as to receive, to minister
as well as to enjoy; that every person ID bound
to be useful practically, literally useful, in his
own sphere, and that woman's first sphere is
the house, aud its concerns and demands. Once
really imbued with this belief, and taught to see
how much tue happiness Of woman herself, as
well US her family, depends on this part Of her
discharge of duty, and young girl will usually
be anxious to learn all that her mother is dis
posed to teach, and will be proud and happy to
aid in any domestic occupations assigned to her,
which need never be made 50 hcavy as to inter-
fere with the peculiar duties Of her ageror its
peculiar delights. Ifa mother wishes to see her
daughter become good, happy, and rational
woman, never let her admit OF contempt tor
domestic occupations, OF even suffer them to be
deemed secondary. They may be varied in
character by static |, but they can never be sec
ondary to Romai.