The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1858-04-17


} They should sweep a portion Of the house.
; They should learn, above oil things, TO her
themselves, snd thus 10 be independent Ia oil
circumstances, A woman, helpless from ans
other cause than sickness. II essentially a
J nuisance, There Is nothing womunly and
lady Ike in helplcssness, My policy would
be as girls grow up 10 assign 10 them special
duties first int one part Of the house, then In
another until they should become acquainted
with all hou,ewifery oncesi and | should
have an object in this beyond the simple
acquisition Of knowledge Of houscwifeD,
II should be for the acquisition Of habits Of
physical industry--of habits that conduce 10
the health Of body and mind-of habits that
give them an insight into the nature Of labor
and inspire within them genuine sympathy
with those whose lot Il " to labor.
All young mind is uneasy, II Il is good for
anything. There is not the genuine human
stuff IL girl who is hnblually and by nature
passive, placid and inactive, The body and
mind must both be in notion II this ten
|dcncy to activity be left TO run loosc-un-
directed into channels Of uscfulncss-a spoiled
child is the result A girl growing up 10
womanhood, is, when unemployed, habtually
uncasy. The mind aches and chafcs because
It wants action, for q motive. Now a mind
in this condition is not benefited by the com
mund to stay at home, N tic Withdrawal
from companions. 1t must be set TO work.
! This vital energy that is struggling 10 find
relief in demonstration should be- so directed
that habits may be- mcd,-habits Of indus
| try that obyinlc the wish for change and un-
/ necessary play, and form a regular drain upon
/ H. Othcrwis", the mind becomes disspatcd,
the will irrcsolutc, and confinement, irksomc
Girls will never be happy, except in the
company Of their playmatcs, unless home be-
comes to them scene, of regular duty. and
/ personal usefulness. There is another obyi-
AIS derived frurr, trrfutrit
/ Of engaging daily upon special household
duties The imagination Of girls is apt to
become active to an unhealthy degree. when
no corrective is employed. False views Of
I life are cngcndcrcd, and labor is regarded rs
l mcnial Ease comes to be looked upon n q
/ supreme y desirable thing so that when thr
real, inevitable cares Of life como, there is no
preparation for them, and weak complainngS
or ill-naturcd discomfort are the result.
/ And here / am naturally introduced 10
another subject Young Women the glory Of
your life is to do something and to be some
llhng. You very possibly may have formed
the idea that case and -perSaaal opioymen;
are the ends Of your life. This is a terrible
mistake. Development in the broadcs, sense
and in the highest erection is the end Of
your life. You may possibly find ease with
It, and great deal Of precious personal en-.
+ JoymcHr. or your ne may be one long cx-
+ prrtcucC or SCfr dCudt. i II YOU WISH 10 be
something more than the pet and play-thing
of man iryou would rise above the position
of a pretty toy, or the ornamental fixture Of
nm establishment. you have got a work to do.
/ You have got n position to maintain. in
society; You have go; the poor and the sick
TO visit; you may possibly have n family to
rear and train YOU have got to take load
Of care upon your shoulders and bear il
through life. You have got character to
sustain and / hope that you VIII have the
heart OF a husband 10 cheer and strengthen.
Ease is not for YOU Selfish enjoyment is
not for you. The world is 10 be made better
by YOU. You have got to suffer and towork 4;
and ifthcrc be a spark of the true fire in YOU.
YOUR hearts will respond to these words. The
time will come when YOU shall see that I'll
your toll and care and pain and sorrow and
practical sympathy for others has built you
up. into n strength of womnnhood which
will dcspse ehse1ns an end of lSc and pity
those who are content with it. Get this idea
! That Your great business is simply TO i've
at ease out or your head at once There
is nothing noble ard ennoblng in it. Your
mental and physical powers can only give
you worthy happiness in the using. They
were made for use; and lazy woman is in
cyitahly miserable. do not put this matter
| of enjoyment before you as the motive for
action. ! simply state the fact that it is
result of action-an incident of a life worthily
spent.
When YOU have properly ycomprchcnded and
received this idea, the recrcations of life and
the pleasures Of social intercourse will take
their appropriate positions with relation 10
the business of life-its staple duties Re
creation will become e-creation-simpiy the
renewal of your powers, that they may all
the better perform the work which you have
undertaken, or which circumstances have
devolved upon YOU. Social pleasure will
rise into sympathetic communion with
natures and lives earnest like your own, upon
the subjectsncarest your hearts, and it will
give you strength and guidance. The
pleasures of life will become the wells, scat
tered along the way, where you lay down
your burdens for the moment, wipe your
brows, and drink, that you may go into the
work before you refreshed in body and mind.
In these quiet hours, YOU will feel a healthy