The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1858-05-20


in another, until they should become ac-
quainted With all the housowitely offices;
aud | should have an object in this be-
yond the simple acquisition Of a knowl-
edge Of housewifery. 1t should be for
the acquisition of habits Of physical in
dustry-of habits that conduce to the
health Of body and mipd-of habits that
give them an insight into the nature OF
labor, aud inspire within them genuine
sympathy with those whose lot 1t Is to
labor.
All young mind is uneasy, if it IS good
for anything. There is not the genuine
human stuff in girl who is habitually
and by nature passive, placid and inactive.
/, The body and the mipd must both be in
motion. If this tendency 10 activity be
left to run loose-uudirccted into chan
nels Of usefuiuess-a spoiled child is the
result A girl growing up to womanhood,
is, when unemployed, habtually uneasy.
The mind aches and ehafoS because it
wants action, for motive. Now mind
in this condition is not henoittcd by the
command to stay at home, Or the with
drawal from companions. 1t must be set
to work. This vital energy that is strug-
Cling to find relief In demonstration,
should he so directed that habits may be
formed-habitS of industry that obviate
the wish for change and unnecessary play,
ard form a regular drain upon It, 9th
erwise, the mind becomes dissipated, the
will irresoute, and confinement irksome.
Girls will never be happy, except in the
company of their playmates, unless home
becomes to them a scene Of regular duty,
and personal usefulness, There is anoth-
er obvious advantage to be derived from
the habit of engaging daily upon special
household duties. The Imagination of
girls is apt to become active to an un-
healthy degree, when no corrective is
E employed False views of lifo are epgen-
, dered, and labor is regarded as menial.-
!, Ease comes to he looked upon as SUI
, premely desirable thing, 50 that when
! the real, unavoidable cares of life come,
there is 10 preparation fer them, and
-. weak complainings, or ill-natured discon-
! tent are the result.
And here I am naturally introduced
to another subject, Young woman, the
! glory of your life is to do something and
! to be something. You very possibly may
:, have formed the idea that ease and per-
/, sonal enjoyment are the ends Of your life.
: This is terrible mistake. Development,
! in the broadest sense, and in the highest
: direction, is the end of your life, You
= may possibly find ease with it, and a
! great deal ofprccious personal enjoyment,
or your life may be one long experience
of selfdenial If you wish to be some
o thing more than the pet and plaything
= of man if you would rise above the po-
!, sition Of pretty toy, or the ornamental
= fixture Of an establishment, you have got
: work to do. You have got position
y to maintain in society; you have got the
f poor and the sick to visit; you may pos
: sibly have family to rear and train you
have got to take load of care upon your
E shoulders and bear it through life. You
have got a character to sustain and
= hope you will have the heart Of husband
to cheer and strengthen you. Ease is not
: for you. Selfish enjoyment is not for
: you, The world is to be made better by
-. you. You have got to suffer and to work
+ and if there be Il spark Of the true fire in
!. you, your hearts will respond to these
words. The time will come when you
- shall see that all your toll and care your
[. pain and sorrow and practical sympathy
:, for others has built you up into a strength
. of womanhood which will tespise ease as
= an end of life, and pity those who are
Il content with it. Get this idea that your
h great business is simply to live at ease,
= out of your head at once. There is moth
:, ing noble and ennobllng in it. Your
!. mental and physical powers can only give
n you worthy happiness in the using, They
: were made for use and lazy woman Is
inevitably miserable. | do not put this
u matter Of enjoyment before yea as the
r. motive for action. l simply state the
O fact that it is the result of action, an in
+ cident of life wortbily spent.
- When you have properly comprehended and
L received this idea, the recreation Of life and
+ the pleasures of social Intercourse will take
II their appropriate positions with relation TO the
q ouslHCeo vi l4lc-llS StdpIc uuClts. hcCIedllOu
Or will become recreatiOn-simply the renewal Of
? your powers, that they may all the better per-
@ form the work which you have undertaken, OF
: which circumstances have devolved upon you
Social pleasures viii rise into a sympathetic
y communion with natures lives earnest to your
! hearts, and it will give you strength and gpij-
ance. The pleasures of life will become the
wells, scattered along the way, where you lay
o down your burdens for the moment wipe your
" browS, and drink, that you may go into the
i work before you, refreshed IN body and mind
In these quiet hours, you will feel a healthy
9 thrill of happiness which those who seek plea
/ sure for its own sake never know. There are
+ few objects in this world more repalsive to me
t than selfish woman-a woman who selfshly
o consults her own enjoyments, her own ease,
: ) her own pleasure, II YOU have the slightest
) desire to be loved if you would have your
. presence welcome one in palace and cottage
a fyrpl, rCI-lH hr ID +.l