Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-01-05
WRITTEN FOR THE SPIRIT OF THE AGE.
A SERIES OF STORIES
ON
RENTAL INFLUE \ CE.
NO. |.
The Adopted Daughters
WOMAN's RIGHTS S.
NO, t.
CILAPTER [.

CHAPTER l.
In a city where Woman's Rights Soci-
cites prevailed to great extent, there dwclt
n lady Of piety, intelligence and rcspecta-
bility, who was deeply interested in the
wcII-being and elevation of her sex. She
was Il iddy, according to the ancient def
milton of the word a christian, charitable
woman. The word Lady being an abbre-
Walton Of LoaEday day in which chari-
table women distributed loaves of bread to
the needy.
This lady was gentle, affablc, kind, obi
ging, and modest; remembering alway,
that man was first made, and then woman;
feeling deeply the guilt of the mother of
mankind, who by that fatal act of L" first
disobedence, brought death into the world
and all our woc:' remembering too, what
the Apostle Paul has said-"I suffer not
woman to speak in the church and if
she would learn any thing, let her ask her
husband at home" Being devout be-
liever in the Holy Scripture, in that Cos
pei which has done so much to elevate her
sex from that degradation in which it exis-
ted mt the advent Of Christianity beng
sincerely grateful for those incstimable
blessings, this true FREUD OF her sex exer
ted every energy Of her nature, both by
preccpt and example, to point out woman's
True path Of duty. She endeayored to in
nucncc her sex through proper and con-
sistent means, permitted and approved
by the Word Of God, aud diynely author
iscd teachers of that Word.
At the early dawn Of her womanhood,
this friend of her sex commenced her be-
nevolent efforts by becoming the teacher
of class of little girls in the Sunday
School. She had sought them in the des-
olate novels Of indigcnce making haste to
gather in these little lambs before their
tender minds had been warped 10y the in
fuencc of evil She taught their infant
tongues the sweet name Of Jesus and His
holy PRAYER, when they were Sctwecn two
and three years old.
Her gcutlcncss and patience soon wor
the hearts Of her guiecss pupils. Her
presence brought JOY to their sparkling
eyes, while her departure filed them witt
regret. Each Lord's day morning, this in
FAINT class, in neat attire, and with smiling
faces, were ranged behind long desk, will
cards before them ton which were printcC
the letters Of the alphabet,) each holding
a pointer in her hand. The little hand, i
is true, was suoly very steady,nor the restless
laughing eyes at first confined to the card
1t was indeed difficult task for this pa
ticut teacher to keep their attention awake
or withdraw their wandering gaze from tn,
busy scene around them; yet her little pu
pills learned something every day they sa
behind that desk, with their devoted teach
cr directing their unsteady pointers. An,
! when the task was over, how sweetly mu
steal was that lispiug chorus of infant voi
ccs, repeating that Divine lesson of th
Rcdccmer-" Our Father who art in Hea,
en- What q ioretastc Of heavenly 10
must such ministcring angel feel, Will
thus feeding the Sayiour's lambs
Mrs. Wrghtway was now young ma
ried woman in moderate circumstances.
She had 40 children for several years, an
found that, consistently wiGh her domest
duties, she was able to devote portion
her time still to the interests of the poor
which she did with the appreciation of h
husband, whom she rehgiousy cousiderC
her superior and head.
Among her little pupils was an orphs
child, whom she had found in the care
nm Aunt, herself the mother Of arlarge far
iIv, and in very INDECENT circumstances
Being very much attached to, this lit
girl, Mrs. Wrightway obtained the conse
of her husband to adopt her as her own.
The Aunt, however, much to. her snrpri,
declined this benevolent offer, hoping tt
Mrs. Wrightway's choice would afterwa
centre on one Of her own daughters l.
tie Mary Lane was at this time only
years old.
1t happened soon after this, that NJ
Broome, little Mary Aunt, had done sol
work for aservant girl in the neighborhot
and sent her little neice to take it hon
The mistress of the house happening to
the child, took fancy to her !; and tn
inc to her servant said-"Why, Nan
this is precisely the little girl have be
looking for so long. Whose little girl
she | will adopt her as my own. if
parents will consent"
"Shc has no parents, maam," repl
Nancy "she lives with an Aunt, \
Broome, just around the corner in the Il
ally."
"Ah then will see her very sonn,
ask for the little girl" replied Mrs. We
byman. "Little girl I! here, come to l