St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1859-04-28
NUMBER II.
HEROISM
IN THE PRIVATE WALKS OF LIFE
BY GAIL HAMILTON.

BY GAIL HAMILTON.
1t is not for the generation among
whom Elizabeth Browning las SUM-.
and Charlotte Brontc spoken. and Har.
riet Hosmcr chiselled, and Rosa Bon.
heur painted, and Mary Lyon taught,
and Florence Nightingale lived, to
despair Of woman's achievement of
her high destiny. In whatever di-
rcction you choose to walk. you will
lind that firm foot has preceded
yours that strong hand has hcwed
down the giant trees, and cleared
away the tangled underground. Sc
that the forest which once REQUIRED
all mans strength and woman's
tortitude, child may thread uuharmcd.
Thus do the strong bear the burdens
Of the weak. Thus have noble wo~
men made straight, in the desert, a
highway for our God. "Inagmuci, a,
ye have done it unto one Of the least
OF these my brethren, yc have done
it unto ne" 1t is the first step which
costs and the first step has been
taken.
But let US not suppose that rcner-
Gus ends can be attained only on the
mOuntain-top. To but few is strength
given to climb its rugged sides. and
cIearncss and breadth of vision to
take in the broad sweep of it's low
lying landscape Down in the valley,
there is work to be donc-humble, vet
Divine small in the germ, yet great
in the unfolding. However simple or
however difficult, however obscure or
however prominent the work nav be.
matters not, provided it be Gods ap-
pointed work. 1t is better to rule a
household well, than kingdom i'll.
He that swoo,s > Goor os 20 co,r.,
Makes that and the action fine" "
Tho n; .,rr &C.,
norcnot n;.,J" Va q '','iu .I' nnaeI Is as
rIn,,I u.an1i rLo 'o n;, ,"c ~o'te u th,s
tor 9. ;nst ~, l.oou "e I DI''S is .'". > ''usIl'
han P;II" P;I ,'s NnI ~ '',ii hIL" 10 more,
@ "innIn Tfo w. "na rreu ,.os | ou' . nel nt'G1 aha
her, pnt frnn ,', "sa ho. ''.' t,, ioI "o! IooH
homo hon t; 13n' mn aGt nu",ole '"Iano
and bnna - W .ho o.I" s,i" sP.SNS Th., cUl''of'
~ ,''' '''.' ~ 'i' e"l ILL.,
Here ana there, both IN The beaten
| paths ana the untroddcn ways, on the
Io"'ahdS and upIands Gi life, | meet
an an%eI-hot IN WMte robes, garland
g" Wlth roses, and winged for Heaven,
put pIaln III c"tIco, 1t may hc, or grand
III velvet recail now the face OF
one whose me IS TO me constant
SoSpGl. \ S'I&ht' pale girl orphaned,
home'cSS ; neglected by those who
should nave watched her young years
tehucfly' Snc yet seems to nave drawn
TO heFsei, by som? magnetic power,
an the good OF all the Pcraons by
whom She has been surrounded, and
TO have led her own soul thereon.
9hc went to schoo', bearing IN her
mean ana Scanty dress, hcr tim checks,
ana nara hands, me marks OF poverty
ana tol ana WiLd' thouGhtIeSs, ele,
%anty-0rCsSed, ana carciuiIy-nurtured
S'rlS' hUSnea thelr needless sarcasm,
S0i'ehcN 'nrlr merry voices, ana spoke
10 her win love, ana ot her with
tears 0hE'hN,y schSit!Fc 10 thelf
! opihlohS' trcmpiinG awe 70 hor own
disadvahtagcs, conscious as she must
nave been that she served a hard task
master no word oi complaint ever
passed her hpS. Always cheerful,
modest, happy, wiling to be pleased,
grateful l9r kindness, and patient or
any chance neglect, You might have
supposed her entirely inscnslblc to
the motives and feelings that influence
ordinary girls, were it not for the oc.
cas'onal quiver OF the lip, the quick,
nervous gesture, the moiStcned eye,
and faltering tone. She left school
with disease lurking in her system.
slowly and surely undermining the
citadel Of life but she kept up her
courage. She had no idea of dying
till her hour should come, and, as long
as she should live, She determined
that her living should bring forth
fruit. She earned money enough to
transport herself to a climate which
was pronounced favorable to her
health ; there, III wild backwoods,
among a rough people, who bad for
gotten, If they ever knew, the COM
mon reiinements OF life, she opened a
school. From her rude home she
wrote merry letters, describing her
adventures and her circumstances
There was no talk OF selt,denial, the
greatness OF sacrifice, the hardship Of
missionary life. Over all the harsh
outline, and the harsher filling in, she
threw the vail OF her playful fancy.
and few beard the mourntui under-tone
'hat tnrlllea 'hr0hSh the gay anu
sPr'sh.iy song: Inc new scenes ana
tne softer ar ana not nave the desired
enet,' ana a & SNORT n'me since she
wrote 10 lfieho Il nave moved
from a small, quiet school, TO large,
To'hcN,hS' lfoilcklhG' 1Nn-!oVing one
am happy think l ought to be,
every one is KIND. But, dear l., am
quite puzzled don't kEo" Just what