Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-02-09
NO. |.
The Adopted Daughters:
AsTORY W0MAN's RIGHTS.
NO, /.
(coNcLuDED.)
CHAPTER Y.

CHAPTER Y.
Minerva soon recovered, and stood be-
side the couch Of her dying patroncss.-
Alone she stood for this strong minded, .
proud woman, had excluded all other wit |
nesses of her mortal agony. She turned /.
her now waning orbs on Minerva
My daughter said She my PRIDE my
bright reward Listen. | have much to .
say, and my time is short The doctor
tells me have few hours to live O! my
daughter, it is hard, a severe decree of
Nature, that this soaring mind must
perish with the groyelling clay tenement
it inhabts. But so it must be. One gen
Grafton must make room for another-itis is
natural-it is therefore right-we must
submit. Honor my memory, by walking
in my footsteps. | have cndeavorcd to cs-
tablish the immutable laws of the deity |
worship; the only deity | have been en-
abled to perceive by the most arduously .
cultivated reason. All glorious Nature. /
have endeayored all my life to honor and .
ryrr.y rte my sex. And, my daughter, re-
member the exalted destiny | have so la .
bored that YOU may fulfill. Rest not in
Your bright career, till in the Halls Of Con
gress, or the chair Of the chief magistrate
Of this glorious country, you accomplish
the Rights of Woman"
Minerva wept, but remained silent. She
thought of the last death bed scene she had
wituessed-thought of the agony Of that
christian penitent for having placed her
with this champion of Woman's Rights
thou0ht too of the lessons she had learned
DO in the sunday school from her pious teach
cr--of the possibility Of hereafter for
that soaring mind, her dying patroness had
Just alluded to. The thief on the cross
zoo arose to her awakened memory. Who
knows, thought she, that it is now too late.
But habtual submission to the Judgment
of her adopted mother sealed her lips.
She was recalled from those reflections, by
the voice Of the dying woman.
Minerva! you have been dutiful
daughter. have given you all possess.
She now closed her eyes and seemed to
sleep for while And now she starts
wildly from her sleep, and stares around
with alright.
Let no one witness my last weakness,
said Mrs. Woodbyman. AS have lived
so let me die Yet there was an evident
betrayal of weakness though she controll
ed her feelings. And with it was plainly
perceptblc a dread of something approach
ing.
Death is indeed the King of terrors,
said the dying philosopher. is it not in
deed terrible to have this glorious mine
crushed out of one crushed, destroyed
aunihilatcd. Doyou believe this, my younl
philosopher
You are wiser than l., mama said NJ
ncrva.
'Butvct youmust think for Yourself now
4 shall always think rs you do, deare:
and best friend was her instant reply, ;
Minerva rcsolu,ciy shook off her doubtin
spirit, dud determined to support the firm
ness Of her patroucss, SO perfectly an
thoroughly had she been trained to thin
her adopted mother inlalIihIc. And no
at this awful moment her mistaken conf
dcncc returned with all its force she co
ceiycl the wisdom, the philosophy of h
patrouc,s unshaken, triumphant. She b
held her dying rs a great woman shou
die. She was tempted t. open the doc
that NIL might witness the close of the
great lecturers existence, the triumpha
close might learn how to meet the king
tcrrors. While these exultinS though
were passing through her agitated mir
Mrs. Woodbymau spoke, in awhisper:
'Bc still-my daughter, Let no o
witness my weaaness-alas for my wont
strength -Minorya--come here--co
closc-put your ear down must wi
per 1.-THE coward thought-Mnerva
child
well dearest mama eagerly spoke
adopted daughter.
Minerva think you--therci is a--nc
never mind will not yicldn
%. my dear mother said Minerva
there anything in life | can do for you.
let me do something to comfort YOU
sty on; say or
Life is too short now, my dear chill
too short, she wnispercd-too short-it
soon be oyer-think for yourself Mine
like woman--be no longer a chill
farewell
Aud now delirium ensued, and this
losopher, this female champion Of Won
Rights, died raying maniac.