Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1859-02-26


We select tho following beautiful picture
from q recently published address Of Richard
V. Cook, Esq, Of Columbus, Texas, on the
Education and Influence Of Woman" It
will touch the heart Of the reader. We seldom
stumble upon SO well expressed an idea Of
woman's true mission:
fancy Q voting man just emerging from
the bright elysium of youth, and commencing
the bright journey Ofli(e. Honest, noble, and
gifted-the broad world to his warm hopes is
the future scene Of affluence, fame, and hap
piness. Under his active energies business
prOsperS, and, as q consequence, friends come
about him: Ere long he meets . sensible and
simple girl, who wins his heart, aud who loves
and trusts him in return. lie does not stop
to ask what the world will say about the match
in case he marries her. Not he. Tho world
is kicked out Of doors, and the man determines
to be the architect OF his own happiness. lie
does not stop to inquire whether the giFrs "a
Their is rich in lands and slaves and coin but
he marries her for that most honest and phil
osophic of all reasons-because he LOres her!
lie builds his home in some quiet spot, where
green green trees wave their summer glOries,
and where bright sunbeams fall. Here is the
Mecca Of his heart, toward which he turns
with more than Eastern alteration. Here isa
green island in the sea Of life, where rude
winds never assail, and storms never come.
Here, from the troubles and cares Of existence,
he finds sOlace in the society Of her who is
gentle without weakness, and sensible with
out vanity.
Friends may betray him and foes may OPP
press, but when towards home his weary foot
steps turn, and there beams upon him golden
smiles Of welcome, the clouds lift from his
soul, the bruised heart is restored, and the
strong man made whole. Creditors seize his
properly, poverty stares him IN the face, and
he is avoided on all hands as q ruined bank
rupt When he secs all go-friends, credit,
and proSperty-griefstrick and pcnnilesS,
he seeks his humble home. Now docs the
wife desert him too! Nay, verify When
the world abandons and pcrsccutes the man,
she draws, closer to his side, and her affection
is ali the warmer because the evil days have
come upon him. The moral excellence Of her
soul rise superior to the disasters Of fortune
And when she sees the man sit mournful and
disconsolate, like ThcmistocleS by the House.
hold Gods of Admethus, hers is the task to
comfort and console. She reminds him that
misfortune has OF overtaken the wisest and
the best that she still is near to love, to help
and encourage him. The man listens, his
courage rallies, and the shadows flee from his
heart; armed once more he enters the arena
Of life. Industry and energy restore him to
competency; fortune smiles upon him, friends
return. and
"Joy mounts cxuting on triumphant wings"
Again the scene shifts. l see the man
stretched weak and wasted on bed Of sick
ness The anxious wife anticipates every
want and necessity. Softly her foot falls upon
the carpet, and gently her hand presses the
Ievercd brow of the sufferer. Though the face
gives token Of her own wearincss and suffering,
yet through the long watches Of each return
ing night her vigils are kept beside the loved
ones couch. AT last disease belcagucrs the
fortress of life, aud the physician solemnly
warns his patient that death is approaching.
lie feels il too; and the last words Of love and
trust are addressed to her who is weeping be-
side bis dying bed. And, in truth, the last
hour hath come imagine it is fit time to
depart; for the golden sun himself has died
upon the evenings fair horizon, and rosy
clouds bear him to his grave behind the west
ern hills Around the couch Of the dying
man weeping friends and kinsmcn stand,
while the minister slowly reads the holy words
of promise:
IL am the Resurrection and the Life, saith
the Lord; he that bclieveth on me, though he
were dead, yet shall he live; and whose liveth
and believeth in me shall never die" Slowly
the clock marks the passing moments, and
silently the sick mans breath is ebbing away.
Slowly the cod waters are rolling through the
gateways of life. And now, ss the death
damp is on the victims brow, and the heart
thro6s its last pulsatiOns, the glazed eye opens
and turns in ono full, farewell glance Of affcc-
ton upon the trembling weeper who bends
over him and ere the spirit departs, forever,
the angels hear the pale wife whisper-"F Iii
meet thce-I'll meet thee in Heaven!"
~~&
EndAom Thnucyhfa