Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1859-01-01

yet i fitted her exquisite form with the NJ
cesf exactitude.
At the words, What does Hertha think
Of il p she slightly turned her head, and
said coldly
4 think Il o miserable state Of things
where good and charming girl cannot
have any other chance than to marry n
man halfseas-ovcr, or man without a
heart, and who evidently does not trouble
himself much about her.
The young girls laughed, and said 10 q
low voice
'Hertha speaks plain enough ! She is
not afraid OF saying what she thinks
Afraid r exclaimed Hertha F; no, am
not afrad-not now, at least
'Bnt, my dear Hertha, said, auxiously,
a little elderly lady, who was necessarily
twiddliug her fingers as if she were wind
ing yarn or unraveIing tangled skein, 'one
must think a little, though, about what
people may say. Besides, just remember !
Eva Dufva has no fortune, and will be so
we'll provided for oil her days
I think said Hertha, with the same
cold indifference as before, that it is hu.
initiating for girl to marry merely to be
provided for. Much more honorable would
it be for to help to provide for those whom
she loves. That, it seems to me, is far pre-
ferable, is an honor
'Ah,' returned the little old lady, whose
countenance and whole person had resem-
blapce to o raveled skein, now Hertha is
again coming out with her odd ideas
She is quite right, said a lady in the
circle marriage is frequently unhappy
because girls don't marry themselves to
souls, or hearts, but to--purses.'
No. no. sighed pale young woman,
not to purses, but to dreams, and that is
not much better, at least for the happiness
Of the heart. One sees so much that is
beautiful in him one loves one sees in him
the ideal about which one has dreamed,
and which is to elevate one to the good
and the great. One fancies that one shall
find a god, and one finds here she sud
denly checked herself, while faint Grim
son suffused her pale countenance, and she
merely atlded--'and one finds that which
one did not expect
But, my dear Emily said the elder
lady, smiling, If we do not find gods in
our husbands, neither do they, indeed, find
goddesses ir us. And men are in gener-
al way, much better informed, and much
more thoroughly educated thon women-
that even you must concede, Hertha'
They know much more, perhaps, replied
Hertha,- but ii is not the fault of the wo-
men that there are few things which they
can learn, and even those few so seldom
thoroughly. But even then, are men more
just, more reasonable, more bigh-minded
than women ? Do they think and act
more from the innermost of life 3? In word
have they more true human culture p
sBnt do women in general way possess
this p asked one Of the ladies, in depre-
ciating tone.
They would possess this, and might ever
impart it, replied Hertha, if their feeling
for the innermost of life obtaned-life
truth. But it is not developed, and there
fore both sexes remain alike trammeled
aud fundamentally uncultured'
Nay then, Hertha has regular frenzy
to-day, quite FIRST rate 2 said the young
girls, smiling. Only think, if the gentle
men heard you !-You will never be mar.
ried, Hertha
We'll aud what then p said Hertha
bluntly, but at the same time half smiling
is marriage, in general way, so happy
in this world, that the highest happiness
may be considered as being found in mar
riageP
'Ah, no. said the pale young lady, with
sigh, but it makes us mothers, and in
that way it gives US a rich and deep expe
rience Of life, which can never be the lot o.
- ,,or,o cd ,liI1Iaso tvon,aD
The young girls were quite silent, as il
struck by the truth of these words.
Hertha said, All married women have
children. And is there not peculiar, rich
experience, deep insight into life, which
can alone be the portion Of the unmarried
woman p
Hertha's voice betrayed an inward emo
tion, as she continued
If our education were not so ntterly
miserable, and the object of our lives sc
utterly pcverty-stricken and circumscribed
if we we're carly instructed, instead of seek
ing for support out of ourselves, to seek TO
it in our own breasts, in our own powers
If we were able to devote life and life's en-
ergies to great and noble purposes; i
we were permitted to listen TO the inne
voice, and follow It's inspiration rather thai
all kinds Of opinions around us if w
were allowed to do the work which We
should love to do-then | am certain thai
we should become noble and even happy
should be lawgivers to ourselves and even
Others
Good gracious My dear Hertha, dc
Won wish that ladies should be lawyers, OF
perhaps attorney generals, and sit on the
high seats Of justice 7? said the little old
lady, working with her fingers more ner.
vously shan ever, and evidently very uneasy
Not exactly so, replied Hertha, half smil-
ing but furthermore than that
What more what more p asked many
ladies in the group, smiling end inquisitive
Hertha was silent moment, aud thel
said, whilst faint crimson lighted up hel
cheek, though the meludious voice eontinu
ed calm as a TRANQUILITY heaving wave
In the old times it was believed that
something great and deep was indwelling
in woman, which could not be fully devel-
Oped unless she remained alone alone with
the Divinity. Then even women were
priestesses in the service OF the holy. the
It.ytr 80 4, l..