Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1865-01-30
Cl1e guteIIlgeaeeF.
"sHE IS A WIDOW p

Did you notice that sneer, the tone of
contempt with which those words were
ut9red7 The Hin5oos burn widows on
the funeral pile of their husbands, and
we call them cruel. American Chris
tains, with the Bible in their hands, Oft
en- treat widows with more refined but
no less cruelty.
Dear reader, did you ever speak lightly
Of widows, and did you ever realize what
the word signifies? A widow one who
has loved and been loved-once the mis-
tress of pleasant home where clustered
the richest blossoms of affection, where
was music and gladness; one who once
had strong arm to lean upon, noble
manly heart to sympathize in all her
sorrow, and to shield her from every
rough blast. You knew her then; per-
haps you often partook of the hospitals
ties Of that home which she adorned.
How respectful you were-how lovely
she seemed, how lady-like-she was a
wife then-she had protector But
days Of darkness and sorrow came-her
hu-band-her earthly all, was laid low,
and she, the tenderly nuTtured, the "pre-
cious one" the joy of that now cold
heart, was widow At first you were
al kindness and sympathy; but DAYS and
weeks, and months wore on, and you for
got your friend-did she forget No;
but she must struggle for bread; she who
had always shrunk from any other than
household care, must care for business
now; she must bargain with you, and
others OF your sex, or starve. And now
you strangely forget those other days,
and you are noble exception if you do
not take advantage of her ignorance Of
business, to make a good bargain for
yourself to her loss.
If necessity compels her to be on the
alert against business trickery, then for~
sDOth she is a strong. minded DoHtan, and
your bachelor friend is warned against
such designing widows! Shame Shame!
where Is your manhood, your sense of
right and justice? You know better;
you know 1t Is almost martyrdOm for her
to meet you in the marts Of business and
to talk of dollars and cents; you know
that the memory of the past comes upon
her with an almost overwhelming sorrow.
while, whit calm exterior, she seems to
guard the TEMPORAL interests of herself
and little ones; you know she is q gentle, |
true, loving woman, one whom the Lord |
has aiiiicted, One who has too much |
reason to think that all real manLfnesS |
is buried in the dust
Designing! DO you ever think when you
speak lightly OF widows, that your wife
may soon be liable to the same reproach?
Your wife is nor secure; the wife of your
irIsod was no less happy than your own is
now, che was no more self reliant, no more
''Bir1pg minded, and even now she shrlnks
from contact with the outer world with
just as much delCacy; but stern necessity
needs no such womauly feeling.
Beware, then, o man, perhaps profess.
ei.y Cristiau brother, how you forget the |
teachings OF the blessed master. Beware |
how you emulate the heather, by INJECTING |
torture on the sensitive spirit of refined |
woman harder TO be borne than the faggot |
and the FIRE Remember that the Holy Que, |
ioresesiag all, has proclaimed himself the |
widows God, uud that his ear is open to
every sigh Of her paiued heart, aud He |
said TO you, BY your CORDS you shall be
Justified, aud by yOur words you shall be |
condemned" Speak respectfully, then, of
these atii cted ones. Tue Lord made them |
i0'dolD's, not in wrath but because WHOM
He l0VeIh He chssleneth." - Cong. Herald