The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1866-06-21

pOho lOr Jho WOTlu, was LnO not over
complimentary reflection of Matil-
da. ..-...
"My uncle regrets very much not
being able to meet you" she said, in
answer to his question, ''but he is call
ed away to New York by business. /
trust, however, that shall be able to
entertain you"
"That | do not question:" said the
visitor, with a slow attempt at gal
lantry.
I'm inclided to think he will be.
fore he goes" thought Matilda.
Looking ct her fingers, she remark
ed composedly, as if she for the first
time observed the stain Of ink. III
hope you will excuse the appearance
ofmy fingers, but have been writing
all the morning, and | couldn't re,
move all traces of INK" % saIt
"You were writing letters, I pre-
sume?" said Stephen. 5-4.
30, no! not at all, / was writing an
article on "Woman's Rights" for the
"Bugle of Freedom"
Mr. Jenkins started uneasily.
81 suppose you are in the habit of
seeing that paper" said Matilda.
'"No, said he stifily.
"Ah! you don't know what you
lose. Composed and edited entirely
by females. But perhaps"
Matilda interrupted herself 10 ring
the hell
Jane" said she to the servant:
'.you may go up stairs and bring down
a manuscript which you will find on
the table 4"
"A what, ma'am?"
"a manuscript-a sheet of paper
with writing on it. Poor Jane, she
continued after the servant had gone
out, "she would not be SO ignorant if
man had not denied to us women the
advantages of education which he
claims for himself"
BY this time Jane had returned
with the manuscript.
you like, Mr.. jenkins, / will
read you what have written
Mr. Jenkins looked dsmayed, but
managed to utter fceble-"O, certain
| ly."
Matilda in an emphatic manner, be.
gan to read as follows:
MRS. Editor Permit me again to
raise my voice in trumpet tones a
gainst the despotic rule of man over
our down trodden sex. Enlightened
as We are disposed to consider the
present generation, is it not disgrace,
and burning shame, that men should
monopolize all the Offices of honor and
profit, and leave to his equal-shall 1
not say his superior, in point of intel
lect-only q few undesirable and la
borious posts. What, l say, is the
reason men should take upon them.
selves to govern, and expect us meek
ly to submit to the yoke which they
seek to impose upon us? Why sho'd
wenot see q female in the chair of State,
and"
"That is all had written, Mr.. Jen-
kins, when you came" said Matilda,
breaking off from the reading. "You
will easily understand the idea that /
was about to develope, and, l have no
doubt you will agree with me-"
do you really think, Miss Parker,
that there should be no distinction in
point of occupation between men and
womenY' exclaimed the sedatc Ste
phen, horror struck.
"Why should there be ?" said Ma
tilda, with spirit. DO you doubt
whether women has an intellect equal
to man ?"
''Is there female Shakespeare
asked Mr. Jenkins
"Yes;" said Matilda, promptly
"Did you never read Mrs. Browning's
pocms?"
Il can't say 1 have2' returned Ste
phen,
"Ah, then I shall have the pleas
urc of making you acquainted with
her"
She rang the bell.
Jane, she said "go up to my room
and bring down the book you will find
OH the table"
Jane did so.
ave have an hour before dinner it
seems" said Matilda, looking at her
watch, Gin what way can we better i'm
prove it, than by perusing togeth-
er this noble monument of genius"
Mr., Jenkins looked terrified; but be.
fore he had time to raise any objection,
Matilda had commenced.
She read aloud faithfully for the
hour referred tot seemed three
hours to the unhappy Stephen-whc
had not the slightest apprehension OF
poetry and description.
He was quite delighted when the
dinner. bell rang and SO was Matilda in
her secret heart.
N am afraid" said she, 1--WE shall
have to rest from our reading till af.
ter dinner, but by commencing imme.
diately afterwards we may get quar-
ter through by tea,time."
elbow many pages are there in the
poem2' the young man inquired hcsl
tatingly,
"Only q little more than four hun.
dred," was tho encouraging reply.
The dinner proved to be not a very
social meal. Matilda confined herself
entirely to literary subjects, and eva
ded all attempts to change the topic
"Good gracious p thought the young
man, sand this was the young girl
{ was TO marry. I'd as soon marry
dictionary, although she is pretty, and