The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1868-10-01
The True Woman.

upon woman's rights and woman's
sphere, but very little upon women
as a co.laborer with man. Let us for
a few moments consider hers in this
capacity. Very many of our country |
women, have imbibed the false opin-
ion that it is unlady:like, to labor that
zoe are made ola little finer clay than
our fathers and brothers and they
must do all the work, and make la
dies of us. Now in this Democratic
country, we have no titles. There
are no Lords or Ladies, but plain men
and ,oonen. What is it then to be a
true tcoman ? When woman marries
she places herself on level with her
husband, and if he is laborer, (and
most men in this country do labor at
something), why shouldn't she also
labor, and thus become q holp-meet
as we'll as help-eat. Every one OK
poets man to be employed in some
honorable vocation. Is it any moro
degrading for a woman to be usefully
employed than man? For what
were our muscles and physical pow
ers given us, but for use2 and our
physical energies, can no moro retain
their vigor, than can our mental pow
ers, except by use.
"Playthe sweet keys, wouldst thou
keep them in tune |" We are not
dolls or puppets, placed here for mere
playthings or parlor ornaments, to be
supported in idlenoss, by hard work
ing husbands. Supported indcedl l
wouldn't be supported. No woman
who has health and brains, has any
business to be supported, but should
let her husband know that she is
fully capable to support herself, and
if she attends to all the duties and
cares, which devolve on housewife
with fidelity and frugality, she does
support herself, for they arc legion.
"Life is real, life is earnest" and we
are here my sisters, to perform our
parts in the great drama of life, to
help to bear its burthcns, and tighten
tho tolls of those with whom we arc
connected.
When q man marries, he naturally
supposes, and has right to expect,
that he has obtained house-keeper.
as we'll as companion and friend,
and if he is able to have q house, (and
he should before he marries), it is his
wifo's duty and should be her pleasure
to look well to the ways OIL her house
making his interest hers. This is
her field of labor ; her kingdom, and
it is as much her business, to rightly
conduct and regulate the affairs of
her house, as it is sea-captain's to
navigate his ship, and as she values
the love of her husband, or her repu-
tation among her neighbors she must
attend to it.
A home is something more than
four bare walls. 1t is place where
there is one to love us, whose heart
beats in unison with ours. A true
woman, will endeavor to make her
home, comfortable and attractive
place, in which her weary husband
can rest after the tolls of the day
Ifher time is thus employed, she will
find little time or inclination to spend
in the street, or slandering herneigh-
bors. And she will have her reward.
In after life cher children will rise up
and call her blessed her husband also,
and he praiseth her."
fla woman is too proud or lazy to
cheerfully attend to her domestic af-
fairs, while her husband is engaged in
his legitimate business, she is not q
true woman, and is not worthy of the
love of a good man. She haze no moral
right to marry. She has swindled her
husband.
| had a young friend who was pos.
sessed Of wealth sufficient to live at
her ease, who was eminently quail
fed, intellectually and socially, for
domestic happiness, who, when she
was sought for as companion, by a
worthy and intelligent young man
refused him, because she said she
would not impose upon man that
she loved and that loved her, by ia
king vows upon her that she could
not perform. God had given her a
frail body, just large enough to con
tain her large soul, and she felt that
she had not strength to perform the
duties of wife and house-keeper as
it should be done, consequently, from
principle, she cut herself off from the
prospect ola happy home, with thelove
of husband and children, and now in
middle age, lives in her ancestral halls
alone, with all her young associates
married and enjoying happy homes
around her. La not she a true wo-
man?
Oh! my sisters, away with this false
pride, that fears to soil your delicate
hands, lest you will not be considered
a lady. Labor is honorable and has
been ever since it was pronounced as
curse, upon an ancient man, in an
old, Questionable book, SIN the sweat
of thy face shalt thou eat bread."-
Inst cad of a curse it has proved a
blessing to the human family. 1t
gives bloom to the cheek, strength and
yigor to the limbs, and is panacca
for trouble to the aching heart
BUSY hands, make happy hearts"
Labor is restroom the SORROWS that greet
us;
Rest from all petty vexations that meet us,
Rest from sin-promptings that ever en-
treat us,
Rest from world sirens that lure us to i'll.
WoIk-and pure slumbers shall wait on
thy pillow.
Work-1hou shalt ride owe. cares coming
billow;
Lie not down wearied meath woes weep
ING NillOwi