The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1868-05-20
~ HAPPY WOMEN.
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hiiw bsto By LOUISA AN. -AAlt.ee oTT.

} hiiw bstolB By LOUISA Al ~ AAtffoTT. sn
One of the trials Of womankind is the
fear Of being an old maid. " TO escape
this dreadful DOOM young girls rush into
matrimony with reck lessness which aston-''
ishes the holder; never pausing to remem
Der that the loss of liberty, happiness andl
self-respect is poorly repaid by the barren
honor of being called y Mrs" Instead of
" Miss"i 5H, ~! }sii obi aniYis. ,4fn -ii4i.
81 Fortunately, this foolish prejudice is fast
disappearing, conquered by the success ota
certain class belonging to the sisterhood.-T
This classi is composed of superior women
who, from various causes, remain single, and
devote themselves to some earnest work
espousing philanthropy, art, literature,
music, medicine, or whatever task taste,
necessity, or chance suggests, and remaining
faithful to and as happy in their choice as
married. women with husbands and homes.
1t being my good fortune to know several
such. / venture to offer a little sketch Of
them to those Of my young countrywomen
who, from choice or necessity, stand alone,
seeking to find the happiness which is the
right, of al, itmha ,liJ asynU eff, ,tasm SEQ. a7oa
Here is L., a rich mans daughter; pretty;
accomplished, sensible and good. She tried
fashionablell life and found that it did not
} satisfy her. Mo lover was happy eneugh to.
wake response in her heart, and at twenty
! three she looked about her for something 70,
occupy and interest ller She was attracted
toward the study of medicine; became alb,
sorbed,in it;iwent alone to, IParisia and Lon
don ;studied faithfully; received her di-
ploma, and, having practiced successfully
| for time, was appointed the resident
physician for a city hospital Here, doing
trulyIwomanly work, she finds no)time for
ennuI, unhappinesss or the vague longing
for something to fill heart and life, which
4 leads SO many women to take refuge in
frivolous u or dangerous lamuseiients and
pursuits. She never talks of her mission or
a her rights, but beautifully fulfls the. one and
quietly assumes the Others. Few criticise or
condemn her course, and none question her
success Respected and beloved by all who
know her, seIfintls genuine satisfaction in
her work. and is the busiest, happiest, most
useful, woman whom know. % 7x t,at.
Next comes M a brilliant, talented girl,
full of energy, ambition and noble aspira-
lions. Poor yet attractive, through natural
gifts and graces, to ller camenthe great
Temptation of such girls lifey-a rich lover;
an excellent young man, but her inferior in
all respects She felt this, and SO did she,'
but hoping that love would make them
equals, he urged his suit. i5Is! ~ 30 1910
19t"If loved hifn,n she said, "my way
would be plain, and should not hesitatea
minute. But do not; I've tried, and / am
sure neuer can feel toward him as should
1t is great temptation, for long to culti-
vate my talent, ito help my family, to see
the woodland enjoy life, and all this may be
done if I say Yes s, People tell me that i
am foolish to reject this good fortune that
it is my duty to accept it; that shall get
on very we'll without love- and talk as if it
were business transaction. 1t is hard to
say : No. but must, for in marriage Ifwant
to look up, not down. | cannot make it
seem right to take this offer, and I must let
it 50, for dare not sell my liberty"
She made her choice, turned away from
! the pleasant future laid before her, and took
up her load again. With her one talent in
her hand, she faced poverty, cheerfully
teaching music year after year; hoping al
ways, complaining never, and finding her
I self d stronger, happier woman for the act.
E'A'lIrichero woman, also; for, though the
d husband was lost, a true friend was gained
since the lover, with respect added to his
love, said manfully, "She is right God
| bless herr'q 'ni ..l,'ii 1~-ia ~ -,IYH
\ JOS S. is poor, plain, ungifted and ordinary in
all things but one-a cheerful, helpful spirit,
that loves its neighbor better than itself, and
| cannot rest till it has proved its Sincerity
Few, so placed would have lived forty hard,
dull years without becoming either sharp
and sour, or bitter and blue. But, S. is as
sweet and sunny as a child and, to those
who know her, the personitication of con
tent. The only talent she possesses is that
of loving every helpless, suffering, forlorn
creature whom she meets. Finding her
round of home duties too small for her be-
nevolence; she became one of the home
missionaries whose reports are never read,
whose salaries are never paid on earth.-
Poverty stricken homes, sick-heds, sinful
souls and sorrowing hearts attract her as
i"resistibly as pleasure attracts other women,
and she; faithfully ministers to such, I'M
known and unrewarded. n,,,. ot tr,.
I never had a lover, and I never can
\ have, you know, I'm 50 plain" she says,
with smile that is pathetic in its humility,
its unconscious usefulness. ms '"5I .-,,.,,
4 She is mistaken here, for there are many
to whom that plain face is beautiful. that
I helpful hand very dear Her lovers are not
Of the romantic sort; but old women, little
children, erring men, and forlorn girls give
her an affection as endearing and sincere as
any husband could have done Few will
i know her worth here, but, in the long here
after, I am sure S. will be blessed with
d eternal beauty, happiness and love. ''A
A. is woman of strongly individual
n type, whointh the course of an unusually varied
- experience has seen so much of what wise
man has called D's the tragedy of modern
i married life,' that she is afraid to try it,
Knowing that for one of peculiar nature
like herself such an experiment would be
doubly hazardous, she has obeyed instinct
and become chronic old maid Filial and
fraternd love must satisfy her, and grateful
that such ties are possible, she lives for them
and is contented. III Literature is fond and
Z faithfulspouse, and the little family that has
sprung up around her, though perhaps un-
loving and 9uninteresting to others, is a
n profitable source of satisfaction I'd her
maternal heart After somewhat tempestu-
Gus voyage, she is glad to find herself in a
quiet haven whence she can look back upon
=, her vanished youth, and feel that though the
blossom time Of life is past, a little fruit re.
mains to ripen in the early autumn coming
Not lonely, for parents, brothers and sisters
! : friends and babies keep her heart full and
: warm; not idle, for necessity, stern yet
- kindly teacher, has taught her the worth Of
work not unhappy. for love and labor
like good angels, walk at either hand. and
the diyiue Friend filssrthe world with
strength, and beauty for the soul and eyes