Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-02-03
RACHEL GREY'S WORK;

KAthEI NhEl'S MORk
OR, TnE RESPONSIBILITIES OF LIFE.
Charles Manning drew in the reins so sud
denly that the horses settled back upon then
launches and stood stock-stil.
" Rachel Grey, | wonder if you are be-
side YOURSELF" he said, as he loosened the
reins and the spirited steeds shot forward
again. d" declare that if you were not my
cousin, and had not, consequently, some
small amount Of personal regard for you,
should be tempted to capsize this sleigh and
throw you into that snow-bank !'
Rachel laughed morrily.
" am not mad, most noble Festus."
Then you have been reading Aurora
Leigh, or Alton Locke, or pouring over
Margaret Fuller's rhapsodies until your head
is full Of all sorts Of ultraisms Your brain
is fairly turned"
." You admit that | have brains then p
She answered, with sly glance at his face
Thank you, sir"
was quite in the dark on that point |
plead guilty to the charge of having read
. Aurora Leigh : but have 10 acquaintance
WIN hinS5itli anu Np Hot NthtuIt 10 clhulult
Margaret Fuller Nevertheless, do not in
tend to spend my days in doing fancy-work
or in-crimping my hair"
q" You have no need to do the latter" said
the young man, casting an admiring glance
at the mass of wavy brown hair that rippled
back from his companions brow. 1t crimps
itself. But these ideas of yours, Rachel
are utterly preposterous."
Why? | should like to be instructed
Charlie"
" Why Oh, because You see, Rachel;
the two sexes have different missions. 1t is
ours to do the worlds work We men do
not wish that woman should soil her dainty
fingers with it, 1t is our business to do the
work, and it is yours to make yourselye.
charming and fascinating, and all that
When we come home from our daily labors
we want to rest ourselves with your grace and
beauty. Woman's work, forsooth ! 1t is
to amuse, please, and fascinate. If she does
that, she does all that is required of her
Wen do the work"
Rachel laughed outright.
a" beg your pardon, Charlie. But how
much of the worlds work do you and Ned
Payson and Wallace Clyde and the rest Of
your set do, do YOU think Just about as
much as Miriam Barker Madge Payson, and
| do and not whit more We are none oi
us doing our work. We are simply amusing
ourselves, young men and young women alike
And for my part | am tired Of it, Charlie =
You say" she continued, after a little
Z" that it is woman's mission to make herself
'charming; and imply that it is her true
work to 'amuse,' rest and soothe the real
wo-kcrs--meaning men. Now, do not feel
that most of the men with whom | come il
contact are at all in need of such ministra.
tions. If"-and here her voice took deeper
tone, and her cheek glowed like the heart o.
a rose" If God should ever send to me one
of his true workers, one who, worn and weary
from the field of labor, really needed help and
cheer, surely could better play the part o.
helper, sympathizer, and friend, if | had my
self borne somewhat of the burden and heat
of the day.
"Oh, pshaw, Rachel You always take
fellow up so seriously; of course | did moi
mean that | meant that woman did hei
part if she was beautiful, graceful and, in O
word, charming. The flowers have their mis-
sion as well as the trees and the golden grain
1t is to please. And that is just womani
mission"
Rachel sighed.
"You do not understand me, Charley
Perhaps you can not But did it never oc
cur to you that there are women who can moi
content themselves with being mere ornament
al appendages to society women who feel, il
view of all there is to be done for the world
and for humanity, almost speak it rever
ently--as Paul felt when he cried, " Woe il
me if preach not the gospe2" As for me
dear Charles, can not spend my days il
simply pleasing myselfo or others
Charles Manning's lip curled sarcastically
in spite of the little hand that rested on hil
arm.
"What great thing dOy you propose to do p
he asked.
"Nothing great | mean to do the duty
that seems nearest"
" But you have some sort of an idea as t
what your mission is? hate that word =
SO do |. But | remember it is wore
of your choosing, not of mine. No, / hay'
no definite project. Still, | think my work
will be something akin to Glory MWincks.
"You absurd child Do you mean you are
going to do housework for some good Aun
Henderson,"
by no means. Although | am inclined
to think that even that would be 4 better way
of spending ones life than making it one pro
longed course Of the German. To wash dish
es, If you remember, was not the browning
ambition of Glory's life"
!" and here the young man, with on'
flourish of his whip dexterously cut of thu
head of dried MULLEN stalk that peeret
above the snow" oh - You're going 4
found an orphan asylum That is what il is
Miss Rachel Gray, l wish you joy. Do yor
intend being matron Of the institution your
self"
81 havn't got as far as that yet" she an
swcred, laughing. "No, cousin Charley,
do not expect to found an orphan asylum. o.
to do any other great work. But while ther'
ere houseless, homeless children, wailing il
every nook and corner of the city--towart