The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1869-11-23

rernhPs her nealth falls, tired nature
gives way, and for awhile she sinks be.
meath domestic cares. But does she
murmur that she is a mother No, but
thank God, that she bears the sacred
title. Do not the tender caresses, and
love of the infant and child repay all she
may have suffered in its behalf? The
great God designed woman to be the
mother Of mankind. Intellectually she
is mans equal, physically his inferior.
He never designed her to fill those stations
in life which call for great muscular
strength, but through her the world should
be peopled, and in great measure ed
ucated. And who so well fitted to be
the companion and instructor Of the
young child, as the competent mother ?
And competent she should be, or never
bear that sacred name. And now comes
the question, which is at the present time
so strongly agitated. "Shall those aven.
ues to the professions, and all manly pur-
suits which have been heretofore closed
to women, now open to them ?" If wo-
men go hand in hand with men through
the sterner walks Of life, who are to fill
the place Of wife and mother. Heaven
knows that at the present day the name
is but too often a mockery. And those
duties which devolve upon her are care
lessly thrown aside, or given to incompe.
tent servants, while she who is but wife
and mother in name, spends her time in
worse than idleness, in extravagant dress,
and attending fashionable places of amuse-
ment. The slavery" so much COM
planned of, would be much lessened, were
women less the slaves to the prevailing
fashions. Would not the mortality which
is so frightfully great among children in
our large cities be much .lessened, if
mothers as class would better perform
their duties. My own observation as the
wife OF practicing physician tells me it
would. None but those women who are
strong physically and mentally, are at all
qualified to enter the great arena of life
as co-laborer with men, in manly pur.
suits. Admitting this, where are the true
wife and mother to be found among the
weaker and more inefficient of the sex
1t is impossible for her to fill both posi-
tions at the same time, or in any measure
do 80. The great cry is, women are
" overtasked," their present position is
one of "drudgery" and toll. In many
cases this is true, but by assuming
those of men, are they to be made lighter?
Her very organization units her from
entering the rougher and sterner walks of
life And methinks modesty should for
bid it. From the very laws of her being,
she is subject to those pains and ills from
which men are exempt. Surely, women
has broad field Of usefulness open to her,
with her pen she may elevate. improve, and
instruct her race. All branches of the
fine arts are before her, in which with
her delicacy of conception, and skill to
execute, many can but excel. Teaching
has ever been, and still is an honorable,
and elevating employment for females.
Shop.keeping, or those departments de-
voted to ladies, could with much proprie-
ty be kept by them. think if many of
the efieminate young men who follow
the above calling, would enter the sterner
walks Of life, where more muscular and
intellectual strength were called for it
would be more enobling than measuring
tape behind counter.
There are many of the professions i'm
perfectly filed, by strong able bodied
men, who have but little brains, and are
too lazy to work, but this is no reason
why woman should attempt to fill his place
in Society. The moment she attempts to
do 50, she oversteps those limits her Crea-
tor designed she should not All those
tender reverential, and almost holy feel
ings, with which all noble hearted and re-
fined men have regarded her, will be
erased from their hearts, | would not have
woman SO educated as to think marriage
a necessity, as many state it to be. "a
woman in certain positions Of life, must
lead life Of toll, prostitution drudgery,
or marry" | would have her educated
so as to fill as far as lays in her power,
the place Of wife, mother, daughter, sister
and friend and to look upon this life as
but preparatory one, to that never end
ing life which is to come. | believe it a
rare thing for happily married woman
to complain Of the limited position she
occupies. The 10 called reformatory
movement, believe has more followers
among wives who are not true to them
selves and those entrusted to their care,
disaffected old maids, and certain class
of fanatical men and women. When a
man enters the holy relations of matrimo-
ny it is to be supposed he marries the
woman of his choice, one who will with
dignity aud wisdom presideover the home
his labor provides, that she will so far as
lies in her power, be tender judicious
loving wife and mother, not allowing his
earnings to be squandered by wasteful ,
servants, and their children to grow up
a disgrace to their parents, can she fill the
above responsible position, and follow the
same or similar pursuits with her hus-
band Impossible. Oh woman be
true to yourself, and to your Creator.
DO not try to oyerstep those limits which
he has so plainly marked out for you to
follow. Let your standard be high one.
So educate your children, that they will
reflect glory on the name of Mother
lnstill into the minds of your husbands
sons, and brothers, those high and noble
sentiments of principle und virtue, and so
influence them, that the prevalent evils Of
many who now are in places of high trust,
will be done away. 1t will then be un-
necessary for woman to go with the rab-
Bile to vote would not make woman
for the sins of the whole world,
but her calling is great and glorious one.
What WAS it that led bright interesting
little boy of four years old 10 say, man,
ma | love You, aud when you are an old
" oman I'll take care of you" The low
ing care the mother bestowed upon her
child was reciproca ted, aud the entire
love OF his baby heart went out to her in