Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1869-03-04
MISCELLANY.
women.--Beautiful Extract.

Created to be the companion Of man, how
often has she been made his shave, the instru-
mint of his passions, the plaything of his idle
hours This everywhere among the savage
tribes has been the case, and even among ma
tions which were civilized, If Pagan, woman
rarely had assigned to her, her proper place.
This was but another phase Of that ferocity
that has cursed the earth by its cruelties in
war. The stronger trampling on the weak
But there was this mighty difference, that
whereas a feeble tribe might by conquest be
made harmless, the influence of woman could
not be destroyed. There belongs to her in each
several relations as sister, wife, mother, vast
social power for good or evil, Of which she caL-
not be deprived. If crushed, down-trodden
and despised by an uncbristian civilization,
woman, alas, had her too ample revenge in the
baneful influences which, from mans fault and
her own sad misfortune, went forth from her
! as by law Of retribution to avenge her on her
/ tyrants. Her womanly nature which would
| have she'd its sweet and softening influences on
society could not be dried up, but did, without
her mcanngit, give forth the soured and bitter
influences which oppression, TO its own just
punishment, wrung out from her. Never
therefore, could there be a true civilization
where woman was not assigned her proper
/ place But where this justice is done to her,
/ what rich reward she bestows on man. 1t
is hers then to humanize him by the gentler
charities, to engraft with her delicate female
touch, the softer graces upon the under-growths
Of his nature, to distil around the deep roots Of
his being secret subtitle balm Of all purest
passions which, when she has reused into their
I see,
them.
1t is woman's missions in the quiet privacies
Of home, to feed the centre founts Of society
with those humanizing influences which distill
as naturally from her as its balm from the tree,
or their odor from the flowers. But why crush
the extending branch or why tread down the
exhaling flower? The more tendenly they are
nurtured the richer the balm, the more fragrant
the aroma will they yield. And so woman, il
herself the nurseling Of tenderness, will tbs
more tenderly minister. Now in tho Scripture
woman has assigned to her, her proper place
the amenities of her sex are vindicated, her
mission is defined, her miniStrati0us are allowed
and acknowledged. she is placed at mans side
his companion, his friend, his equal, and help
meet for him. Weaker in physical frame, she
is admonishcd to cling to him for support;
intellectual energies less vigorous than bis, she
is taught to make him her counsellor, But
superior to man in the finer and pure delicate
sentiments Of their common nature, be must
seek toward her unless he would become stern
in his strength and in bis virile hardihood de-
generate into harshness.
We know nothing finer in the whole range
Of literature than are some Of the exhibitions
of female character which are to be met with
in the Scripture histories. a loving wife and
a devoted mother, he is seen shedding hal
lowed loveliness around the household
The sires and sons Of Israel, 50 noble, pa
triots, heroes Of dauntness bravery men Of ac-
ton and Of meite in Israels best days went
forth from homes where womans work was
known aud her power admitted. It vas she
as wife or mother who made these sires and
sous Of Israel the men they proved to be-
But not only in the privacy Of home is the He.
brew woman to be seen. She could step fortl
without forgetting her womanly modesty, il
times equal to deeds Of yalor, that the veterans
of the nation might have envied. She, to-
was poetess, Pdestess, prophecies, but nohlel
still, she was ennobled as the mother Of The
Saviour.