Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-02-07
wOMAN's WORK.
Interesting Letter from Florence
Nfghtimgale.

Nightingale.
MY DEAR Sir: / could not do what
you ask me to do in yeur kind letter
Of July IL, viz: give you information
about my own life though, if / could it
would be to show you how woman OF
very ordinary ability has been led to
God-by strange and unaccustomed
paths--to do in His service what he did
in hers Aud if could tell you all, you
would see how God had done all and
nothing. have worked hard, very hard
that is all-and / have never refused
God nothing; though, being naturally a
very shy person, most of my life has been
distasteful to me. | have no particular
gifts And l can assure any young lady,
If she will but try to walk, she will soon
be able to ruu the appointed course. +"
But then she must first learn to walk,
and SO when she runs she must run with
patience. Most people don't even try
to walk.
First. l would say to oil young ladies
who are called to any particular yoca-
ton, qualify yourself for it as a man
does for his work. Don't think you can
understand it otherwise. No one should
attempt to teach the Greek language
until he is master of the language; and
this he can only become by hard study.
And,
Second. If you are called to man S
work, do not exact woman's privileges,
the privilege of inaccuracy, Of weak
ness, ye muddle heads. Submit your
selves to the rules of business, as men
do, by which alone you can make God s
business succeed, for He has never said
that He will give His success and His
blessing to ineficiency, to sketching and
unfinished work.
Third. 1t has happened to me more
than once to be told by women-your
countrywomen-" Yes, but you had per-
sonal freedom" Nothing can well be
further from the truth. / question
whether God has ever brought any one
through more difficulties and contradic-
tions than / have had. But imagine
these exist less among you than among
us, so / will say no more.
Fourth. But to all women / would
say, look upon your work, whether it be
an accustomed or unaccustomed work,
as upon trust confided to you. This
will keep you alike from discourage
ment and from presumption, from idle
ness, and from overtaxing yourself
When God leads the way Hehas bound
himself to help you to 60 the way.
| have nine years been confined o
prisoner to my room from illness, and
overwhelmed with business. Had /
more faith-more of the faith which /
protest. would not be overwhelmed
for it is all business sent me by God;
and am really thankful to Him, though
my sorrows have been deep and many,
and he still makes me do HisIbusiness).
This must be my excuse for not answer
ing your questions before. Nothing
with the approval of my own judgment
has been made public, or ! would send
it. have strong objection to sending
my own likeness for the same reason.
Some of the most valuable works the
world has ever seen, we know not who
lis the author Of; we only know that God
is the author Of all. / do not urge this
example upon others, but it is deep
seated, religious scruple in myself. do
not wish my name to remain, nor my
likeness. That God alone should be re-
membered, wish.
If could give the lessons of my life
to my countrywomen and yours lin
cluded fain look upon us as all one ma
ton )-the lessons of my mistakes as
well as of the rest--I would; but for this
there is no time. / would only say,
work-work in silence at first, in silence
for years; it will not be time wasted.
Perhaps in all your life it win be the
time you will afterward find to have been
best spent; and it is very certain that
without it you will be no worker. You
will not produce one perfect work, but
only a botch in the service of God.
Jito - FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE.
Have you read Bakers Sources of
the Nile,". where he says he was more
like donkey than an explorer This is
as much my case, and believe is that of
all who have to do an unusual work
And | would especially guard young
ladies from fancying themselves lady
superiors, with an obsequious following
of disciples, if they undertake any great
work.