The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1873-10-03


fOrmr
AT the next sentence ''Teach them TO
make shirts" Aunt Molly offered an
which would make il read
thus, "Teach them to make shirts and
ehemises r'
The reading continued, the listeners
seemingly spell-bound, up to, or rather
down to the eighteenth sentence. OF
this the orthodoxy was called in ques-
tiOn 10y Jane, the deacon's daughter.
She contendei that the declaration that
woman was made in the image of God
is an unwarrantable "new departure"
an unsound and heretical idea, calcu-
lated to sap the foundations of the vast
structure Of well seasoned theology.
The girls agreed to the hard common
sense, also to the self-reliance. But
Annie, Just sixteen, wondered If all me
chanics must necessarily be greasy {?
and Maria thought an industrious me-
chanic had surely a right legal, moral
and domestic to wear broadclOth, pro-
vided he paid for it. Jane, the deacon's
daughter, queried whether all ministers,
| LAWYERS, doctors and editors were TO be
doomed to perpetual bachelOrhOod
The temperance sentiment was unan-
! imously endorsed, but il was reserved
| for the going a-fishing and climbing APP
pie trees to bring down the house.
Annie declared that she now felt NOR
titled to think how much of her native
talent and energy had been expended
on the one cherry tree in their back
yard during the past cherry season.
| She is now fearful that cherry-tree
climbing is not considered by the wise
ones a legitimately lady-like perform
ance. The rest of the party, without q
dissenting voice, owned to having been
well switched by maternal or OtheI
hands in their juvenile days for indulg-
ing in a natural propensity TO climb ap-
pie trees and taste the fruit thereof in
the self-same hour in which the spright-
ly curculio makes his presence known
by inscribing his genuine and unmistak-
able trademark, proclaiming TO all
young America that the green fruit is
now toothsome.
Driving the road team and farm wagon
was thought by most of the girls to be !
too sudden and tremendous widening oi
the borders of that sphere they had
deemed their own. At least three oi
those present can and do drive carriages
but will hencefOrth regard this pleasing
accomplishment as two frivolous "a
mention, and will trust the future Ia
cast farm wagons and road teams in
their way.
"Oh's' and Cabs" greeted the advice
with regard to the accomplishments.
For of these young ladies, three are
teachers, and one, rs / have said, is q
dress-maker. They certainly know at
what cost of time and money they may
pursue the higher enjoyments of life.
Not TO paint and powder and not Ia
wear false hair was received i'm silence;
only the sweet faces devoid of paint and
powder showed the Indifferent contempt
they felt. But the young heads una
dorned save by the locks nature gave
them, could not forbear a little toss oi
independence.
"Teach them to say no, and mean il;
or yes, and stick to it;n was hailed with
delighted elapping of hands as a recog.
milton of individuality, responsibility
and womanhOOd found where it was
least expected.
After this the girls spent their critical
energies on the sublime suavity of the
the authority, "Then at = suitable tim,
let them marry"
"When is the suitable time? >" aske,
Laura.
"Where is the suitable man ?n sighe,
Jane.
blessed privileger' cried Annie.
There's nobody coming TO WOO,
sang Maria.
ooh dearu' said Miss F., "pve II,
apple tree TO climb, no team TO drive, NJ
man TO marry"
"The writer of that was about-abou
about L third-rate simpletOn and
man too, fear" said Aunt Mollie.
Then our healthy, happy, sensible
girls discussed the essays, lectures an,
blackboard exercises of the last Wayn
county Indiana Teachers Institute
"What are we doing with our daugh
ters ?" ] had been thinking. Bles
these girls, they had answered me. w
are giving TO the world in our daugh
ters now a glorious wealth of dignity
purity, industry and intellectually, a
the world has never before dreamed OF
But is it not enough TO make mother
weep when a great teacher, such as :
religious newspaper, which should Civ,
these young women wholesome food
dishes up for them such worthless trash
such fiimsy chaff as this, and wOrs,
/ than all, does il with the air of a bene
/ factor?
Away out here in Indiana, can pOin
/ TO ten young women, worthy in al
respects to assume the duties of wife
hood and motherhood, too, where yOl
can find one young man worthy To as
sumo the equally responsible positions
Of husband and father. Serious writers
1 Christian editors, gentlemen orators, le
the question be. "What shall we do will
our sons |'-Louise y Boyd, IN lPOm
]