The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-02-27
RELIGION In Women.

h61lBlOn III w On6us
How often have young men prOpoun-
ded to themselves and others the ques-
ton, what is the first quality sought for
in the choice of q wife? and how di-
verse have been the answers to this i'm
portant interrcgatory. The gay and
thouehtless will point you to beauty,
wealth. accomplishments; others, who
look bevond the tinsel of the exterior,
regard amiability and feeling as tn =
brightest Jewels in the female charac-
ter others still, who have searched
deeper into the springs OF human ac-
ton. and know well the fountains from
whence flow the purest and most endur-
ing happiness, will give the only true
answer to the inquiry, to-wit: a strong
christian faith, sentiments and practice.
RELIGION is everywhere lovely, but in
women particularly so. 1t makes her
but little lower than the angels. 1t
purifes her heart, clevates her feelings
and sentiments, hallows her affections
sheds light on her understanding, and
imparts dignity and pathos to her whole
character. Nor does its influence end
here
1T beams the glance of the eye,
It sits on the lip in a smile,
It checks the ungracious reply,
1t captures but cannot beguile.'
IT should be remembered that life is
not all sunshine. Bright as the world
may be before us. we cannot live long
without encouutering many sorrows,
and disappointments, and troubles
They are sent by kind of providence
to sever the cords which bind us 700
closely to earth; to turn our thoughts
inward upon ourselves and upward TO
heaven. While our bark glides calmly
ON a summers sea, with the blue SKY
above, the bright waters around us, the
Establishments OF youth, beauty, accom-
plishments, may satisfy the heart but
let us be overtaken by the storm and
tempest. and where is the support they
vieldI Let darkness enter your dwell
inc. and the pleasure you derived from
them is forrottep, and You look in vain to
the same source for relief. Let death in
vade YOUR social circle, and lay his ruth
less hand upon your first born, shrouuI
ing all around you IN darkness ana
gloom. and where DO you look for ray
of hope? 1t is under circumstances
like these, that religion transforms q
wife into a ministeriug angel. She VIII
bind up your bleeding heart, lead you
to the fountain of living waters, ano
change gloom and dependency into
light and cheerfulness. As the sun II
setting, lights up every hilltop, an9
tree, and cottage, so religion g1lds wltL
It's heavenly beams every feeling, ENJOY
ment AMI occupation.
Woman. from her very nature, is des
tined to drink deeper of the cup OF sor
row and suffering than the other sex
Her trials are chiefly of the heart, an'
consequently the hardest to be borne
She is seldom, perhaps, called upon t.
contend with those formidable evil
and temptations which rouse all the en-
erpies of our nature to repel their at
tack. but is beset (from the time sh'
merges into womanhoOd) by thousau'
petty trials and aunOyances, which
while they seem too insignificant to re
ouire much effort to resist, are at tn
same time the most difficult to overcome
Religion alone can disarm these TRIALS
and enable her to preserve that cqua
nifty and peace of mind 50 essentla
to happiness. 1t is her tallsman. l.
Il she flies in the hour of disappoin'
ment and sorrow, and from 1t neve
fails to derive consolation and support
Yet how few, in their selection OF
J partner for life, regard this most III
. nortant qualification. How few thin
! TO penetrate into the secret chambers
, the soul, to see what is there hidde
, within SO fair an exterior-lt there I'll
yestal lamp sheds its clear and coDstaI
| raw. External attractions may lead y
: captive for time feeling may send
. thrill of exquisite Joy through the heal
of the recipient talent may call fort
? unbounded admiration but If rellglo
! make no part of the character, the ke.
: stone to the arch is wanting, and I'll
D fabric will ere long crumble and fall.
{ Most persons, on entering a Marie
= state (particularly III YOUTH, fancy IL
: condition of unmiDgled Joy and plea
= ure-that they are within q charmC
/ circle. the bounds of which no sorro
S or trouble can pass. They forget u
/ new and immense responsibilities thi
e are incurred, and the trials that lnu
: necessarily accompany them. Not Tn
+ these should deter any one IRON taklI
] this highly important step, for 1t Is u
hiqh road to improvement and happ
G ness What are the boosted pleasur
f of intellect compared to those of atie
). tion ? The latter are as truly heave
: horn and immortal as the former; thu
q are the earliest developed in our natur
D and the last touched by the iinger
r decay. Woman thy empire is ii
s heart, and he who would know the c
n pacity of the human soul for happlnes
t must yield himself to thy sway.