Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-05-11
9ailg Aeanitrt yournal.
"Always Strike Your Hour

Each season has its peculiar sweetness
and grace. which appear only in their own
time Every year in our age has its own
heantv. originality and power, blossoming
bnt once in a lifetime. The successive
towering and fruitage makes us forget that
the same can never return after its season
is past. What is forced into precocious
bloom, lacks the flavor of the natural
growth; what is prolonged beyond its sea-
son. loses freshness. color and sweetness.
We cling to youth. as if that were the
one blossomng time OF life; but middle
life has its own rich beauty and vIgor old
age, its mellow ripeness and sweet seren-
ity. Why should we cheat ourselves out
of these, in vain attempt to carry our
youth to the end +? ,
"Always strike your hour Unmarried
women especially often forget to take
frank and wise mote of time" RAISING
over those who foolishly affect to be young
err than they are. and, at thirty ana iofty,
ape the manners, dress and position Oh
Girls in their "teens," there remain many
who unwittingly or from force OF circum-
stances drift along through the years mere
ly "girls." instead OF maturing into wo.
manhood of character and activity. A girl
who does not marry, has a long youth.
She keeps her place in society among sue
ceeding sets OF young people, holding COM
mon interests and sharing in the same
pleasures. Responsibilities are not put
upon her. The duties and dignities OF
matrons are not expected Of her. She
feels young and inexperienced. She forms
the habit Of being only girl. This APP
parent affectation of youthtulness is often
the expression of the real feelings. She
does not feel nor see the changes which
time makes in her. 1t is the unconscious
ness OF slowly-developing or dwarfed
life that causes her to seem ridiculous to
the sharp eyes of those who are watching
to see the bloom fade, the silver threads
and incipient wrinkles appear.
Girls who remain unmarried in their
mothers house, are less likely to grow
into large ripeaed womanhood than those
who are self-supporting in some independ--
ent position. The mother is mistress OF
the family and to her the daughter remains
only q girl. though she be fifty years old.
Ii mothers would give their grown-up
daughters fair chance for freedom and a
broad personality, would gently force upon
them responsibility. would make opporiu-
mites for them to exercise their capabili-
ties and develop their resources OF mind
and character, it would be easier for these
girls to mature into self-posed useful
women. The heart should keep young
but the character should not remain crude,
unbalanced and untempered. The disci-
pline of life accepted with sweetness and
trust in God. may not take the freshness
and bloom from the spirit. To such their
youth is continually renewed in joy and
hope, but that same discipline will work
out in their character its appropriate re-
suits.
If girls had fair ideals of womanhOod
in its ripened powers and tender grace, of
womanhood for what it is in itself, indie.
pendent Of husband or children or an es-
adjustment or wealth or social position,
then they would see that youth does not
include all that is worth living for. The
bloom and flavor wasted in fruitless efforts
to keep young, would in natures alchemy
give richness and sweetness 10 mature
years. The morning is rosy and joyous
but there is the loftier dome and clear
er radiance of midday. if one keep pace
with the sun. Why should we keep our
faces towards the east when the sun-ris-
ing is long past and the coloring has faded
from the skyp 1t is wise to 60 on with
faith and courage, always striking our
hour" till the sun-setting finishes one day.
and we open our eyes to morning that
knows no night. A. Fin the
Woman's Journal