Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-03-12
Che freemau
MONTPELIER. VT.
WEDNESDAY. MARCH IL, 1879.
Why Ought Girls to Seek a Higher Gull
tQref
God might have made the earth bring forth.
Enough for great and small;
The oak tree and the cedar tree

Enough Tor great ana slnalls
The oak tree and the cedar tree
Without flower at ALL"
So may woman prepare bodily food for
herself and family, without knowledge
of anything further than her own tread-mill
existence, with neither thought nor care for
the grand, good things in the world at
large, without feeling the heart.throbs of
a nation, or listening to the broad worlds
songster. Having eyes she yet may not
see beyond her own kitchen walls, and
having ears she may but catch the echo of
her own hollow notes. But. thanks to His
name, God did not make the earth without
flowers. neither did he intend men to mo.
nopolize the brain power of the world.
Thinking women are needed no less than
thinking men.
As He made the tree, even the mighty
oak, dependent for its strength and life on
the tiny flower so our greatest men will
often attribute their greatness to their
mothers, who, though they might have
been self-educated, must have been cul-
tured women.
Years ago the world awakened to the
fact that woman really possessed brains
1t. like all other ideas in advance of their
time. was ridiculed and rallied at; but.
finally, owing to the fact that Truth
will prevail, - it received tacit acknowl-
edgment. This idea has slowly but surely
gained ground, until now no true woman
is content to live mere vegetatng exist
ence.
The army is on the march; they are ad-
vancing noby; many brave women, in
spite Of the numerous obstacles they must
overcome, have, after contesting every
inch of the way, attained rank side by
side with men upon whom divine fortune
has smiled, and whose pathway has been
strewn with flowers, and illuminated by
the encouragement Of the self-same world
viii ch, when putting every hindrance in
the way of woman's progress, has lifted
him gently and borne him proudly on
ward in a coach and four.
We have now found out what woman
can do, and we naturally ask, Of what use
is it? What reason is there for girls OBJ
tanning an education beyond the actual de-
mand of their present station? think we
can find manifold reasons for it. In this
land and especially in these times, no girl
is sure of her present station beyond to-
day. 1t may be lower, it may be higher
and though all may not be Mrs. Stowe
or Jenny Lind yet attaining the highest
culture possible either in literature, music,
art or science will but make us well fit for
any higher round in the ladder of social po-
sition, and if descent instead of rise be
our lot. our culture will but serve to keep
the heart warm and the face bright, while
the cottage without it would seem cold
and cherries.
We must not Judge Of the advantages
of true culture by only present and out
side seemings. Like all the gold and
and precious jewels Of the world, it is
found deep, deep down beneath all surface
appearances.
How often we hear IL father say, g.
can't send my girl to school any more;
she knows enough for all ordinary pur-
poses, and the boys must 90 to college.
After girls get married all their learning
amounts to nothing. They can't make
bread with it, Beware, fathers! You
know not the wrong you are unwittingly
committing. Think you not that daughter
is all the happier and better for that love
of good literature which her education has
given her? Is not her mind the stronger
for the discipline of geometry and the
classics? Are not all the portions of Gods
glorious world of infinitely greater inter-
est since the sciences became her boon
companions? Can she not listen to the
harmonious song of nature with keener
zesL and Il fuller appreciation since all the
music OF poetry and song became her in
heritance? Is not every glorious sunset
and every lovely landscape all the lovelier
W Hcl Iol tuOIOuSu dit CultuIc! Az
this and more thorough culture gives to
. IN earnest-minded girl. Be she poor, OF
be she rich, it matters not. God, in His
benefcent greatness, gives to all an ability
to enjoy these blessings in some degree.
Three sisters played beneath the same
old tree, fed at the same table, shared each
others childish joys and sorrows, and. al,
most rs one, grew into girlhood. Each
was equally well endowed with mental
faculties. Each enjoyed all the advantages
ola small district school, and each wished
to delvc deeper into the mine of knowl
edge. Their parents thought it foolisl
whim. Their farm would support theil
daughters without teaching, and for wha
else was learning needed!
Still the girls persisted. They longed
for deeper draught at the well of knowl
edge, Il slight taste of whose waters hat
but awakened in them burning thirst fol
more.
In the eyes of the father this WAS impos
SolO' IIldIJ nt COluplOlnl lSeu D1 saying
One may 60" The youngest was d
little fairy with pretty winning face anc
vacllatiug disposition. " want no study
ing to spoil her bright eyes and rosy
cheeks, for they will be fortune to hel
when the right one comes along" though
he. The eldest was u noble, quiet girl
and IL real strong arm to her mother
She cannot 60" said her father, fol
what would mother do with all this fam
ly, if deprived OF her cook? So the sec
ond one, who was very ambitious, and ha(
quite set her heart on it, was selected fol
the scholar.
Think of it-three sisters, and the fathel
willing one to live by her hands, another
by her brains and tho the third by hel
pretty face! But let US follow them.
Years passed; trouble came; the farm
was morgaged; real estate fell the father
died, the mother was taken, and those