Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1880-12-11
woMANs INFLUENCE AND MISSION.

smoke, and steam, and ashes are pass
mo AWAY. Your humble corresponds
ent does nc presume to offer anything
new under this head, but merely to give
An outline OF facts, acknowledged as
such BY the wisest and best, and plead
in sxtsnuation for SO doing the equaiiy
srs.s TACT that we all need to be con-
stautly reminded of our highest duties.
A Young and gifted Virgin'an, long
since dead, hearing the remark that all
the themes for poetry were certainly
about exhausted wrote in reply.
s.Thym mystic power thoult meier resign
Nor cease to weave thy webs OF guile
TIL woman's eye shall cease U s .,,tis
And woman's voice shall cease to be
The earthly source OF melody.
Asiit is acknowledged in all civilized
countries that woman's place is a com
handing and important one. and as we
look in vain for it IN the filth and slams
of politics, let US behold 1t in some pur-
or, higher, and nobler direction.
Without access to the ballot box she
ha, still been assigned by Providence to
q special position OF trust and response
b,ity. Without ''the applause OF listen
ing ssnates ito command" she conf
mands a post of honor; timid and rstir-
ing she occupies the very front oil Dat
tie; physically weak, she is a volun-
teer in that ''fsrlorn hope" which In
each successive generation assaults and
breaks down the strongholds OF the en-
smy. and it is woman who lifts up the
banner around which the armies oil
christianity and civilization gather.
stays the tide OF vice, and keeps In
world from lapsing into barbarism'
The prosperity. happiness, and per
manencs o. a nation depend more uPo'
the noble character Of Its women thai
upon the strength of its armies and ma
vies-that Is the fountain that determines
the quality of the stream, whether II
waters be bitter or sweet, a blessing o
q curse. The family is the foundation
Of the state, aud the influence OF TN
mother determines the character OF tn
family. And when that influence geo'
or bad. like the circles caused by drop
ping a stone into the water. expand
on and on while time lasts, reachln!
to. and fer ought we know. c%rossin:
the boundaries of eternity, how vast tn
results; how solemn the trust comm
ted In fact where this tremendou
power OF her influence is applied VIVA
can she not accomplish. The nation o
the individual are alike elevated or d.
based before it., exalted or overthrow
reformed or corrupted. Even the d,
mon intemperanee. that deties all othe
ers, is often utterly vanquished b
the silent, gentle. majestic influence {
. christian woman. And in this OH
field of her operations how vast a wor
might be done-not in hymn-singln
professions, or religious raids upon st
looms, rs was the plan a lew years age
nor in soliciting names to temperate
pledges. These all effect something
bat let every young woman, whose coz
pany is sought by a whisky-scente
stripping. give him to understand tn
"nens such need apply" Who douo
that if all such were rigidly exclude
frsn her company, the artificial breat
the reeling walk, the thick tongue, al
the hourly visits to bottles hid in t
yards at social gatherings, would
things Of the past.
There have, perhaps, been few gre
and good men who did not receive, a,
mothers knee, the seed that broug
forth their virtues and their greatne
and who. like Washington, when t
trial came, and the fate of his coun,
was In his hands, showed to the VOL
that purity. that love OF truth and j.
tice, and that most incorruptible Int
rity that made him such a b%enefactor
his race. 1t has been asserted that ths
10 the strongest reason to believe II
but for the warm friendship and patr'
age of Pocahontas toward the ca
settlers of Virginia. tho British wo'
have eventually abandoned the sche
OF colonizing America, and the anniv
sary cannon OF the fourth Of July wo
never have resounded throughout
United States. Hence, iron sn
fountains an ocean may flow, and fir
lessons taught al the mothers XII
millions may be blessed.
Please allow me a beautiful extrac
the same subject :-"Woman is frs
utter to the opening soul the story
the cross, and utter it in tones VIII
though earliest heard. are latest tori
ten or effaced. This story is first hei
not from the pulpit, the press, or
lips of men, but irem the lips OF won
in the sweet cradle hymns that Sc
the young nursing to sleep. as
mother sings, Hush, my babe; lie
and slumber,' and in those musing
heaven that fill the child's heart
learns that Jesus has there tend
folded the little babe hat died, and
IN that bright nom above the
there is no night, no sorrow, no tt
These are the deep ,indeiibie tracing
holy things upon the human heart.
bog may become hayward and the
wicked; he may learn to scott at I
ion and grow hoary in sin; but lie
hour OF sickness or sorrow come
hun, and the world grows dark
then, like the vision OF an angel,
will rise in his heart tho image 0
mother; he will remember the
when her soft hand was laid on his
- he knelt beside her in prayer
will remember when that hand.
thin and pale. was laid ieebly but 4
in his, as, with her dying lips, she
ueuded her boy to God. and p
tina. she might meet him in heaven
in those hours of solemn and t
memories, the hard heart will me
abs unbidden tears will gush iror
ewes OF the most obdurate st the