The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-12-15

lose his faith In womanhood: and the
husband is miserable indeed, with his life
all distorted and out of joint, If his heart
may not safely trust in his wife: The
brother will measure all women by his
sisters, while the daughter may be her
fathers crown of rejoicing, or a sword to
pierce his heart. Be not careless, there
fore. of your speech or manner, Do not
let kindness of feeling beget familiarity.
Let not those use any degree of brotherly
freedom who bear not that near relation.
Human nature reyeres not that which is
to protect, but up to rerere. 1t is too much
the fashion now for young men to treat
ladies with easy freedom. Old fashioned
courtesy is made mock of. But modern
society is not without grievous loss both
in the amenities of social intercourse.
and in the tone and aim of social life.
Gossip, one of the hurtful practices of
social life, is considered fault to which
women are peculiarly liable, but who has
not known worse and more hurtful gossip
among menI AL of us are liable to trans
gress the law Of love: to engage in talk
that, without being untrue, may plant evil
surmises, and arouse unkind and often
unjust suspicious. The tongue is small
member, but il can make grieVous and
deadly wounds. The tongue is a fire,
and Irhdt irremediable loss it often occa-
siOns-loss that may not be made up in all
eternity "Speak not evil one Of another,
beloved, unless it be for warning. Speak
not evil one 10 another. Talk not of any,
thing that will leave an evil thought, or
smirch on the mind. Then will our con-
versation be in Heaven; then may we not
dread to think of the presence of Gods
holy angels always about us.
One expects woman to have especial
love for the church and her services, and
il is rightly so, for she being the first to
fall, and the tempter of man, fell the
lowest. and, in heather countries, keeps
the lowest place. But Christianity has
raised her to the highest place, and she
ever leads the world in works of mercy
and of love. Therefore, L cannot but feel
great surprise when am told by young
men, as is sometimes the case, that, in
stead of bringing them to church, the
young ladies keep them away. L beg,
therefore, that no one who now hears my
voice will eUer do so again. The services
of the church when engaged in, in q rev.
lent manner-the only manner not a
dreadful mOrkery OF GOd-are powerful
means of good; and by the foolishness of
preaching, the apostle says: "God often
converts the souls of men, leading them
to turn from evil to follow good" And
L beg you to come and not only
to engage in the service reUereHtly, but
if you are here before the time forget not
A whisper seems little thing, but such
whispers frequently become audible and
even IL 1t be only whispering, the sound
grows with numbers until the quietness of
Gods house is rudely broken, and those
who would fain quiet their hearts and
collect heir thoughts, and say private
prayer before the time come for united
worship, are so disturbed by the noise,
that they can feel no grateful balm of
peace, but meet the time OF prayer all
perturbed and full of vexing thought,
annoyed feeling to struggle with, instead
of the blessing of restful calm.
And, again, il society is ever to be
purified, it must be by the effort of wo-
man. Her admirers aGiU not be better
than she requires of them. The man of
evil life, not bound to hel by family ties,
should not be tolerated. Parents should
never allow to visit their homes, or Guilt
vate the acquaintance of their daughters,
those who seek the company of such, as
they would not dare present to the home
circle. God and the church has one law
for man and woman. The pure life that
man requires of woman, that, and no
less, does God require of man. Yet So
ciety drops the one with utter and just
loathing, and allows the other to go I'M
punished, nay, unrebuked. Man has
made the custom it is true, but woman
too frequently allows 1t, and she can
shape Society dS size Will.
Hitherto i have spoken more especially
to the youthful and the pleasure seekers,
but L do not forget the time when the
burden and heat of the day comes on, and
work, not pleasure has the ordering
of it. For not even prayer will suffice.
We must be able to say" See my hands are
hard with work, have not merely lifted
them in prayer" And woman's work
may commonly have q more conscious
N fn mo "
attain. A mother with her children
plants and nourishes immortal seed; her
ministry to the sick and sorrowful may
plainly bear the stamp of Heaven. She
| may be q Heavenly messenger to her hus-
band, the angel of his household; she
may win him to all things good by her
heavenly wisdom and gentle leading.
| The servant may praise her Heavenly
Master in her faithful work and cheer
full obedience. Men seldom realise
wOman's many trials and frequent suf-
| fering. Sheltered at home, he thinks no
| trouble can touch her, while lie bears the
| burden and the strain. Yet we know the
| patient meeting and bearing of petty
| annoyances is more difficult and more
wearing than the carrying of great
weight, grown into an accustomed bur-
den. And when great sorrows come
| upon us, we learn to anchor them in deep
water far from shore, and there is Stiffness
| in the deeper ocean; but the lesser trials
are like the waves, which beat upon the
beach. in continued strife, and fret the
sands perpetually. To reverse the text,
they of whom much is required, the same
shall receive much, much of strength, of
peace, of blessing, if they only ask 1t.
Ask and We shall receive strength for
each day, and Tor all the days.
'Rise, woman, rise,
| To thy peculiar and best attitudes
| OF doing good, and of enduring ill,
OF comforting for i'll, and teaching good