Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1891-05-01
WOMAN'S DUTIES
An Essay Read by Mrs. Nickel at the Odd.
Fellows Anniversary, Grangeviile,
Idaho, April as, 1890.

81 slept and dreamed that life was bea uty;
woke and found that life is duty"
These lines from an old poem, came
to my mind.very forcibly, in connection
with this subject; for how often do we
fail to realize the importance of the
many duties, that await US on every
hand urgently demanding our attention;
and we have slept peacefully on, our
dreams unmolested, by thoughts of du-
ties left undone.
Just what we as women are to do in
life's broad field of action, has been
causing quite little ripple of excite
ment of late; and there has been a
diversity of opinions on the subject.
Some are kind enough to want us to do
as much as we like: while others are
afraid we might infringe npon the do
main of the "Lords of creation"
But be this as it may, the fact remains
unatered, that there is an incalculabe
amount of work for all. Too many of
us, lose golden opportunities for doing
good by negecting the small duties,
which seem too trivial for our consider
alton: and there are SO many channels,
in which we could make our usefulness
felt, that no woman, in all the broad do.
main, can say, with truth, there is
nothing for me to do. We all want to
do something; but we would so much
rather it would be, grand, heroic deeds,
and we count the small duties as hum
drum, and not worthy our attention.
Remember,
II you cannot in the conflict prove yourself
soldier true;
II where fire and smoke are thickest there's
no work for you to do;
When the battle field is silent, you can go
with careful tread,
You can bear away the wounded you can
cover up the dead"
There are small and great duties, that
in our daily walk, are presenting them
selves. Our hearts can 20 out in sympa-
thy and llowship to those with whom
we are associated, with that touch of
nature that makes the whole world kim
We can cheer the afflicted, help the
poor, give word of encouragement
here and there, that will make some
sad hearted pilgrim take hope again.
Our own lives will be better, and our
hearts filled with sweeter charity for all
mankind, if we fill our days with duties
lying all along our path.
lfyou are married and have a home.
then let home stand first before all other
duties. No matter how high your am
bitions may transcend its duties, no
matter how far your talents or your in
fluence may reach beyond its doors, be-
fore everything else, build up true
home. Mrs. Beecher has said of such
an one, "Be not its slace, but its minister.
Let it not be enough, that it is swept
and garnished that its silver is brilliant,
that its food delicious, but feed the love
In 1t, feed the truth in it, feed thought
and aspiration, feed all charity and
gentleness in it. Then from It's walls
shall come forth the true woman and
true man, and shall together rule and
bless the land
What honor can be greater, than to
found such home? What dignity
higher, than to reign its undisputed
and honored mistress? What is the
ability to speak from public platform
to large and intelligent audiences; or
the wisdom that may command a
position on the eminence of fame, COM
pared to that which can insure and pre-
side over a true home? To be the
guiding star, the ruling spirit in such
position, is higher honor than to rule an
empire"