Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1891-01-24
On EARLY MOTHERHOOD.
A PAPER FROM THE RECENTLY DIS
COVERED DE QUINCY MSS.

Women in Their Relation to the Human
Mystery-A Beautiful Essay in PhiIoso-
phy by the Poetic Author of "Ihe
Opium Eater"-The Happiest Period of
IA Woman's Life as Understood by a
Deep Observer.
[The following article, reprinted from the
London New Review, is one of the recently
discovered De Quincy MSS. The paper shows
De Quincy's style at a high mark, and VIII be
read with delight r its deep thought and rev.
erent poetry.l
The loveliest sight that woman's eye
opens upon in this world is her first born
child, and the hottest sight upon which
the eyes of God settle in Almighty sane
lion and perfect blessing is the love
which soon kindles between the mother
and her infant-mute and SPECIFICS on
The one side, with no language but tears
and kisses, and looks. Beautiful is the
philosophy which arises out of that re-
Election or passion connected with the
transition that has produced it. First
co mes the whole mighty drama of love,
purified ever more and more, how often
from grosser feelings. yet of necessity
through its very elements oscillating be-
tween the finite of the infinite; the
hauchtiness of womanly pride, so digni-
lied, vet not always free from the near
c,ntagion of error the romance so en-
IA, bling, yet not always entirely rea' som
able; the tender dawn of opening sentl-
ments pointing to an idea in all this
which it neither can reach nor long sus-
tain. Think of the great storm of agl-
alton and fear and hope through which
in her earliest days of womanhood
every woman must naturally pass-ful-
!i.ling the law of her creator, yet law
which rests upon her mixed constitution
animal, though Indefinitely ascending
t. hat is non animal; as daughter
Of man frail and imperfect, yet also as
il daughter of God standing erect, with
Eyes to the heavens Next, when the
great vernal passover of sexual tender
less and romance has filled its purpose,
we see rising as phoenix from this
treat mystery of ennobled instincts an
other mystery much more profound,
more affecting, more divine-not so
much rapture as a blissful repose OF
Il Sabbath which swallows up the more
nerishing story of the first, forcing the
vast heart of female nature through
stages of ascent, forcing it to pursue the
transformations of the Psyche from the
turelic conditions so glowing III Its
c lor, into the winged creature which
mikes with the mystery Of the dawn
and ascends to the altar of the infinite
iravcns; rising by ladder of light
lr ON that SYM athy which God surveys
with appreciation, and even more so, as
he leholds it self purifying under his
Christianity to that sympathy which
needs no publication, but is the hottest
of things on this earth and that in
hich God most reveals himself through
the nature of humanity.
Well it is for the glorification of hu'
snan nature that through these changes
The vast ma ority of women must for
ever pass; we'll also that by placing its
sublime germs near to female youth God
,i,us turns away ly anticipation the di-
,nest of disciples from the rapacious
absorption of the grave. Time is found,
low often! for those who are early SUN
moned into rendering back their glor-
GUS privilege who have yet tasted in its
first fruits the paradise of maternal
love- Aud pertaining also to this part Of
tie subject will tell you a result Of my
own observations of no slight impor
lance to women.
Ii is this: Nineteen times out of twenty
! have remarked that the true paradise
{. t IA female life, i'll all ranks not too ele-
waited for constant intercourse with the
children, is by no means the years of
,I; of
riage, but that sequestered chamber of
Ter experience in which a mother is lie.
al ne through the day with the servant,
Perhaps in distant part of the house,
AID God be thankeO chiefly where
there are no servants at all; she is al
tended by one sole companion, her little
lirst born angel, as yet cllnging to her
role, imperfectly able to walk, Still
m re imperfect in its prattling and i'll
IL can't thoughts clinging to her, haunt
'ag her W herever she goes as her shad
,w, catching from her eye the total i'll
=, ration of its little palpitating heart
Hud sending to hers thrill of secret
lie sure so often as its little fingers
'@ien on her own.
Left alone from morning to night with
his one companion, or even wi,h three
sill weari the grace of infancy, buds
of various stages upon the self sa ne tree,
n oman, if she has the great blessing
f approaching such a luxury of para
disc, is ing-too often not aware
fat she is moving-,hrough the divin
rSt section of her life. AS evening sets
IN the husband, through all walks Of
lie, from the highest professional down
10 that of common labor, returns home
to bring her modes of conversation by
such thoughts and interests as are more
r,,n. onnnt with his extensive capacities
+ intellect. But by this time her chi d
C'r her child en) will be reposing in the
ate couch. and in the morning, only
rs Tie sun ascends in power, she sees be-
fore her long, long day of perfect
pcHsure in this society which evening
ii. bring to her, but which is inter-
wo, en- with every fiber of her sensibili-
lies. This condition of noiseless, quiet
love is that above all which God bles5es
and smiles upon.
Three of a Kind