The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1891-03-07
ON EARLY MOTHERHOOD.
A PAPER FROM THE RECENTLY DIS.
COVERED Dc QUINCY MSS.

women IN Their Relation 10 the Human
Mystery-A Beautiful Essay In Phiioso-
phv by the Poetic Author of "The
Opium Eater"--Ihe Happiest Period Of
Womau's Lifo as Understood by a
deep Observer
TThe following article, reprinted from the
London New Review, is one of the recently
discovered De Quincy MSS. The paper shows
Dc Quincy's style at high mark, and will be
read with delight for It's deep thought and rev
orent poetry.l
The loveliest sight that a woman's eye
opens upon in this world is her first born
child, and the holiest sight upon which
the eyes of God settle in Almighty sane
tion and perfect blessing is the love
which soon lxindles between the mother
and her infant-mute and speechless on
the one side, with no language but tears
and kisses, aud looks. Beautiful is the
philosophy which arises out Of that re-
Election or passion connected with the
transition that has produced it First
comes 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
haughtiness Of womanly pride, so digni-
fed, yet not always free from the near
contagion of error, the romance so en-
nobling, yet not always entirely reason
able; the tender dawn of opening senti-
ments pointing to an idea in all this
which it neither can reach nor long sus-
tain. Think of the great storm Of agi-
tation and fear and hope through which
ia her earliest days of womanhood
every woman must naturally pass-ful-
| filling the law of her creator, yet a law
which rests upon her mixed constitution
animal, though indefinitely ascending
to what is non animals; as a daughter
of man frail and imperfect yet also as
a daughter of God, standing erect, with
eyes to the heavens. Next, when the
great vernal passover Of sexual tender.
ness and romance has filled its purpose,
we see rising as a phoenix from this
great mystery Of eniobied instincts an
other mystery much more profound,
more affecting, more divine-not SO
much rapture as a blissful repose Of
a Sabbath which swallows up the more
/ UtIlbilllA bIOIl VI biib lA0As AOAblAAB bAAl
vast heart of female nature through
stages Of ascent, forcing it to pursue the
| transfigurations of the Psyche from the
aurelic conditions so glowing in its
G lor into the winged creature which
mixes with the mystory Of the dawn
aud ascends 10 the altar of the infinite
heavens; rising by a ladder of light
from that symrathy which God surveys
with appreciation, and even more so, as
he beholds it self purifying under his
Christianity to that sympathy which
needs no publication, but is the holiest
of things on this earth and that in
which God most reveals himself through
the nature of humanity.
Well it is for the gloriflcation Of hu
man nature that through these changes
the vast majority of women must for.
ever pass; well also that by placing its
sublime germs near to female youth God
thus turns away by anticipation the di
yinest of disciples from the rapacioui
absorption of the grave. Time is found
how oflenl for those who are early sum
moned into rendering back their glori
Gus privilege who have yet tasted in its
first fruits the paradise of maternal
love. And pertaining also to this part .o
the subject will tell you a result Of my
own observations OF no slight impor.
tance to women.
tits this; Nineteen times ont Of twenty
have remarked that the true paradise
of female life in all ranks not too ele
vated for constant intercourse with the
children, il by no means the years o.
courtship, nor the earliest period Of mar
riage, but that sequestered chamber O
her experience in which a mother is lef
alone through the day with the servants
perhaps in a distant part Of the house
and God be thanked chiefly where
there are no servants at all; she is at
tended 10y one sole companion. her littlI
first born angel, as yet clinging to he
robe, iluperfectly able to walk, still
more imperfect in it's prattling and in
nocent thoughts clinging to her, haunt
ing her wherever she goes as her shad
ow, catching from her eye the total in
spiration Of its little palpitating heart
and sending to hers a thrill Of secre
} pleasure so often as its little finger
q; fasten on her own.
Z Left alone from morning TO night will
this one companion, or even with tire
I I still wearing the grace Of infancy, bud
: Of various stages upon the self same tree
woman, il she has the great blessing
Of approaching such luxury of para
disc, is NOV ing-too often not awar
that she is moving-.htough the divin
est section of her life. As evening set
ia the husband, through all walks o
life, from the highest professional dow
4 to that Of common labor, returns hom
A 10 bring her modes of conversation b.
such thoughts and interests as are NOR
consonant with his extensive capacitie
4 Of intellect. But by this time her chill
. (or her children Will be reposing in tn
little couch, aud in the morning, onl
as the sun asoends in power, she sees bC
! fore her a long, long day of paifec
pleasure in this society which evenin
viii bring to her, but which Is inter
woven with every fiber of her sensibili
!, ties This condition Of noiseless, quis
love Is that above all which God blesse
and SMILES upon.
]