Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-01-08
ON EARLY MOTHERHOOD.
A PAPER FROM THE RECENTLY DIS.
COVERED DE QUINCY MSS.

Opium Easer"-The Happiest Period Of
Woman's Life as Understood by a
Deep observer.
TIhe following article. reprinted from the
.ondon New Review, is one of the recently
discovered DE Quincy MSS. The paper shows
Dc Quincy's style at high mark, and will be
eal with delights its deep thought and rev.
rent poetry.l
The loveliest sight that woman's eye
,peus upon in this world is her first born
hild. and the holiest sight upon which
ne eyes of God settle in Almighty sane
ion and perfect blessing is the love
shich 500 kindles between the mother
nd her infant-mute and speeches on
he one side, with no language but tears
nd kisses. and looks Beautiful is the
philosophy which arises cut of that re.
lection or passion connected with the
transition that has produced it First
-ones the whole mighty drama of love.
urified ever more and more. how often
rom grosser feelings. yet of necessity
through its very elements oscillating be.
ween the finite of the infinite; the
aughtiness of wopanly pride, SO digni-
led, yet not always free from the near
ontagion of error. the romance so en-
icbling, yet not always entirely reason
bic; the tender dawn of opening senti-
nents pointing to an idea in all this
Which it neither can reach nor long sus-
ain Think of tile preat storm of agi-
alton and fear aud hope through which
4 her earliest days of olnanhood
very woman must naturally pas -fui-
iiling the law of her creator. yet law
which rests upon Ier mixed constitution
nimal, though indefinitely ascending
o what is non animal; as a daughter
{ man frail and imperfect, yet also as
daughter of God. standing erect, with
yes to the heavens Next, when the
great vernal passover Of sexual tender
ess and romance has filled its purpose.
ve see rising as a phoenix from this
,reat mystery of ennobled instincts an
Jther mystery much more profound.
more affecting, more divine-not- so
much rapture as blissful repose of
i Sabbath which swallows up the more
perishing story of the first, forcing the
vast heart of female nature through
tages of ascent, forcing it to pursue the
transfigura;ions of the Psyche from the
,urelic conditions so glowing in its
c lor, into the Winged creature which
mixes with the mystery Of the dawn
md ascends to the altar Of the infinite
eavens; rising by a ladder of light
rom that SYM athy which God surveys
with appreciation, and even more so, as
ie beholds it self purifying under his
Christianity to that sympathy which
reeds no publication. but is the holiest
# things on this earth and that in
hich God most reveals himself through
he nature of humanity.
Well it is for the gorification Of hu-
nan nature that through these changes
he vast majority of women must for
,ver pass; well also that by placing its
'ublime germs near to female youth God
.hus turns away by anticipation the di-
yinest of disciples from the rapacious
absorption of the grave Time is found,
how oftenl 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 Of
the subject will tell you a result Of my
own observations of no slight impor-
tance to women.
It is this: Nineteen times out Of twenty
I have remarked that the true paradise
If female life, in all ranks not too ele-
waited for constant intercourse with the
children, is by no means the years of
courtship, nor the earliest period of mar
riage, but that sequestered chamber of
her experience in which mother is left
alone through the day with the servants.
perhaps in distant part Of the house,
and God be thanked) chiefly where
there are no servants at all; she is at
tended by one sole companion, her little
first born angel, as yet clinging to her
robe, imperfectly able to walk, still
more imperfect in its 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,
aud sending to hers a thrill of secret
pleasure so often as its little fingers
fasten on her own.
Left alone from morning to night with
this one companion, or even with three
still wearing the grace of infancy, buds
of various stages upon the self same tree,
a woman, if she has the great blessing
Of approaching such luxury of para
disc, is moving-too often not aware
that she is moving-through the divin-
est section Of her life As evening sets
in the husband, through all walks Of
life, from the highest professional down
to that Of common labor, returns home
to bring her modes Of conversation by
such thoughts and interests as are more
consonant with his extensive capacities
Of intellect. But by this time her child
(or her children) win be reposing in the
little couch, and in the morning, only
as the sun ascends in power, she sees be-
fore her long, long day of perfect
pleasure in this society which evening
win bring to her, but which is inter
woven with every fiber Of her sensibiIi-
ties This condition Of noiseless quiet
love is that above all which God blesses
and smiles upon.