Year: 1859

WHAT WOMAN MAY BE AND DO.


John Foster, in his decision Of character"
says. it is poor and disgraceful thing. not to
be able to reply with some degree of certainty
to the simple questions, What will you be
What will you do When man, born to ac-
ton, fitted for labor by strength Of body, and
will, and intellect, vibrates his life through,
between a desire to be this or that or hcstates
and questions till it is to late TO do anything.
as to what he shall do, he brings upon himself
the contempt Of every earnest man and woman
in whose path he idly and stupidity stands
Has woman, ignorant Of her powers, and
aimloss in her existence as TO attainment or ac-
tion any stronger claims TO our honor' II is
one of the saddest facts of our life that so
many women are pushed along from day to
day by mere habit, bringing heart and intellect
to no searching trial, making no account Of
treasure OF JOY or usefulness, looking for no
daily mental and spiritual growth. Many of
the wealthy live for enjoyment simply, and
count themselves most blessed when no per-
picking questions and troublesome thoughts
can penetrate the environs Of gayety and folly,
and those less favored pecuniarily do, too many
of them, live as thoughtless and purposecss
lives because Of household or school duties,
or the demands Of some other branch of la
Dor


Yet few there are in whom a noble spirit
has worked, teaching them what God and man
expect of her He has so glorously honored.
From such an one the question, What shall
| be- brings the response. i will be. first,
physically strong and we'll There shall be
elasticity in my step. motion shall be my Joy.
my form shall be erect and rounded, the mus
cles of limb and body fully developed, my
lungs shall have a constant supply of pure air
and ample room for expansion my cheek shall
have freshness and my eyes the light and spar
kle of health. No dull headaches shall make
me incapable Of vigorous thought, quick de-
cison, or sprightly conversation. No nerves
unstrung shall make me jealous and irritable,
/ the shadowin instead of the sunlight Of the house
hold. To this end it shall be primal duty
to be much in the open air. | will walk and
ride and skate and boat, Just so much as a
conscience enlightened by the sad experience
Of my sisters and the teachings of the wise
direct, and | will do this because firm health
is the foundation for the character | would
build


4 will rise above my present level inteHec-
uaiy SO far as possible will know history,
and science, and home and foreign literature
the husks of romance will not satisfy me
will taste the richness of noble poems and es-
says and discussions, and upon all | will be
able to exercise a cultivated and discriminating
judgment. Hills and valleys, leaves and flow
ers and mosses, beautiful and gnarled trees
forests deep and dark, and sunlighted plains
shall also be my teachers. | will be in sym
pathy with those who read deeply, and from
whose soul spring mighty and beautiful
| uri1 ko IN ou1ff
fined woman. The talents God has given me,
be they one or FIVE, shall be returned to Him
double.


4 will be Christian woman. The love of
God shall fill my heart Christ's meekness
and patience shall be mine, and ! will be free
from vanity and envy and selfshness. will
be traveller through earth to Heaven--a child
of God, receiving instruction and publication
from Him. My spiritual life shall be sus-
tained by holy atmosphere and lighted con-
tinually by the presence Of Christ. Gods
word shall be my treasury of truth, commu-
Mon with Him my highest joy. To this phys
icat, mental and spiritual hight will | attain,
God keeping me.


i will ,oork. If God calls me to teach,
heart and mind shall be drawn out of this. l
will awaken aspiration for mental and spiritual
gfOWV l Will strive 10 make, not mere scnol-
ars, but earnest, high-soued men and women
If the pen of a ready writer has been given. |
will consecrate it to the service of purity and
truth. Its office shall be to cheer the weak
and saddened, to strengthen the doubling, to
lead the thirsting soul to Christ. If called to
labor with my hands, this also shall be done
with all my might, and be ennobled by the
thought thatit is for God. If the holy duties
of a wife and mother are laid upon me, will
take them with trembling joy, blending pur
pose and interest and hopes with another's.
My constant endeavor then shall be to rise
with him into higher plane, to work for him,
and Nth him for the Giver of our love, and to
fit the souls committed to our care for a holy,
eternal service Ny act. my word shall be
cast forth into the everything, ever-working
universe : and will look for fruit in Gods
own time


Does not a woman so fortified in resolve.
with such an ideal standing pure and noble
on hight far above her, go out into real life
with some hope of blessing others and receiv
ing upon herself Gods blessing To us, an
gels seem to follow her guiding her in the
way of usefulness and happiness, and shied-
ing her from the temptations which beset her