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- T ■■ I ■ »—» ' ■’■■l = Hr ... Jg!gj D =j ih'> vTM 1 l.iAWl’l IfaYiflM r = I ■ LW- 7 11WUliUMiW kUi ais I T. L. MITCHELL, Proprietor. Vol. I.— No. 11.] For Woman’s Work. ’TIS BETTER. LILLIE SHELDON. Better to con life’s lessons all Than to frown at the harder places. Better to climb, tho’ we sometimes fall And move with indifferent paces. Than to sit discouraged, and idly complain, <Counting life but a failure and set- ter For God has a plan for every man That no wisdom of earth could bet ter. x Better than wait for a cloudless day Is to catch the light as ’tis given ; Better to seize the joys as they stray Than wait for the bliss of Heaven. Better a song tho’ vou sing it your self , ~ With a voice which no music dis closes Than to fill the years with sighs and tears Waiting for “ hot house roses.’ Better to do a lowly deed Than wait for a grand endeavor, Small chances come where we may succeed But the great oies may slight us ever. Better than wait to lead a crusade, Drop daily our lump of leaven,— If we do our best we may leave the rest With the Ruler of earth and Heaven. For Woman’s Work. THE UGLY Our picture, representing an undeveloped, hoiaenish girl and a group of those not graceful fowls—ducks—reminds us of the story of the “Ugly Duck ling,” a story which we have many times seen verified. It commences with the misfortune of being deficient in beauty. She is gradually pushed to the wall by those more gifted than herself, and there she lingers with her plain, sombre wings folded. But, bye and bye, the sad minor key on which her life began, changes; the dull, gray plumage takes a snowy hue, the slender neck shows its graceful curves above the weeds, her wings expand, and she soars above her bewildered compan ions—a beautiful swan. It is sadly true that this little story is acted and re-acted time and again on the great stage of life, only, the characters belong to the human family instead of being the figurative duck. It has ever been the ambi- • tion of woman to be beautiful. Mother Eve caused much trouble on account of her in ordinate love of flattery, and the weakness has been trans mitted through every genera tion. Flattery is the sweetest of music to a true daughter of Eve. Mythology has told us in the well known story of the golden apple, how woman prized the praise of her beauty. Many Mjnervas have before and since suffered the pangs of jealousy of a fairer Helen, and yet how vain is mere beauty! How lit tle have the Helens of which to boast, if with their fair fea tures they combine not those higher qualities of mind and heart which justly bestow the grand title— woman. A thing not of beauty, may be a joy for ever. Certainly a woman can. It is hu man nature to be attracted by agreeable objects and repulsed by what is plain and homely, and it is an indisputable fact that a beautiful woman has much the advantage of her plain sisters before the world. Though it may be an injustice, the fair face will ever receive homage of admiration while the homely one is passed by Ull_ THE WORLD IS NOT SO BITTER BUT A SMILE CAN MAKE IT SWEET. noticed. But let us not judge from a super ficial view. Let us seek beauties of charac ter, and if these are lacking we will find little to admire in the exterior fairness. Let us analyze feminine graces that may lie behind uncomely features, and often the “ugly duckling” will prove to be the only fair swan amid the flock. jivt .jpSj - ■ j - c ’I I I |HSB I ? A V~ * 1 A. . ..t;! aMF, &■ - '1 I"' 1 -" 1 '- s A fl: ziafewK' v MwflaWrM * 3k ~ ~ ? iLtdiffiiffiLT .Eh" -L w| -' ’■ *'»£ ■ -Ar; ...'‘’vM ’ /’i E WE a, ■. • /-. . wpflßkg s - '.--Cka ■'■ --^.. .-,■ •■■,'■4* ■ I - J MHMIg W In almost every household may be found this uncrowned beauty. In her little world she receives the slights and indigni ties too often accorded one who is not en dowed with the pleasing features by those who forget that Beneath a rough exterior Lies many a brilliant gem. Her homely face presents a painful con trast to her fairer sisters, and the conscious- ATHENS, GEORGIA, OCTOBER, 1888. ness of this increases her awkwardness and shyness. Instead of helping to im prove the defects and to smooth down little angularities, her companions neglect her and remind her too frequently that she is “a perfect fright,” “a veritable witch of Endor,” “shockingly awkward and un gainly.” Os course such treatment is not conducive to amiability and sweetness of temper, so she is called morose, sullen and disagreeable. Thus is her disposition often warped when she reaches that critical period of her life when, she is “ Standing with reluctant feet, Where the brook and river meet Womanhood and childhood fleet.” Over a girl who is just blooming into [SO Cts. per Year. young womanhood, the heart of a womanly woman inexpressibly yearns. More especially'over one who has always beeu considered the ugly duckling, for if she does not receive kindly help and encourage ment during this blossoming time, she is likely to remain unattractive to’the end. A great responsibility is influence 1 If some true mother heart will make hers feel less lonely by love and sympathy, it will aid her to assert herself, fight that battle which only wins true nobility—the conquering of self—and ultimately to de velope into a lovable charac ter. With tender care the un folding petals may emit a sweet odor, and the full blown flower be one of rare fragrance and indefinable beauty. The ugly duckling is not doomed to be crowded to the wall if she will develope the best elements of her character. Unselfishness and true kindii ness of heart will cause what once seemed awkward and dis agreeable to assume a different shape and expiession. When she conquered herself she made a conquest of others. The rest of the flock now acknowledge her their leader and superior. It they fly for sweet counsel; it is she who soothes their discontented spirits. Her womanly sympathy is a balm to their troubled heart; she enters with equal interest, into their tales of joy or sorrow. The “horrid,” “disagreable,” ugly little duckling is now to the family a sweet monitor and sympathetic friend. With love aflffl gentleness she. seeks to strengthen other faint hearts and to direct other way ward footsteps. She endeavors to show their characters to themselves as does the glass of Laos; teaches them to eradi cate the faults, and with tender hand and graceful tact helps to develope the good traits. Other ugly ducklings will flock to her for sympathy, and experience fits her for helping them. Is it strange that she now seems a “beautiful swan ?” So all ugly ducklings may grow. If the subject of our sketch the unkempt, rural maiden, who is perhaps just “ seven times two” and waiting for the time when “ The child is a woman, the book may close over, For all the lessons are said,” will remember while looking at the ducks that swim in the water at her feet, that ’tis not the richest plum aged one, would bring the highest price, she may learn a useful lesson. The ones of the feathered tribe may never develope into beauti ful swans, but for this young girl is possible a grace and loveliness hardly to be im agined now. Let no woman neglect the “ugly duckling,” but do what only a woman can do toward developing the beautiful swan. Look on slanderers as the •direct enemies to civil society; as persons without honor, honesty, or hu manity. Whoever entertains you with the faults of others, designs to serve you in a similar manner. Opportunities are very sensitive things. If you slight them on their first visit, they seldom come again. KATEGARLAND, Editress.