y Sunday, gathered
together eight hundred members of a Young Woman's Bible Class, to
listen while she spoke to them of things pertaining to their present
and eternal welfare. And who is there but would earnestly wish such
women God-speed? Their work may be a little different from some of
that of their sisters, but it is good work all the same. And as such
it ought to be done. Why should not the labourers be allowed to
proceed with their tasks without opposition and hindrance from those
who look on? It cannot be denied that much of this work never would be
performed if the women did not do it. Are they not right to step into
vacant places, and stretch out their hands to help, when help is
needed? Whether they are right or not, they certainly do not escape
censure. People are ready enough to applaud a really heroic action,
but if the deed be as good in itself, yet have no romance about it, the
tongues of the critics are apt to say sharp things. Many women, simply
because they are not courageous enough to brave the adverse opinions of
those by whom they are surrounded, lose golden opportunities of
distinguishing themselves. They are afraid to be singular. But this
fear is no honour to the sex. A woman should be so far free and
independent as to do that which she feels to be right, no matter though
the right seem to call her to heights which she had not occupied
before. And if, in her ordinary avocations, she be allowed liberty of
thought and action, there is the greater probability that, when the
occasion comes which demands from her strength of nerve and firm
endurance, she will not be found wanting. It does not matter very much
whether or not other people are satisfied with a woman's deeds, though
she cannot help wishing to please those whom she loves. But what does
matter is, that she should gain the high praise of Him who sees not as
man sees, and who will say even to those who imagine themselves to be
in some sense failures, "She hath done what she could."

To study the life of any good woman, is to know that she is not
necessarily unable to do many things well. It used to be thought that
it was a pity to educate a woman; for, if she understood two or three
languages, it was not likely that she would also know how to darn
stockings. And nothing can make men willing to pardon a woman's
domestic deficiencies. Have not poets sung of them as nurses, wives,
mothers, and cooks! But no poet cares to write