PATIENT ENDURANCE.
There is reason to think that woman owes this valuable quality to the fact of her being “the weaker vessel,” and thus her physical inferiority instead of being an hindrance becomes a help. Not having bodily vigour equal to the other sex, and placed in circumstances which would make masculine daring unseemly, she cultivates the power of patient endurance. The history of woman in almost every land and age illustrates this fact. When man fails in an enterprise, he too often gives up all for lost, or perhaps lays violent hands upon himself; but woman endures her lot with commendable patience, and
“Calmly waits her summons,
Nor dares to stir till heaven shall give permission.”
She believes the eloquent sentences of Bishop Horne: “Patience is the guardian of faith, the preserver of peace, the cherisher of love, the teacher of humility. Patience governs the flesh, strengthens the spirit, sweetens the temper, stifles anger, extinguishes envy, subdues pride; she bridles the tongue, refrains the hand, tramples upon temptations, endures persecutions, consummates martyrdom. Patience produces unity in the Church, loyalty in the state, harmony in families and societies; she comforts the poor and moderates the rich; she makes us humble in prosperity, cheerful in adversity, unmoved by calamity and reproach; she teaches to forgive those who have injured us, and to be the first in asking forgiveness of those whom we have injured; she delights the faithful, and invites the unbelieving; she adorns the woman, and improves the man; is loved in a child, praised in a young man, and admired in an old man; she is beautiful in either sex and every age.”
The following lines from the pen of the Hon. Mrs. Norton are not more beautiful than just.
“Warriors and statesmen have their meed of praise,
And what they do or suffer men record!
But the long sacrifice of woman’s days
Passes without a thought—without a word;