XIII. THE LOWELL OFFERING. Prior to the publication of Mr. Knight's little volume, "Mind amongst the Spindles," few in this country were aware of the existence of an American Magazine, written exclusively by "females employed in the mills." The first number appeared in 1841. The collection evinces so much moral and intellectual culture, and affords so pleasing an example of the advantages of popular education, that a few of its flowers, culled some years ago from the early numbers, may fitly adorn an Evangelical Magazine. They are admirable, not only for their own sweetness and beauty, but for the encouragement they offer to similar cultivation at home. The Editors have chosen the appropriate mottoFull many a gem of purest ray serene, The dark unfathom'd caves of ocean bear; The first number commences with "6 Abby's year in Lowell;" a tale, amongst many others, inculcating the moral, that respectability and happiness do not depend upon any particular employment or condition, but on being useful. The tale is itself a proof, that there is nothing in the nature of a Factory, to preclude a high degree of moral excellence and mental refinement, wherever its inmates are blessed with a sound education. Then follow "Return of Spring," "The Snow Storm," and several other pieces; amongst which is AN ACROSTIC. Lo! our Offering here we bring- We have touch'd the spirit-string Even now its notes arise, Lowly is the strain we sing Let none spurn the gift we bring. Ours is not a costly gem, From the mine of Ophir brought, Number 2 contains an account of a Wedding, without a courtship; in which, for once, the course of true love did run smooth. Also, some Poetry, "Translations from the French," "Happiness," "Love of Nature," "A Vision of Truth," and other essays: one on EARLY MORNING. I could not but muse awhile on the pleasure of early rising, and wonder that so many are averse or indifferent to its various attractions. Our purest and best feelings are aroused at such times we rise from earth, and walk, as it were, amid the stars, and hold communion with their spiritual inhabitants; and then we feel more forcibly our connexion with beings of a higher sphere. 66 Many there are who seldom witness the glory of the rising sun, or feel the pure refreshing breeze of a morn like this. Placed by affluence in situations where they are not required to labour from morning till night, to earn their daily food by constant industry-and yielding to the sluggish feelings of our nature, they devote the earliest and most beautiful hours of the day to unconscious sleep. In this respect the industrious working-classes possess an advantage over them. They rise with the lark, and with hearts rightly attuned to enjoy the beauties of nature, they acquire energy of character to prosecute and persevere in all their undertakings; and they feel a spirit of honest independence, as they look abroad on the beautiful earth, and realize, that they can support themselves by their own labour. "And many a factory girl, besides knowing this, has the sweet consciousness of having assisted others, and added to their happiness. And are they not rewarded? Yes-the smiles of an approving conscience are theirs; and they retire to their couch of rest with as contented a spirit-their dreams are as pleasanttheir slumbers are as refreshing-and they rise at the early dawn, to attend to their daily avocation, with as light and buoyant hearts, and as pleasing expectations of the future-as those who do nothing but spend money and mis-spend time. Nor would I exchange the blithe spirits of an early riser, although a factory girl, for the pleasures of a fashionable devotee of late hours at night, and still later hours in the morning." Such a paper, by a Factory Girl, is creditable alike to her own heart, and to the character of her employers. Equally valuable is a contribution in No. 5, on WOMAN. "It has been well said, that christianity alone has truly elevated woman. And how has it done it? Not by infusing any new power into her mind; but by awakening in man the love of the true, the good, and the just; by making him sensible of the superiority of right over might; by arousing those holier sympathies and desires in which he feels that woman is not indeed his inferior; and should the time come when earth is to bear some resemblance to heaven, woman's influence will be found to mingle equally with man's, in hastening on the era of happiness and love. "But though in many respects his equal, she will never be like him. Her duties and pleasures must always be different. Were the sexes willing to exchange places, they could not do it; and each has been so formed, as to enjoy most in a separate sphere. "Let woman keep in her own sphere, and she can do much for herself, and much for society; but her influence is weakened in proportion as she deviates from the true path. Her domestic duties should claim her first thoughts; and then society should receive her unwearied efforts to elevate, to gladden, and to beautify. If social evils are to be remedied by reforming public opinion, woman's influence, when properly exerted, may do much; and thus they will be remedied, if she is true to the nature God has given her, and the station he has assigned her. She may do this by her influence over the rising generation, especially that portion of it who will one day be voters, and perhaps rulers of their country. Her exertions should be to throw around her the sunshine of gentleness and affection, and her aim should be To solace, to soften, to cheer, and to bless, "In estimating the talent of the articles for the Offering," say the Editors, "several facts should be considered. 1st, The contributors labour in the mills from five o'clock in the morning until seven o'clock in the evening, having thirty minutes for breakfast, and (at this season of the year) forty-five minutes for dinner. Twelve hours and three-quarters of actual labour unfit them for the display of their mental power; and the necessity for retiring early, leaves them little more than an hour each evening, for reading and writing-to say nothing of the time requisite for attention to their clothing. 2nd, There can be little privacy in a factory boarding-house. The sitting-room is common property; and even the most ready writer must be annoyed by the presence of eight or ten companions. Four or six occupy each chamber; and seldom are they all disposed to literary pursuits. Yet under these disadvantages, the articles for the Offering are written." "We have frequently been asked," continue the Editors, "whether we do not re-write, or greatly alter, the articles furnished for publication? We answer, No. We never re-write an article; and we take fewer liberties with any communication than are claimed by the editorial craft everywhere." Several recent writers have made honourable mention of The Lowell Offering. Mr. Knight's selection contains a communication from Miss Martineau, in which she ob serves "My visit to Lowell was merely for one day, in company with Mr. Emerson's party, he being engaged by the Lowell factory people to lecture to them, in a winter course of historical biography. The lectures were, of course, delivered in the evening, after the mills were closed. The girls were then working seventy hours a-week, yet as I looked at the large audience, I saw no signs of weariness among any of them. There they sat, row behind row, in their own Lyceum—a large hall, wainscoted with mahogany, the platform carpeted, well lighted, provided with a handsome table, desk, and seat, and adorned with portraits of a few worthies; and, as they thus sat listening to their lecturer, all wakeful and interested, all well dressed and lady-like, I could not but feel my heart swell at the thought of what such a sight would be with us. "The difference is not in rank, or amount of wages, or toil, but in their superior culture. Their minds are kept fresh, and strong, and free, by knowledge and power of thought; and this is the reason why they are not worn out and depressed under their labour. Charles Dickens in his American Notes, observes "I am now going to state three facts, which will startle a large class of readers on this side of the Atlantic. Firstly, there is a joint-stock piano in a great many of the boarding-houses. Secondly, nearly all these young ladies subscribe to circulating libraries. Thirdly, they have got up among themselves a periodical called The Lowell Offering, which is duly printed, published, and sold; and, whereof, I brought away from Lowell four hundred good solid pages, which I have read from beginning to end. The large class of readers, startled by these facts, will exclaim, with one voice, How very preposterous! On my deferentially inquiring, Why? they will answer, These things are above their station. In reply to that objection, I would beg to ask what their station is ? For myself, I know no station in which,—the occupation of today cheerfully done, and the occupation of to-morrow cheerfully looked to, any one of these pursuits is not humanizing and laudable. I know no station which is rendered more endurable to the person in it, or more safe to the person out of it, by having ignorance for its associate. I know no station which has a right to monopolize the means of mutual instruction, improvement, and rational entertainment; or which has ever continued to be a station very long, after seeking to do so." XIV. USEFULNESS. What if the little rain should say, Can ne'er refresh those thirsty fields ;- What if a shining beam at noon Should in its fountain stay, Because its feeble light alone Can not create a day? Doth not each rain-drop help to form The soul-refreshing shower, And every ray of light to warm And beautify the flower? KIND READER, If thy good desires to serve mankind should ever have been discouraged by considerations of thine own insignificance, contrast the gentle influence of the soft shower, with the pelting of the pitiless storm. Observe the face of nature, when refreshed by the invisible dew, and behold it when the corn is beaten down by the rain. Thou wilt then see a picture of the comparative effects of celestial charity, and the impetuous doings of natural benevolence. The drenching rain and the tempest doubtless do good; and so do the outpourings of earthly vapours, the opposing winds of doctrine, and the changes of the spiritual atmosphere, to which they are comparable. But they have neither the kind nor the extent of influence of that brotherly charity, which is as the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore. When, therefore, thou seest the rich and powerful engaged in works of benevolence, in which thou hast not the means of uniting, remember that the good and enduring part was not the much serving, but the patient hearkening to the divine word. And while thou art ever ready to rise up quickly when the Master calleth for thee, thine obedience will be far better shown in a humble, patient spirit, when the opportunity for NO. II. E |