The Employments of Women: A Cyclopædia of Woman's WorkPenny, Virginia
General
The Employments of Women: A Cyclopædia of Woman's Work
Penny, Virginia
Women -- Employment
=8. Colportors.= "This is an important field of missionary labor in our
own land, where women might be employed to great advantage--namely, as
colportors, or distributors of tracts and books. The Boards of
Publication now employ men only, whose services must be paid at a much
higher rate than women would require. There are widows who need this
employment for support, and single women who need employment for health,
and many women would like this way of doing good. In every place, women
would be found suitable and willing to undertake this profession. It is
one exactly suited to them. It enters into their domestic circle of
feelings and pursuits; and honorable women, not a few, would be found
ready to engage in the work. A number of men would be needed to
penetrate the wild places of our land; but throughout all the settled
portions, women would be found the most effective agents. By this
arrangement, a double gain would be secured. The talents of pious women,
now allowed to be wasted on trifles, would be employed in the cause of
moral improvement; and those men who now give up their time, often at a
great pecuniary sacrifice, to the colportor's duty, would be at liberty
to enter into other pursuits more beneficial to themselves and to
society." Are there none among the gentler sex consecrated to the work
of promoting the glory of God and the good of their fellow beings? Are
none of those that owe all their privileges and blessings to the Bible,
willing to make a sacrifice for its extension? Are all so selfish, that
the desire of personal gratification is the ruling, the only object for
which they live? a display in dress and style of living, the acquisition
of property, or notoriety? Are these the only objects of woman's
exertions? No: most women are too conscientious and unselfish to live
for such a purpose. There are many that would gladly do what they could,
but they have no definite plan in view. They know not exactly how to
shape their course. If they were once started, they would neither lag
nor faint in the race. Let such become colportors, deaconesses,
physicians, painters, engravers, whatever best accords with their
inclinations and abilities. Let them go forward. The mist will gradually
disappear, the way be made clear, and they followed by others. It is
best for one of strength and vigor to engage in the labors of a
colportor. Walking from house to house all day is very fatiguing to
persons not accustomed to being much on their feet. It requires a person
that has at heart the good of her fellow beings, and is willing to
converse with all classes and ages. It calls for a person of piety, and
one of tact and judgment.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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