Gazette Of The United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser

THE GAZETTE.

PHILADELPHIA,
WEDNESDAY EVENING, APRIL 9.

"And he sat down by a well. Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father's flock. And the shepherds came and drove them away: but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock."

IN the juvenile days of Moses, that prophet, having, unfortunately, interfered in a quarrel between an Egyptian and a Jew, went into voluntary exile. Provoked at the assassination of a subject, the reigning monarch ought to lay Moses, who fled from his wrath into the land of Midian. Here he took up his residence in the vicinity of a well, and led a sort of hermit's life, "unknown and unknowing." By a glance at the history of pastoral ages, it will be seen, that the task of drawing water, either for household purposes, or for the use of the fold, generally devolved upon women. The imbecility, the indolence, or the rudeness of the patriarchs, caused them to forget that the obvious destination of the other sex was for lighter labour: and that men, as the natural guardians of females, should ever rescue their fair wards from ignominious thraldom. But the priest of Midian, with all his learning, was, it seems, clownish and inattentive in this respect, for he suffers his whole family of girls to "draw water, and fill the troughs to water his flocks." In those days, reservoirs and cisterns attracted almost as great crowds, as Bath in England, and Lebanon Springs here have, in times more modern. Indeed wells were a kind of haunt: and at their margin were to be found pilgrims and patriarchs, shepherds and herdmen, blushing beauties and clamorous boors, all eager to allay their own thirst, or that of the animals, lowing and bleating around. In such a promiscuous crowd, Groin; and Incivility would always mingle, indeed predominate, and not only delicate ears, but even graceful forms would sometimes be wounded. The daughters of the Egyptian clergyman did not repair to the well of Midian, without exposure to the attacks of brutality. Certain shepherds of the country, "fellows of the baser sort." in all probability, Midianitish democrats, influenced by the wonted churlishness of such characters, came and drove these unoffending females away. Perceiving this harshness, and, in a spirit of gallantry, resenting it, Moses quitted his seat and his meditations, and civilly helped the insulted maidens, and relieved them from the labour of watering their flocks. This is a pleasing instance of primeval politeness? and demonstrates that even in the simplest stages of society, the man of feeling and judgment will ever support the rights of woman.

The sex have a paramount claim on our protection, tenderness and good breeding. Years cannot cause my dim eyes to survey the fair carelessly, or with indifference. I can still feel the sentiment of the courtly DAYDEN.

"Old as I am, for ladies love unfit,
Tho' power of beauty I remember yet"

Once, in the absurd misapprehension of youth, I thought the character of a woman hater worth imitating; and even attempted to hurl a female lance at the champions of the daughters of Eve. But time has taught me the impolicy and baseness of such a warfare. I have not only made a truce, but concluded a firm and lasting peace with the ladies. I pride myself that they still admit an old fellow to their toilets, and that they will not refuse a dropped fan, though presented to them by a grey headed gallant. If I hear the pleasing rustle of silk against my study stairs, I make shift to hide my crutch, and, at the expense of my gouty limbs, cheerfully resign my obsolete arm chair to the occupancy of the fair sex. I am a very Moses to resent any ill treatment they may receive; and did modern ladies watch and water sheep, like the seven shepherdesses of Midian, I am sure I should "right merrily" fill the bucket.

The gallantry of the attentive Moses was not unrequited. It procured him an invitation to the house of the clergyman, whose daughters had been thus protected by the shield of civility. The fruits of good breeding were the gratitude of a venerable priest, and the hand of Zipporah, his daughter.

Thus it may be learned by every young man, eager for a pleasant passage through life, that attention to women honours both the giver and receiver. Nothing is to be gained by rudeness to the sex. By complaisance to them much may be acquired. He who is universally decried by women, is rarely very popular in male society. Nature intended that the sexes should live in amity. Let the good understanding continue. If we treat our female friends with courtesy, with tenderness; if we listen to their voice with attention, bow at their approach, and sigh at their departure, we shall be liberally remunerated. Selfishness alone will dictate such politeness. Woman, naturally frank, generous and sensitive, will hasten to discharge the obligation. On him who is thus watchful to please her, she will smile with radiance, she will smooth his pillow, sing, like Hotspur's consort, the song that pleases him, and "bind his aching head with flowers."

THE LAY PREACHER.