Transcribe Arink, Ellen M. Letter to Ward, Henry A. (1855-12-01)

of moral, and I quit the subject - Women ought to marry - celibacy is an abnormal condition for either sea- Men can risk a single life with greater safety perhaps, they go into the great work-a-day world, and forget themselves, in its all-engrossing "stir and strife, of busy life" but woman, her youth passed, looks forward to a gloomy va- cuity of loneliness; and yearns for communion and intercourse with some one to whom she may attach herself with freedom and affection - thus morbid feelings are engendered, life becomes a burden - even religion is fettered, if not crushed, by the sickly state of the mental constitution, and often, a slight discouragement of the physi- cal organization will ^so^ shatter the nerves, as to obliterate Reason itself. Are you provoked because I send these vapor- ings as you may deem them, so far, and to such little purpose? never mind Henry - you need not be troubled by them longer than during their perusal,