I'm delighted to welcome Linda back to Sunnybank Secrets! She's a delightful author with quite a few novels. I hope you will check out the novels she's highlighting today!
Courageous Women Throughout History
There were many who spoke out on women’s rights. Elizabeth Stanton was one of them. She said that women should have the right to vote and receive an equal education. She had received higher education at Troy Seminary in New York and felt all women deserved the right to be educated.
When she gave lectures on the subject, it was frowned upon. A pastoral letter from a minister in Massachusetts said a woman who speaks publicly is “unwomanly and unchristian.” The pastor also mentioned that it would “threaten the female character with widespread and permanent injury.” Was this how the men really felt back then? Why were women being held back? Even though it was not proper, women still gave their opinions.
Elizabeth was also an abolitionist and fought adamantly against slavery, prejudice, and inequality but it was not readily accepted. When Elizabeth Stanton went with her husband to a convention in England that was against slavery, she tried to give her opinion but was put down and told that women were not permitted to give speeches. It was solely a man’s place to speak publicly.
Frederick Douglass, who was a public speaker, author, and statesman, said: “When the true history of the antislavery cause shall be written, women will occupy a large space in its pages; for the cause of the slave has been peculiarly a woman’s cause.”
Susan B. Anthony was another who fought for equal rights. When she defied the laws and voted illegally on November 5, 1872, in a presidential election, she was arrested and fined $100. But she refused to pay it. She said, “Resistance to tyranny is obedience to God.” She was angry when she heard the politicians say that women wouldn’t understand politics, so there was no need to have them vote. It was up to the men to decide what was best.
These courageous women were an important part of history during this time period and made a difference. Did you know the first four states to give women the right to vote were Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, and Idaho? It did not take long until women began running for office in each of these states.
Do you have some courageous ancestors that were an influence on you? I had a great grandmother who stood up for her rights and would not allow anyone to intimidate her. She was told by a group of men that if she denounced her religion then they would not burn down her home. The leader of the mob was a large burly man and she had every right to be frightened. But Martha would not give in to fear. She was a devout Christian and would not deny her Faith. With strength and courage, she stomped her foot and said: “You may burn it and be damned.”
I had another great-grandmother who was an influence on my life. When she saw some thieves stealing her grapes, she knew they would not be afraid of her if she tried to chase them off. An idea came to her. Frances put on her husband’s cavalry uniform, tucked her hair inside his hat, and grasped his sword from its scabbard. Bravely marching outside onto the porch, she brandished the weapon in a threatening manner and demanded in a loud voice “Leave or perish!” I’m sure she smiled inside when she saw them take off like scared rabbits. And maybe she was quaking in her shoes just a little from the experience?
All of us have challenges in our lives. Sometimes we wonder if we are the only ones who are experiencing difficulties. Have you ever felt that each trial you have endured was so difficult that you wondered where the “light at the end of the tunnel” was? Many times we don’t bother talking to anyone about it or asking for help. But we are not alone in our grief. Others have walked the same path.
It touched my heart when I read about another great grandmother’s experience, which was written by her daughter. Her courage and difficulties touched my heart.
Hannah and her husband came here to America in the mid-1800s for a better life. On the ship from England, Hannah’s one-year-old daughter became very ill, which resulted in deafness. One year after arriving in America, Hannah gave birth to a baby boy but she was not meant to have him long. He died six weeks later. A year later, the sheriff came to her door and announced that her husband had been murdered on the streets of St. Louis, Missouri. Realizing she had to make a living for her children, Hannah took a job as a maid at the largest hotel in St. Louis, hoping to earn enough money to move on.
What a courageous woman! Would I have been that brave if I were Hannah? Would I have turned around and headed back to my family in England? Her family volunteered to pay her passage if she returned. But she chose to stay instead.
“No matter our circumstances, no matter our challenges or trials, there is something in each day to embrace and cherish. There is something in each day that can bring gratitude and joy if only we will see and appreciate it.” ~ Dieter F. Uchtdorf
This was Hannah’s attitude as she tried to search for the “light at the end of the tunnel.” How many times do we search for that light, wondering where it is and hoping that our trials will soon end? Is God watching over us? Is He there when we need some comfort? In our darkest moment, does He know how we feel? I believe He does.
Five years later, Hannah earned enough money to board a riverboat and head northward, far away from St. Louis. That was when she met a wonderful man who fell in love with her.
My great-grandmothers were an example to me. If I were in their shoes, I wonder if I would have had that much courage. After reading their biographies, I took their stories and created a series of novellas called Women of Courage. Hannah was the inspiration for the first novella. Using her experiences, I created a historical romance called The Light at the End of the Tunnel.
In The Light at the End of the Tunnel, Hannah is a young single mother who has had some hardships since arriving in America. But the trials in her life only make her stronger. Wanting to be independent, she opens a hot chocolate shop. At first, it’s a struggle. But she will not give up.
and be heard. Equality is her message. But she soon finds out that women who speak publicly are looked down upon and criticized, saying it is unwomanly and unchristian to speak publicly. But she has faith in God and knows He will help her in the cause for justice.
Here's a link to a video that Linda created to share about her books. Check it out!
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Learn about your heritage at FamilySearch: https://www.familysearch.org
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https://lindaweaverclarke.wordpress.com
