To such a degree did this protracted torture prey upon the mind, that many became reckless of life, and many longed for death as a relief.

The Duty of American Women to Their Country by Catharine Esther Beecher is part of the HackerNoon Books Series. Read this book online for free on HackerNoon!

Let a schoolroom, containing 18,000 gallons of air and twenty scholars, be made perfectly airtight, and in twenty minutes they would all be corpses.

“This house is situated in a district of wealthy farmers.”

A little boy, tired of sitting on his hard seat, leaned over on his elbow; he was caught by the head, dragged over the desk to the floor, and ordered to study.

My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and look up.

I know of no cause which so much needs a general movement as this.

Whether, any one year, there shall be even one intelligent friend of education in our Legislature, is a matter of chance

We have a school fund of more than two millions, which is in such neglect as threatens its entire loss.

Our children would enter on the practical duties of life with pure minds, well fortified against vice in all shapes.

I believe our Legislature, if left to itself, would permit the Common Schools to sink and perish in their hands.

The more I think of this subject of national education, the more I feel anxious to be up and doing.

Under God, the press is the great instrument that must be used, and a long time before the mass will move.

A man devoted to this cause would be welcomed among us as an angel of light by all classes.

The book can now be obtained so cheap, that the expense can be no objection.