It has been asserted that Associations and Communities may do well for
men, but that women can never get along in them. The experience of
Brook Farm testifies against the assertion. If ever there was a clear
record of faithfulness and devotion, of sacrifice, of love of
principle, and earnest, unselfish work for unselfish ends, the women
toilers of Brook Farm can claim it and secure it without cavil. Morning
and evening, in season and out of season, in heat and cold, they were
ever at their posts. And the self-imposed toil made them grow great. It
opened their hearts as they daily saw the devotion of others.
It was for the meanest a life above humdrum, and for the greatest
something far, infinitely far beyond. They looked into the gates of
life and saw beyond charming visions, and hopes springing up for all.
They saw protection for all, even to the meanest of God's creatures; a
life beyond cold charity, up among the attributes of the Creator's
justice; an even garment for all, protecting the weak children of life
against the strong, the strong against the machinations of the weak.
How could they grow otherwise than great?
Wherever woman's hands were wanted to work, wherever woman's head was
wanted to plan, and wherever woman's care and sympathy were needed,
they were always forthcoming.
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