N. Ives Lithographic Print

N. Ives Lithographic print of  “The life & age of woman, stages of woman’s life from the cradle to the grave.” Depiction of women at various life stages, from infancy to 100, ascending and descending a set of stairs. There are 10 stages and under each is a poem depicting that stage. Along the bottom edge: Lith & Pub. by N. Currier, Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1850 by N. Currier in the Clerk’s office of the District Court of the Soutern District of N.Y., 152 Nassau St. Cor. of Spruce. DATED: 1850.

Baby. In swaddling clothes behold the bud of sweet and gentle womanhood.
5. Next she foresees with mimic plays, the business of her future days.
15. Now glorious as a full-blown flower; the heart of manhood feels her power.
20. A husband now her arms entwine, she clings around him like the vine
30. No bearing fruit she rears her boys, and tastes a mother’s pains and joys.
50. Like sparkling fountain gushing forth, she proves a blessing to the earth.
60. A busy house wife full of cares, the daily food her hand prepares.
70. As age creeps on she seeks for grace, always to church and in her place.
80. Now second childhood loosens all her tongue, she talks of love and prattles with the young.
90 . A useless cumberer on the Earth, from house to house they send her forth.
100.Chained to her chair by weight of years she listless knits till death appears.
Printed on gravestone, “Sacred to the memory of” with space for including a name. Printed on bottom: “Published by Currier & Ives, 152 Nassau St., New York. Entered according to act of Congress in the year 1850 by N. Currier, in the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York.”