Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1825-01-13
VALUE OF A pI0U5 MOTHER.

VALUE OF A PIOU5 MOTHER.
The following is from brief me
NOR, prefixed to work called eth,
Remains of Alexander Lelth Ross
&c" Ii is well worthy the attention
OF mothers. Ed.
"There seems to be an idea unhap
PLY too prevalent, that religion is
matter SO far above the comprehension
OF child, as to make it a hopeless un
dertaking to convey religious impress
slons TO the heart, TILL the faculties hav,
acquired considerable degree of ma
jurlly and strength. Religious instruc
lion is therefore two often deferred
and the young man allowed to grow
up in habits of carelessness, till set
tied repugnance is formed to a subiect
dIslastelul to the perverse ness of hu
man nature. The golden opportuni
ty is thus lost, when the mind is mos
susceptible, and when the seeds of fol
", that exit 10 the heart from the very
commencement Of life itself, have MOI
yet begun to spring up. Religion, in
deed, II presented m "A technic al form
must be above the comprehension OF q
very young child, and unsuitable to the
weakness OF the opening faculties.
1t can then be regarded ouy as task
by which the tender mind must he on
pressed, and TO which the infant Oh
pil will almost unavoidably contract a
dislike. But nothing surely eau be
conceived more engaging and attrac
tive TO child than religion, when pre-
sented as an exercise of the heart and
feelIngs--when the mind. lust begin
nlng to expand, and to look upon eve
~ surrounding object with curiosity
aud wonder, is led by an alfectionale
parent to some little knowledge of the
Great Being by whom these objects
were made, and brought TO regard
Him as its Heavenly Father with
sentiments Of love and reverence
when it is made acquainted with the
character OF Jesus as the benevolent
saviour, who came to bestOw the
greatest blessing OF mankind, and who
displayed such condecensions and
kindness to little children---and when
it is taught that there is another home
in heaven for. all good and obedient
children, more beautiful and delightful
than that enjoyed under the paternal
roof Such was the plan of religious
education pursued by Alexander's mo-
ther, aud itappears to have left deep
impression on his heart; for, after her
death, there was nothing OF which he
so much delighted to near, as about the
beautiful and happy place, as he ex-
pressed 1t, to which his mother was
gone. The effect ofthis iudicious ear.
ly discipline was to produce habit
of observation and thoughiulness unu.
sual beauties ofnature that as through
out his life striking feature OF his men
tal character.
The following circumstance illus
trales, IN a very pleasing manner, the
early display OF this aptitude TO obser
walton and reflection, and the good ef
fects Of the instructions which he had
received. Soon after his mothers
death, his attention was po~eriully at
tracted by beautiful SKY, in a sum
mer evening. He continued to gaze
upon it it'll silent admin alton, and i!
was with difficulty that he could be
prevailed upon to quit the spot.
When repeatedly remined that it was
time to 60 to bed, he requested permits.
sion to remain "a little longer, adding.
in language natural to child, that he
supposed that God had sent down that
beautiful sky, to show what a beanti
tui and happy place heaven was; but
heaven, said he, is far prettier than
that The idea of his mother being
there seems to have then occurred to
his mino; for, "a day or two after, he
appearedto be very pensive and de
jected; and, on being asked the reason,
he burst INTO tears, and expressed his
approximations in such terms as "a child
might be supposed to use, that he was
not good enough TO be admitted into
that beautiful and happy place where
MS mother was
"Auother evidence of the success
Other plous care impressing his infant
mind with devotional feelings, was,
that he very early tel; peculiar plea
sure i'm the return of every Sabbath.
and often on that day, the expression
OF his countenance and his gesture
would Indicate an eastern expectation
and great anxiety TO hear more than