The Litchfield County post., 1826-08-08
ON FEMALE EDUCATION.


ON FEMALE EDUCATION.
Domestic education aud maternal influence.
Domestic education has great power in the
establishment of those habits which ultimate
" stamp the character for good or evil. I'M
der its Jurisdiction, the PrOtean forms of set
fshsless are best detected and eradicated. 1t
is inseperable from the well-being of woman,
that she be disinterested. In the height Of youth
and beauty, she may inhale incense as god
tless, but time will come for nectar and am-
brosia to yield to the food of mortals. Then
the essence Of her happiness will be found to
consist in imparting it. Hshe seek to entrench
herself in solitary Indifference, her native de-
pendence comes over her from sources where
it is least expected, convincing her that the
true excellence of her nature is to confer, ra-
Their than to nrOnopOlise felicity. When we
recOllect that her prescribed sphere mlngies
with its purest brightness seasons of deep en-
durance, anxieties which no other heart can
participate, and sorrows for which earth has
no remedy, we would earnestly incite those
who grid her with the warfare of life, to con-
firm habits of fOrtitude, selfrenunciation, and
calm relience on an Invisible Supporter.
We are not willing to dismiss this subject
without INDUCING few thoughts on maternal
influence. Its agency, in the culture of the aft
fections, those springs which put in motion
the human machine, has been long conceed-
ed. That it might also bear directly upon
the development of intellect, and the growth
of the sterner virtues Of manhood, is proved
by the obligations of the great Bacon to his
studious mother, and the acknowledged in-
debtedness of Washington, to the decision, to
to the almost Lacedemonian culture Of his
maternal guide. THE immense force of first
impressions is on the side of the mother. An
engine of uncomputed power is committed to
her hand. If she fix her lever judiciously,
though she may not like Archimedes aspire
to move the earth, she may hope to raise one
of the inhabitants Of earth to heaven. Ilerl
danger will arise from delay in the commence
ment Of her operations; as well as from do
ing too little, or too much, after she has en-
gagged in the work. As there is a medium in
chemistry between the exhausted receiver,
and the compound blow-pipe, SO IN early ed
ucation the inertness which undertakes no.
thing, and the impotence which attempts all
things at once, may be equally indiscreet and
fatal.
The mental fountain is unsealcd to the eye
Of a mother, ere it has chosen a-channel, Or
hreathed murmur. She may tinge with
sweetness or bitterness, the whole stream of
future life. Other teachers have to contend
with unhappy combinations of ideas, she rules
the simple and plastic elements Of her, we
may say, she hath entered into the maya
zines Of snow, and seen the treasures of the
nall In the moral field, she is a privileged
labourer. Ere the dews of morning begin to
exhale she is there. She breaks up soil
which the root of error and the thOrns of pref
udice have not pre-occupied. She plants
germs whose fruit is for eternity. While she
feels that she is required to educate not mere
ly a virtuous member of society, but chris
4 e a., ~
how does SO holy a. charge quicken piety, by
teaching the heart its own insuficiency!
The soul of her infant is uncovered before
her. She knows that the images which she
ershrines in that unpolluted sanctuary must
rise before her at the bar of doom. Trem-
bling at such tremendous responsibility, she
teaches the little being, whose life is her dea-
rest care, of the God who made him; and
who can measure. the extent Of mother'sl
lessons Of piety. unless his hand might re-
move the veil which divides terrestrial from
celestial things ~.
When was little child, said good man,
my mother used to bid me kneel beside her,
and place her hand upon my head while she
prayed. Ere / was old enough to know her
worth, she died, and was left too much to I
my own guidance. Like Others, / was incli-
ned to evil passions, but often felt myself
hand upon my head. When a young man. 4
travelled in foreign lands, and was exposed to |
many temptations. But when would have
yielded, that same hand scds upon mig head, and
| was saved. seemed to feel its pressure as
in the days Of my happy infancy, and some
times there came with it a voice, in my heart,
voice that must be obeyed-'Oh! do not
this wickedness, my son, nor sin against thy
God" III.
American Journal Of Education.
The following Moral Tale obtained the
Prize offered by the publishers Of the Lit
erary Casket, printed in Hartford.
FALSE IMPRESSIONS.
"You are certainly born to be game
ster, my son 5" said the Mother Of young
Harry D., as she watched him, busily
employed,in preparing tickets, for his new
Pin Lottery. sYou have said SO hum
bred times, mother; but how do you know9'
said he, with acurious enqairing look. .O|
it is in you : returned she Il see it in|
tho interest you display in your lottery s.
in your playing pins; and your pitching
cents; and sadly fear, it will one day
gain strength, beyond your power to con-
trolit.'
Mrs. D. was an amiable and excellent