The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1841-07-27
THE MOTHER.

Whlch lie HVed; Tor though ho died at a little past
thirty, his fame wise and profound statesrna
was spread all over Europe. Nor was lie less dis
tinguished for religious and moral virtues and par
tcularly for generosity and tenderness OF nature.
1t has been remarked Of him that she most beau
llul event of his life was death Receiving NOR
tai wound in battle in Flanders, the moment after
he was wounded, and thirsty with the excess OF
bleeding turned away the water from his own lips
TO give to dying soldier, it'll these words, "thy
necessity is greater than mine"
This extraordinary indebted for the rn-
diments Of his education, to his iustrious and ex-
cellent mother, the eldest daughter of the Duke
OF Northumberland, who in preceding reign
had been beheaded "Her tender melancholy, oc.
casioned by that tragical event in her family to.
gether with her mschance of sickness, that had
impaired her beauty, inclined her to bestow her
tention almost exclusively on the education Of her
children"
"It was her delight" says bographer of Sir
Philip, "to instill into them principles of religion
and virtue; 10 superlntend not only their serious
occupations, but even their amusements.
Had not the holiness of the House OF Northum.
berland been fallen, had lady Mary the eldest
daughter Of that house, been leader OF fashion, at
would have entitled ber--Php would, in no prob
ability have been tho exalted character that he
was.
To mother, herself highly accomplished,
and capable ofshln ing in the first circles of fash.
onlble life; to her forego the pleasures of a.
musemen, and the ambition of show, for the sake
of bestowing attentions upon her children; to see
her spend the best of her days in fashioning their
Il, Ill, 4
ing them with dscre ton, and auring them the
love of excellence, alike by precept and examples
to this, is TO behold one of the most charming
spectacles any where furnished iu this world.
And what though il may not be in the power
Of every mother to make Philip Sidney OF her
son?
What though nature has gifted her children
with no uncommon strength or brightness Of intel
lect.
Yet with The divine blessing, she may have in
fuence on the moral frame of their young and
tender minds, that they shall be disposed 10
improve their natural talents, such they
are, and to employ them konorably. The ben
Gifts, in this respect, which highly capable moth
should confer on their children during few Of
the first years of this earthly existence, are far be
you'd the power of calculation: since these benefits
another down poserty. "Delighiful task In
comparison with the pure and sublime enjoyment
which the faithful performance of it gives, poor Il
wreiched indeed is the whole sum of pleasures that
can possibly be extracted from the amusements of
fashion.
Lame ntable, however, would be the condition of
things in lhIs respect, il either wealth rank, or
superior talents, any great degree of literary ac
quiremenis were indspensably necessary,in a moth
err TO I'll her for the noble and all important task
which that relation devolves upon her. So far
from it, woman of mere plain whose read
ing extends bnt little beyond The divine volume
that contains hol, religion; and whose world
ly circumstances narrow and even digent
capable nevertheless of con ferring unspeakabe
benefits upon her little ones. And, as she is the
first in their hearts, in their she is the
first of women. Her example is their model; they
copy her ways, they hang upon her lips. The
moral and religious love incuIcated with maternal
tenderness by her they never quite forget, and yer
often it is the means of forming their character
for life.
Precious is the MOTHER whether of high low
degree, who, in this respect, acts the real mother,
to the best of her abilities Hardly she fail of
stamping upon the minds of her younglings some
salutary impress ion which will never be cffaced.
Except in instances of most unnatural perverse
ness their hearts will cleave to her.-They will
nor forsuke her when she is old Their lial kind
ness will soothe and soace the inirmities and de
cay of age. And when she is called TO put off the
mortal clothing, the genuine expressions of their
hearts will be-we loved, but not enough, the hand
that reared us. Gladly would we now recall that
soflest friend, a mother, whose mild converse and
faithful counsel, we in vain regret
The DEAF AND BLIND GIRL,-Dr. Howe states
the 70 flowing interesting facts in a letter TO the
editor of the New York Commercial Advertiser:
Il am happy to tell you. that after nearly six
months apparently VAN efforts, we have at las,
opened the means of communicate n with the
mind of our unfortunate deaf and blind girl from
Vermont You know that she very vidal
most savage, when she was brought here, and that
she wore her head in bag. For long time she
not ouly was snen and unsocia, but she furiously
repulsed all attempts to teach her, and would not