The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-02-20

up to natures God. have no more religion than
that and in the little | have | sm not the least
devotional; but when admire the beauties of
nature. cannot help thinking Of the Source from
whence such beauties Aow feel it support;
believe firm that all is governed for the best by
en- invisible Power-therefore do not fear the
evils of life so much. | love TO feel good. | do
what can to be kind to everybody; have many
faults which hope in time TO overcome" She
became in subsequent life more devotional"
thsn she described herself at seventeen but life
actuated by the benevolent sentiments of the
above passage is characterized by the purest de-
votion. Doing good is devotion to God, for he is
the Infinite Good.
Another example Of equal force illustrating
the proposition in hand isiound in the motherhood
of Henry Nv, the noblest King that France ever
had. True, Charlemagne had laid the foundations
Of national glory Louis XIV, in more modern
times, by his conquests, threw awful air about
the national standard and, at recent period,
the Emperor Napoleon sstonished the world by
his amazing achievements in the name Of France
but IL was the fourth Henry who reigned and
toiled for the elevation Of the masses Of his
people as well as for the honor Of the regal power
among the nations of the earth. He was an ar
dent patron of learning, and by his own hand
many agricultural and mechanical Improvements
were introduced He cultivated the grape, and
was brought from the East, and set to work for
the French people. The memory of this King
was embalned by Voltaire, in his master poem,
La Hsmi0ds
And who was the mother of the fourth Henry
She is known in history as Jane, Queen Of Ma
varre This was then a small kingdom in the
South Of France but now ii is Incorporated in
the republic Jane married Anthony Of Bourbon,
son Of Charles, Duke of Vendome, by whom she
had HenryIV. This Anthony was the first prince
of the blouf, and entitled TO the protectorate Of
Charles TX during his minority. But the Queen
Mother and the Guises, wishing to get the power
into their own hands, sndeavored to detach An
.asug from the Protestant interest. The intu-
ence Of the Pope and Cardinals was obtained,
and the asprants were successful as TO him but
they utterly failed to win jane and her children
who were of still greater consequence. The King
of Navarre--her husband-was thus enlisted
against the Prince of Condo and the Protestant
cause whereupon, the Queen retired to Padeusa
in Berne, and there kept her court, soon after
which the King died, and comparative quiet was
restored.
Not long subsequent to this, however, the third
civil war, on account Of religion, broke out, and
Jane, the Queen Of Navarro, raised a considera-
BILE force and led them to Rochelle, taking with
her Henry, her son, and Csthsrine, her daughter.
From this place che wrote letters TO the King, the
Queen Mother, the Duke of ADjou, and the Car
dnal of Bourbon, advising them of their ruinous
policy. But as her advice was unheeded, the war
continued, the Prince Of Condo was slain, and the
Protestants were defeated at the battle Of Bassac.
On receiving the melancholy news, the Queen Of
Navarro fastened to the Protestant army, aud
before the august assembly of mobiles and SOL
diers she made a speech to inspire them with
hope she pronounced an eulogium to the Prince
Of Condo, and exhorted the living to initiate his
example. After stimulating the hearts and ex-
citing the enthusiasm Of the army, and after adj
dressing few words TO her son. in private, to stir
up his spirits she retired to Rochelle, to raise
new succors. sIn the mean time, a commission
was granted to Terrible, Governor Of Querni, to
summon the Queen of Navarro and the Prince,
her son, to quit the Protestant cause, and. in
of her refusal, TO inS4de the countries Of Berne
Folk, and Navarro OF course, the high-spiri.ed
Queen refused, and her provinces were invaded.
Terrible ssel possession of all but Navarro, which
ne Destroyed. The Earl - s<~aseotfrtJ w. e1ns
against him, anu ne was defeated and driven back,
and treaty was made, in which the rights Of
Jane were GUARANTEED her dominions dedicated
| to the freedom Of the Protestant faith, and she
and her children acknowledged good cousins OF
the King Her son married the Kings sister
and when she went to Paris to arrange the nup-
| tails, the Queen Mother, who could not endure
her rival, conspired with one Rene, skillful in
poisons, to take her off Accordingly he sold her
| poisoned perfumes which sickened her with fe-
yer that terminated her life in 1872, at "a years
| of age Such was the mother of the great Henry
of France.
Under this head, also, we must class the mother
of Napoleon. She was q woman of SURPRISING
beauty and exceeding vgor Her husband was
attached to Paoli, the defender Of Corsicsp inde-
pendence against the French His young and
.r.c IL IL
followed the patriot army on horseback across the
mountains, and resided awhile on the summit OF
Mount Rotondo, in the parish of Nsoli Just be-
fore the period of her confinement she was sent
back to Ajaccio. Says Scott " He read with In
terest that his mothers good constitution and bold
character of mind having induced her to attend
mass upon the day Of his birtb-beng the Festi-
val of the Assumption-she was obliged to return
home Immediately; and as there was no time to
prepare a bed or bedroom, she was delivered Of
the future victor upon temporary couch pre-
pared for her accommodation, and covered with
an ancient piece Of tapestry representing the he
roes of the Iliadp Enough for the motherhood
of Napoleon.
In these cases we see something Of the extent
to which the thoughts, feelings, and passions of
the mother, while moulding the tenement OF
soul, stamps its destiny in life! This is sub
ject )hl Of warning for all mothers and for all
fathers! To mothers, that they may be truth
fal and pure; and to fathers, that they may assist
their wives in all that is good and surround them
with pleasant circumstances. The mother has
almost the power to predestine soul TO happi-
ness or misery, to virtue or vice, to heaven or
HE'LL
The example of Sir PHILIP SIDNEY is also in
point His mother possessed lofty and ingenious
spirit, says his biogrspher. She was daughter
Of the Duke Of Northumberland, and the tragioal
events in which her family wss concerned weaned
her from the vanites and folies OF life. She is
described as devotiug herself, like Cornelia, the
mother Of the Gracchi, to the edncation Of her
children, In which she was most faithful. She
possessed large understanding, and was model
Of virtue and excellence, qualities which adorned
| the life Of her noble son. He was the universal
favorite Of his age" Rom. 1850
The mother of LrcHrEsBuRo, a distinguished
! German baron, In l742, is described as having
been woman Of superior mind-one who had a
taste for the speculative branches Of natural phi
losophy, and yet was most attentive to her mater
nal duties--the education Of her eighteen chill
dren constituting her chief delight. He was uni
yersally gifted great mathematician, pro.
found thinker, and distinguished in literature.
The mother Of NovATrs, another distinguished
German, was eminent for her worth pattern
OF noble piety and Christian mildDees Virtues
which were often tried in her subsequent life
He was born in l772.
The father of EDsusp WALLER, one Of the
British poets, died when his son was child, and
his education devolved on his mother She was a
woman Of bold spirit and penetrating mind.
She was jealous royalist, and was said to have
been the Protectors aunt. She did not disguise
| her sentiments from Cromwell, even when at the
height of bis power She predicted to him that
things would one day resort to their old channels
leaving him and his friends in ruin For her bold
royalty, Cromwell deprived her Of liberty BY
placing her 10 charge OF one OF her daughters,
Tho had married zealous friend Of the Protec-
Tor. She had been correspondent with the lead