The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1855-10-04

Mothers, we wish to say few words
to you. We wish you, therefore, to
give US your serious attention while we
attempt to say something about the re-
spoDsibility which rests upon you in re-
gard to the training and education of
those little ones which are committed to
your care.
What is the precise state of the infant
mind during the first few weeks or
months of its existence, is difficult to
decide. That it is susceptible of con-
scousness, and perception, is sufficiently
evident. At how early period the
child begins to reason, and reflect, to
trace effects to their proper causes, and
to distinguish between right and wrong,
We cannot say, probably at very early
period, much earlier than parents gen.
orally suppose.
As it enters upon this stage of its
existence, then it is that its history and
destiny, as human and immortal being,
has commenced. Then it is that its
mind is soft and pliable, like clay in the
hands of the potter, ready to receive
any impression which is made upon il.
Or like the streamlet as it bounds and
sparkles along the mountains side,
which even pebble may turn in this or
that direction. Then it is that all the
inlets Of knowledge are wide open, ready
to hear, and to see, to taste, and to teel,
whatever comes within the reach of per-
ception. Then it is that the child sees
q thousand sights, hears thousand
sounds, and handles a multitude of
things, which long since have ceased to
attract the notice of an older person.
1t is really surprising how much child
learns during the two or three first
years of its existence. There is no
period Of equal length in subsequent life,
when it comes in possession Of so many
real facts. 1t has learned to call a
thousand of the most important things
by name, to reason, to trace effect to
eau c, to distinguish to great extent
between right and wrong, and what is
most surprising of all, it has learned its
native language.
Mothers, during this important
and interesting period of life, it is your
sacred and almost exclusive privilege,
to teach and to train, to form and to
fashion, the mind Of your child. 1t is
true that the father, brothers and sisters,
relatives and friends, have more or less
to do with the education of the ch I'D,
yet, the influence cf all these is feeble
with that of yours. From
until evening, the child is
scarcely out of your sight. If it is
pleased, it shares your smiles, if it is sad
it receives your sympathies. If you
tenderly love your offspring, and if that
love is reciprocated, how exceedingly
easy it is, to enstamp upon its tender
mind any impression which you may
choose to make. The mirror cannot
more effectually reflect those images
which pass before it, than the mother
may reflect and transmit her character
to the child. And does she not really
do this Where is the boy or the young
man whose character is not an almost
exact prototype of that of the mothers;
In fact, so great is the resemblance,
that whenever | see young man who
is notorious for vicious acts, I expect to
see the same qualities predominant in
the life of the mother. And whenever
/ see young person who is distinguish
ed for his noble and generous acts,
expect to find mother distinguished
for those same qualities. Who does not
know know that those vicious seeds, WITCH
have sprung up in the human heart, ana
have made so many the victims of the
prison and the gallows, were either ac-
tually implanted in the heart of the
child, or else suffered to grow through
maternal influence J.? On the contrary,
We think it may be dific ut to find
distinguished philanthrOpst, or minister
Of the gospel, who does not acknowledge
that he owes his conversion, either Who'll
y or in part, to the precepts aud exam
pies of pious mother.
1t may be that the mother has long