Eaton Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1843-1856, 1856-07-17
Letters to Mothers, On Early Culture to their
Children-By Mrs. I. H. Sig1rney.

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Who can compute the value of the first
seven years fife! Who eau tell The strength
of impressions male ere The mind is pre-oo-
cupied or perverted? Especially if within
its waxen state il is Soltened by the breath OF
a mother, will mol the seal which she stamps
thee, resist the mutations OF lime when the
light of this sun aud moon are quenched and
eXtiTct?
We are counseled on this point by the hum,
bleSt analogieS. The husbandman wakes
early. He scarcely waits for The breath OF
spring 10 unbind the soil ere he marks out the
funow. 1.-The neglected to prepaIe :he ground
he might as well SOW his seed by the way
side or upon the rock. II he deferred the
veTnal tolls the summer suns were high, what
right would he have 10 expect the harvest or
the winter store. Is the builder Of a lofty
aud magnificent edifce ~cereleSS of its foun-
datiuns, aud whether its columns are 10 rest
upon q quicksand or a Quagmire? And should
the maternal guardian OF an immortal being
be less anxious, less skillful, less scrupulous
than the husbandman or a%Ilifcer in brick and
stone? Shall the impeIishable gem Of the
soul be less regarded than the "wood, hay
'and The Stubble," that moulder AMI consume
around it.
Mothers, take into your own hands the early
instruction Of your children. Commence with
simple stories from the scriptures, from the
varied annals Of history, from your observa.
ton of mankind.
Let each illustrate some moral or religious
truth, adapted to convey Instruction, reprOof
or encouragement, according to your knowl-
edge Of the disposition Of your beloved stu
dents, care aud study may be requisite 10 Sc
lect, adapt and simplify. But who can do
this so patiently as a mother, who feels that
her listening pupil is a part OF herself!
Cultivate in your childIen tenderness OF
conscience, a conviction that their conduct
must be regulated by study, and not by i'm.
pulse. Read TO them books Of instruction,
selected with discrimination, or make use Of
them as tests for your own commentary. In
yonr teachings OF religion avoid all points Of
sectarian difference, and found the morality
you inculcata on the scripture Of truth. Give
one hour every morning 10 the instruction of
your childIen-an undivided hour 10 them
alone. Ere they retire, secure, if possible.
another portion Of e ual length, review what
has been learned throughout the day. Recall
its deeds, its faults, its sorrows, its blessings
TO deepen the great lessons OF Gods goodness,
or 10 sooth the lille heart into sweet pence
with Him and all The world ere the eyes close
in slumber. Let The simple music of some
evening hymn, and words Of contrition and
gratitude, close The daily intercourse with
your endeared pupils, and see if this system
does not render them doubly dear.
The mother who Is thus aSsiduous in the
early education, will find in poetry an assist
ant not TO be despised, lis melody is like q
harm 10 the i fan, eLr. like a :iumpet stirring
up the new born intellect 1t breaks the
dream with which existence began, as the
clear chiriping bird wakes the morn ng sleep
CT. 1t seems 10 be the natural dialect of those
powers which are earliest developed. Feel
ing and fancy put forth their young shoots ere
they ase expected, and poetry bends a spray
for their feeblest tendrils, or rears q prop Tor
their boldeSt aSpirings.
Other teachers may toll, perhaps in vain, 10
purify the streams which have grown turbid,
or to turn them back from perverted channels.
The dominion of the mother is OF er the foun-
tain ere it has contracted a stain. Let her
not believe the impressions which she may
make in the first year will be slight or readily
effaced by The current oil opposing events. A
prudent and pious woman is a greater charac-
Ter than any hero or philosopher OF either an
cient or modern times. The first impression
which children receive IN the nursery, under
the mothers immediate care, ale seldom oh.
liberated. Sooner or later their influence
conduces to form the future life. Though
the child trained up as he should go, may for
a season depart from it, there is also rea son
TO hope that he will be found in it when he
is old. The principles instilted into the mind
in iafancy may seem dormant for a while, but
the care with which the mother planted and
watered will ensure the unfolding Of the germ
of those noble traits and principles which dis
tinguiSh great and true men everywhere.-
Time and trouble unfold or recall these prin-
ciples 10 mind, and the child so instructed has
something to recur to.