Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1858-04-03
The Manners Of the Mother Mould the
Child.

There is no disputing this fact it shines
In the face Of every little child. This coarse,
brawling, scolding woman will have vicious,
brawling, fighting children. She who cries
on every occasion, "I'll box your ears-Ill
slap your jaws-.I'll break your neck" is
known as thoroughly through the children as
II her unwomanly manners were openly dis
played in the public street.
These remarks were suggested by the con-
versation in an omnibuS-that noble institu-
ton for the student of men and manners-be-
tween a friend and schoolmastcr Our teacher
was caustic, mirthful and sharp. His wit
flashed like the polished edge of diamond,
and kept the buss in a roar" The entire
community Of insiderS-and whoever is init
mate with those convcyanccs can form pretty
good idea Of our numbers--incusive Of the
zone more so well known to the fraternity,
their heads, eyes and ears one way, and finally
our teacher said:
al can tell the mother by the boy. The
urchin who draws back with doubled fists,
and plunges at his playmate, if he looks at
him askancc, has very questionable mother.
She may feed him and clotbc him, cram him
with swcctmeats and coax him with promises,
but If she gets mad she fights. She will pull
him by the jacket; she will give him knock
on the back; she will drag him by the hair;
she will call him oil sorts Of wicked names,
while passion plays over hcrftc in lambcnt
flames that curl and writhc out the corners
Of her eyes.
"And we never see the courteous little fel
low with smooth locks and gentle manners
in whom dcicacy does not detract from cour-
age and manlincss, but what VIC say, "that
boys mother is true lady" Her words and
ways are soft, loving and quiet. If she re-
pr0fes, her languageis, "my son"--not, you
little wretch--plague of my lfe-you torment
you scamp"
"Sh ehovers before him as the pillar oflight
before the wandering IsraelteS, and her beams
are reflected in his face. To him the word
mother, is synonymous with everything pure,
sweet and beautiful. Is he an artist? In
after life the face that with holy radiance
shines on his canvas, will be the mother
face. Whoever fits across his path with sunny
smiles, and, low voices will bring his mothers
image freely to his breast. She is like my
mother will be the highest need of his praise.
Not even when the hair::turns silvery and the
eyes grow dim, will the majesty Of that life
and presence desert him,
"But the ruffian mothcr-alas! that there
are such will form the ruffian character oil
the man. lie in turn will become merci!ess
tyrant, with tongue sharper than a two
edged sword, and remembering the cutting
and brawling, seek some meek, gentle victim
for the sacrifice, and make her his wife, with
the condition that he shall be master. And
master he is, for few short years, when he
wears the widower's weed till he finds victim
"number two"
1--WE wonder not there arc SO many awk-
ward, ungainly men in sOciety--.they have
been trained by women who do not care for
the holy nature Of their trust. They have
bOen made bitter to the very hearts core, and
that bitterness will find vent somewhere.
"Strike the infant in anger, and he will, il
he cannot reach you, vent his passion by
beating the floor, the chair, or any inanimate
thing within reach. Strike him repeatedly,
and BY the time he wears shoes he will be-
come . little bully, with hands doubled to
fight as naturally as If especial pains had been
taken to teach him the art Of boxing."-Ne,e
York ErGn0eliSt