Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-06-06
The Manners of the Mother Mould the
Child.

There is no disputing this fact: it shines
in the face of every little child. The coarse
broiling, scolding woman, will have coarse
fighting children. She, who cries on every
occasion, "rll box your ears--Pl! break
your neck" is known as thoroughly through |
her children, as if unwomanly manners were |
openly displayed in the public streets.
These remarks were suggested by the con- |
yersation in an omnibuS-that noble inStitu- |
ton for the student of men and manners
between friend and schoolmaster. 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 company of insiders-and whoever is
intimate with these conveyances, can form a
pretty good idea of our numbers--inclusive
of lone more" so we'll known to the fra
ternity, turned their heads, eyes and ears
one way, and finally our teacher said, Il
can always tell the mother by the boy. The
urchin who draws back with doubled fists,
and lunges at his playmate, if he looks at
him askance, has very questionable mother.
She may feed him and clothe him-cram him
with sweet meats, and coax him with prom
ises, but if she gets mad she fights. She will
pull him by the jacket-she will give him a
knock in the back; she will drag him by the
hair-she viii call him all sorts of wicked
names, while passion plays over her red face
in lambent flames that curl and writhe out
at the corners of her eyes.
"And we never see the courteous little fell
low with smooth looks and gentle manner
in whom delicacy does not detract from cour-
age or manliness, but we say, that boys
mother is true lady. Her words and her
ways are soft, loving-and quiet. If she re-
proves, her language is my son'--not you
little wretch-you plague of my life You
torment you scampP
'She hovers before himas the pillar of light
3 before the wandering Israeites, and heI
! beams are reflected in his face. To him the
/ word mother is synonymous with every thing
) pure, sweet and beautiful Is he an artist
7 in after life the face that with holy radiance
!, shines on his canvass, will be the mother 4
4 face. Whoever fits across his path with
!, sunny smiles and soft, low voice, will brinl
. mothers" image freshly to his heart. "Sh'
/ is like my mother" will be the highes
= need of his praise Not even when the hal
turns silver, and the eye grows dim, will tn
n majesty of that life and presence desert him
But the ruffian mother-alaS that ther
70 are such, will form the ruffian character OF th
4 man. He in his turn will become merc
~ less tyrant, with tongue sharper than
=. two-edged sword, and remembering To
1pe brawling and the cutting seek some meel
To gentle victim for the sacrifice, and make ne
his wife with the condition that he sha
ID be master And master he is for few 50
years, when he wears widewer's weed Il
,r he finds victim number two
We wonder not that there are so mar
he awkward, ungainly men in society-th'
have all been trained by women who kne
he not or cared for the holy nature OF the
trust They have been made bitter to t
- hearts core. and that bitterness will III
he vent and lodgment somewhere. Strike
infant in anger, and he win, if he cam
Nv reach you, vent his passion by beating 7
lis foor the chair or any inanimate thing vii
in reach. Strike him repeatedly, and
en- the time he wears shoes be will have becol
ces little bully with hands that double for tie
ner as naturally as if especial pains had been
ken to teach him the art of boxing.
his Mothers, remember that your mann'
mould the child.