The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1860-01-28

she occupies in forming the intellect, and
tho character of our nation.
Franklin, Washington, Shakespeare, IT.
wing, and many other illustrious men, owed
their virtues and there greatness to the
early instructions of their intellectual and
yirtuous mothers. In fact, could we be-
come acquainted with the childhood histo-
~ Of all our great and good men our phil
anthropists, patriots, and Statesmen, we
would find. with few exceptions, that their
foma and greatness, we're the result of ma
ternal instructions in youth.
Without tracing back well aseertained
physiological laws to show rhen mothers
influence on her offspring commences, We
will say, that education should commence
in the cradle: the mother Of course is the
teacher. Here is the place, and the most
fitting opportunity to check the inferior, or
animal propsnsities, and to cultivate and
ch.rish the moral and intellectual faculties.
The most lasting impressions on the mind
are made in the young and tender years OF
childhood. The mind of the child may be
considered as an unwritten volume, pure
and unsullied as the virgin snow, ready to
receive the impressions of truth and OF duty
and to the mother, belongs the duty-the
high and holy duty--of making the first IN
scriptions on its spotless pages. DO moth
er's realize their responsible position? Do
they consider what kind of a being they are
bequeathing to society? r.r &c.,. F.
Should her child prove to be criminal,
burden and areproach to society, she can
not escape the responsibility she is In
yolved to some extent, in his criminality.
Should he prove to be wise, great and
good man, an honor to society, to her be-
longs, in great measure the praise OF d.
recting bis steps in the way of duty.
1t is true that cxtraneous circumstances
NAV, and do have much to do in forming
the character, but it is the mothers duty to
guard her child against evil tendencies. We
have firm belief in the proverb that
"Tis education forms the common mind
Just as the twg is bent the trees inclined'
DR.. Spurzheim, one Of the greatest phil
osophers of modern times, says that the
chief extraneous circumstances that control
the actions of men are Want, Society, OPP
portunity, Climate, Food, and, ADORE all,
Education" He further says, sit is edu-
cation that gives the determinate bent to the
mate powers, and makes them elicit specific
action"
Now when we 90 out upon the street, or
highway, and hear the lisping youth, which
has been used typically for the innocence,
and purity of Heaven, INDUCING in the most
loathsome, disgusting vulgarity and pro-
family, as is too frequently the case, we
have our misgivings with regard to the char
acter of that mother, and almost invol-
unfairly heave sigh of regret that such
nersons should ever have had the misfortune
to act in the capacity of mothers. We
have no desire to exhonorate the father
from the duties Of educating his child. lie
should render every aid in his power by the
purchase of suitable books, or by sugges-
tons as to the best method of government,
&c, but still the sun, Of the duty devolves
upon the mother, such as manners, morals,
cleanliness, example and precept.
The husbands duties generally call him
from homo, and necessarily deprives him OF
taking an active part in the pleasing duty OF
rearing the tender intellects of his children.
The mother should commence the educa-
ton of her child by Installing into Its mind
moral precepts; by teaching it Its rights
and duties. Home should be the source OF
instruction and happiness the pure tount
whence the child should receive it nourish-
ment of virtuous principles; Of truth, OF
love, and of ennobling affections. If it re-
ceive not this here, the chance is small II 1t
shall find it when cast loose upon the broad
ocean of humanity, to battle against the
winds, and the tide in the great conflict OF
life. 1t is here at this hallowed shrine that
the soul should he taught to bow in rever-
ence, and receive its first lesson Of obedi-
ence, for if it obsys not its parents, 1t can
not be expected to obey its teacher. 1t is
here that it should be taught to tread in the
path of truth and integrity, that its future
course may be
| Upward aud onward and true to the line"
Children are by nature inqulsisive, and
DESTROYS of receiving information this
should be encouraged they should never
tie repulsed as is too often the case. Ev-
cry opportunity should be seized to inform
their tender minds. Children often wish
that night would never come, and that
Spring and Summer would always last
Explain to them in simple language that
night is caused by the revolution of our earth
upon it's axis that night is necessary for
sleep and rest, and that when it is night on
one half the globe, on the other half it is day
and that if the earth did not turn around,
one portion of the world would be in per-
petuel darkness and the other in perpetual
day.
Tell them that Winter and Summer are
caused by the revolution of the earth in it's
orbit round the sun that when it is Win
ter on one portion of the earth it is sum-
mer on another that it is wise and be-
nevolent arrangement of an All-wise Being;
that if the earth did not revolve round the
sun, one portion of the earth would be per-
petual Summer and another portion, per-
petual Winter. Tell them the shape ana
size of our earth, using as an illustration
ball or an apple. Tell them that the twink
ling stars that seem like diamonds IN the
sky" are all globes similar to our own,
some much larger, and some smaller
Correct every vulgarism or ungrammatleal
word, or phrase. And BY oil means' try to
cultivate a taste for reading useful and sub
stantial matter, such as Histories, Travels,
R;oc.onbv and tho standard literature OF