American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1866-07-19

MOULD THE CHILD.-There is nc
disputing this fact; it shines in the
face of every little child. The coarse,
bawling, scolding woman, will have
coarse, bawling, vicious, fighting
children. She who cries on ever Oc-
casion, "I'll box your ears-pll slap
your jaws-I'll break your neck, is
known as thoroughly, through her
children, as if her unwomanly man
ners were openly displayed in the
public streets.
These remarks were suggested by
: the conversation in an omnibus
that great institution for the stu
dents of men and manners-between
a friend and schoolmaster. Our
teacher was caustic, mirthful, and
sharp. His wit flashed like the pol
ished edge Of diamond, and kept
the "bus" in a "roar."
The entire community of insiders
inclusive of the zone more" so well
known to the fraternity, turning
their heads, eyes and ears one way,
and finally our teacher said, 81 can
always tell the mother by the boy.
The urchin who draws back with
doubled fist and lunges at his play
mate if he looks at him askance, has
a very questionable mother. She
may feed him and clothe him, cram
him with sweatmeatS, coax him with
promises, but if she gets mad she
fights. She will pull him by the
jacket; she will drag him by the
hair; she will call him all sorts of
wicked names, while passion plays
over her red face in lambent flames,
that curl and writhe out at the corner
of her eyes.
"And we never see the courteous
little fellow with smooth locks and
gentle manners, in whom delicacy
does not detract from courage or
manlineSs, but we say that boys
mother is a true lady. Her words
and ways are soft, loving and quiet.
If she reproves, her language is, my
son'--not you little wretch-you
plague of my life-you torment-you
scamp"
She hOverS before him as a pillar
Of light before the wandering Israel
ties, and her beams are reflected in
his face. TO him the word mother
is Synonymous of everything pure,
sweet and beautiful. Is he an artist
In after life that which, with holy
radiance, shines on his canvas, will
will be the mothers 'a,e. Whoever
ilitS across his path with sunny
smiles and soft, low voice, will bring
" mothers image freshly to his
heart. "She is like my mother"
will be the highest need Of his
praise. Not even when the hair turns
silver and the eye grows dim, will
the majesty Of that life and presence
desert him.
But the ruffian mother-alas, that
there are Such-will form the ruiiian
character of the man. He, in turn,
will become n merciless tyrant, with
tongue sharper than a two-edGed
sword, and remembering the brawl-
ing and the cutting, seek some meek,
gentle victim for the sacrifice and
make her his wife, with the condi-
ton he shall be master. And the
master he is for a few short years,
when he wears a widower'S weeds
till he finds victim number two.
We wonder not that there are so
many awkward, ungainly men in So
ciety-they have all been trained by
women who knew nor cared for the
holy nature of their trust. They
have been made bitter to the hearts
core, and that bitterness will find
vent aIEa Judgement somewhere. .
Strike the infant in anger, and he .
will, if 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
have become a bully, with hands that
close for fight as naturally as if es-
pecial means had been taken 10 learn
him the art OF boxing.
Mothers, remember that your man
nerS mould the child. Who will not
say that mothers ought TO be thor
Oughly educated, whether our sons