Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-08-07
GaOies' department.
INFLUENCE AND RESPONSIBILITY
OF THE MOTHER.
ny ANNA HoLYoKE.

AS clay in the hands Of the potter as
marble to the sou ptor, as canvas to tho ar
tist as rich soil to the gardener, so are chill
dren to the mother. 1t is for YOU, O
mothers to SOW in their hearts the seeds of
virtue and wisdom; to water them with
your prayers aud tears, and to warm their
virtues to life with the sunshine of encour-
agement and love- 1t is for you to cherish
and nourish the young plant, day by day,
until it grows strong and vigorous. Aud if
you suffer the noxious weeds of selfishness,
carelessness, pride, and passion, to take root
in their hearts, take care God will not
hold you guiltless. With you, more than
with any one else, rests the tremendous re-
sponsbility of their future in this life and
the next. 1t is tremendous responsibility
to be mother and as you will have to
answer to God one day for the precious souls
entrusted to your keeping, | adjure you, do
faithfully and well your part.
"What am to do 2" some mother says.
First, Earnestly and daily ask Gods
blessing, guidance, and he'll p for yourself and
for your children. Without this all efforts
are vain. Pray for them and with them,
aud teach them to pray for themselves, and
teach them also, that "God helps those who
help themselves" and so, weak and ignorant
though you may be, you may do all things
through Christ, who strengtheneth.
Secondly, "Be yourself what you would
have them be-" Children learn more from
imitation than from precept. They are like
little mirrors, in which you may see reflect
ed your own virtues and vices, habits and
peculiarlties. 1t seems to me that if there
is any motive on earth to make a mother
strive to cultivate Christian character, it
is the fact that what she is, more or less her
child will be. 1t is wonderful how readily
children catch the tone and air of those
around them how they unconsciously adopt
our forms Of speech, Of thought, and Of
action. But every mother may see that
this is true, il she will but open her eyes.
And here let me speak Of the great i'm
portance OF choosing for our children good
associates. For they may learn more harm,
and acquire more bad habits from association
with others, than good mother can possi-
bly, counteract. Children are social beings.
If you do not find them companions, they
will soon fnd companions for themselves,
who may bring upon them and you endless
trouble and mischief. See to it, then, that
you provide for them suitable companions.
| Make 1t your business to find out well ll.be-
haved chlldren-chlldren Of earnest Chris
tian parents, who have good influences at
home; and when you fnd such, invite them
to yonr house, and take pains to cultivate a
friendship between them and your own chill
dren. DO not think Of wealth, family, or
fame, or Of poverty, or position. am sor-
ry to say, children Of such high-born people
are sometimes very ill-bred, rude, unprinci-
pied, aud decidedly perncious in their inAu-
ence. Position ami money matter little.
BE they high or low, rich or poor, be sure
that the chosen friends and companions of
your children are those who have good moth
ers for they will be more or less like them.
Thirdly, Cultivate yourself warm friend
ship with your children. BE often with
them, and interest yourself in all their little
plans and plays. Let them feel that mother
is the jollest playmate, the best friend in
all the world. Rejoice in their joys, sym.
pathize with their sorrows; praise them when
they do well, aud be patient when they do
i'll. Encourage them to tell you their
plans, hopes, and fears. Little as they may
seem to others, they are all in all to them
Let them feel always sure Of your sympa-
thy and help, your love and encouragement.
Never, never wound their feelings by laugh
ing at them, or repeating as a joke to others
what they have entrusted to you in conf
dence. Such conduct toward grown people
would be rude and dishonorable in the ex-
tremc, but toward our own little sensitive
children it is Observation-Disclosures Jour-
| ol0I