The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1882-05-27

Grating in the formation of charac-
ter. A mothers influence is by no
means the only influence which is
exerted, still it may be the most
powerful; for with Gods ordinary
blessings, it may form in the youth
full minds the habits and implant the
principles to which other influen-
ces are to give permanency and vi
gor. In the history of John New
ton, it is said when he was a wicked
wanderer, when he had forsaken
friends and home and every virtue,
the remembrance of a mothers pray
ers, like guardian angel, followed
him werhever he went When he
mingled in the dissipated and dis
graceful scenes of sailors life and
while surrounded with guilty as
sociates in midnight revelry, and
upon the cost of Africa he became
more degraded than the savages
upon her dreary shores, he would
imagine he felt the soft hand of his
mother upon his head pleading
with God, to forgive and bless her
boy. When Newton was a child
it was his mothers custom to retire
to private place, ,kneel down place
her hand upon her childrens' heads
and plead with her Saviour to bless
her boy, and is not this proof of
deep and lasting impressions which
mother may produce upon the
minds of her children? The inhu-
ence thus exerted upon the mind
in early childhood, may for many
years~be agnarently lost. the child
-a~,- -appcdfSsl forget the lessons
taught by the mother, yet mothers
influence is still at work in the
heart. 1t was so with Newton and
many others | have read of. And is
not this great encouragement, to
every mother to be faithful in her
efforts to train up her child for use
fulness, and good, in the world and
for God in the great hereafter?
How entirely is your earthly happi-
ness at the disposal of your child!
his character is now, in an impor-
tant sense, in your hands, and YOU
are to form it for good or evil. If
you are constant in your govern
ment and faithful in the discharge
of your duties, your child will pro-
badly through life revere you and be
the stay and solace of your decli-
ming years. But if on the other
hand, you cannot summon resolu>
tons to punish your child when
disobedient; if you do not curbe
his passions; if you do not bring
him to entire and willing subjec-
ton to your authority; you must
expect that he will be your curse
In all probability he will despise
you in your weakness. Unaccus-
toned to restraints at home, he will
break away from all restraints, and
make you wretched by his life and
and disgraceful in his death. Moth
ers, do we think of the influence
that we have over our children as
we ought? Are we conscious of
the tremendous consequences de-
pendent upon the efficient and de-
cisive government of our children?
If you are unfaithful to your child
when he is young, he will be un-
faithful to you when you are old.
IF you would be the happy Mother
of happy child give your attention
and your efforts and your prayers,
to the great duty of training him up
for God and Heaven. Mothers, we
should all strive to be gentle sweet
minded women, SO great is our in
fuence upon those around US that
it is almost boundless. 1t is to us
that friends come in seasons of dis
tress and sorrow for help and COM
fort; one soothing touch of our
kindly hand works wonders |
in the feverish child, few words |
let fall from our lips in the ear of |
a sorowing sister does much to
raise the load of grief that is lower
ing it viction down to the dust in
guish. Our husbands come home
worn out with the pressure of bust
ness, or fatigue oflabor ;he feels irri-
tated with the world in general; but
when he enters the cozy sitting
room and sees the blaze of bright
fire and meets his wife's smiling
face, he succumbs in a moment to
the soothing influences which acts
as balm of Gilead to his wounded |
spirits that are wearied with com
batting with the stern realities of
life. The rough schoolboy flies in
a rage from the taunts of his com
panions to find solace in his mothers
smiles; the little one full of grief |
with its own large troubles finds a
haven of rest on its mothers breast,
and 50 one might 60 own with In