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

Essay read before Spencer Grange, 573,
Chunkey Station, Miss, April S, 1882,
BY MRS. M. A. GRAHAM
The efforts whicha mother makes
for the improvement of her child in
knowledge and virtue, are necessa-
rally retired and unknown to the
world and unobtrusive. The
world knows not of them; and hence
the world has been slow to perceive
how prompt and extensive is this
influence. But circumstances are
now directing the eyes of the
world to the nursery, and l sup
pose that is why the founders of
this great and noble Order admitted
women with equal rights inside its
gates, and the truth is daily COM
ing more distinctly before the pub
lie that the influence which is ex-
erted over the minds of children
while under their mothers control
in great degree guides the desti-
nies of their minds for life and eter-
nifty. And as the Mother is the
guardian and guide in the early
years of life from her goes the most
powerful influence in the formation
of the chahacter of man, and why
should it not be so? What impress
sions can be more strong and more
lasting than those received upon
the mind in the freshness and sue
ceptibility youth? What instruc-
tor can gain greater confidence and
respect than a mothers, and where
can there be delight in acquiring
dren gather around their mothers
knees to hear of God & Heaven?
Then, dear mothers, should we not
be very careful in our instruction,
word and manner to our children?
When woman marries, she
realizes that in order to reach lofty
heights in wifehood and motherhood
she must sacrifice lesser aims, and.
be willing to lay aside the delightful
occupations which have made her
girldhhood pleasant and happy; she
must know from the hour when her
babe is laid in the cradle dressed
with loving care and forethought
to that darker hour when the ma
ture man lies down in his last sleep
that she will give full meaning to the
words, constant care that her mind
once fettered will be free no more
but is bound by ties stronger than
life itself to those who have come
to her care from the great unknown.
Mothers influence over the minds
of the children is so great that we
are in some respects responsible
for their character. A good boy gen
orally makes a good man, said the
mother of Washington. George
was always good boy. Here we
see one secret of his greatness.
George Washington had a good
mother who made him good boy,
and instilled into his heart those
which raised him to be
the benefactor. of the country, and
one of the brightest ornaments of
the world. She taught him the
of obedience and moral
courage and virtue. She in
great measure formed the character
of the hero and the statesman. 1t
was by her own fireside that
she taught her playful boy to gov
srn himself; and thus was he pre-
pared for the brilliant carear of use
fulness which he afterwards pur-
sued. We are indebted to God for
he gift of Washington; but we are
10 less indebted to his inestimable
mother. Had she been weak, in
lulgent and unfaithful mother,
might have lived a
ife of crime and filled a dishonored |
grave. Look at lacy Byron. She
vas just the reverse of lady Wash
ngton, and the character of the
mother was transmitted to the son.
She would at one time allow him
o disobey with impunity, at other
lines she would fly into rage and
,eat him. She thus taught him to
lefy all authority, human and di-
.ine; to indulge without restraint,
o sin, to give himself up to every
naddening passion. 1t was the
mother of Byron who laid the fouu-
lation of his pre-eminence in guilt. /
She taught him to plunge into the
ca of prohigacy and wretchedness
lpon whose agitated waves he was
ossed for life If the life and crimes
# Byron deserve the execration of
he world, the world cannot forget
hat it was the mother who fostered /
n his youthful heart those passions
which made the son a curse to his
ellowmen. There are, it is true. |
nnumsrable causes necessarily op- |