The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1882-1884, 1883-06-07

"iiSSIol, "hdI responsibility Is
hers; for chiefly upon le- care and
training in those early years depend
the welfare ON earth and the happi-
ness in heaven of her child. For as
she is the first TO feed and nourish
her infant, so she is the first also
who can reach to the depths where
its soul lies hidden. she holds the
key of that soul, and she can bring
it forth by her loving cal from it's
recesses and stamp her own image
upon it; she can, as it were. touch it
with her hand and fashion it as she
pleases.
Through her the ravs Of truth and
knowledge begin to beam upon the
child's mind through her the mis-
teries o. this life and of the life to
come are gradually unfolded. From
her loving heart, ky her gentle words.
her kindly tone, her tender glances,
the child is made to grow in the
virtues of faith and hope and charity.
At her side he knecls in reverentiai
posture while she teaches his infant
tongue to lisp the first sweet words
of prayer. How wistfully he looks
up into his mothers face. and how
deeply he drinks in the pious words
which fall from her lips; how the
God to whom she looks up, the great
Being of whom she speaks SO rev.
erentially aud so lovingly. becomes
for him wonderful in all His attri.
nutes. and most deserving If all Eis
love, because OF the example of his
mother's love.
But the mother is cot all. The
father, to, has his recognized place.
as at the head of the family, in the
great work Of home education
Without his example to fortify, his
authority to confirm and support
her, the teachings of the mother
would very often lose their efficacy
The boy, who in his earliest years
can be directed safely by the moth
er, needs, as he grows older, the
strong will of the father to restrain
him. In vain will the mother point
out to the wayward child the beauties
of virtue if his father does not, by
his life, convince him Of its mani
ness also.
1t will thus be seen that the first
the best, the most solid foundations
of a good and lasting education are
laid in the model home, where the
gentleness and love of the mother
encourage. sustained, and developed
by the lmanliness, honesty, integrity
purity. and hignmindedness of the
father, gradually form the character
of their child, bring forth all the
good instincts of the soul. strength
ell and guide the efforts of the intel
lect, repress and diminish the evi
inclinations of the heart, SO tha
when he goes out to JOIN in the battle
of life. and is exposed to the dan
gers and temptations that lurk con
stantly round his pathway, he il
equipped and prepared for every
emergency, and almost sure TO gail
the victory. Happy the man wh'
can look back upon such a hom
fruitful Of holy memories He may
no doubt, have forgotten for tim
those precious lessons; his passions
like an impetuous torrent, may hav
swept him from the path of homo
and virtue, yet, sooner or later
amidst all his temptations, in til
; darkest hour and in the loves
uepths Of his degradation, the imae
of his loved mother will rise up he
fore him and, like guardian ange
draw him back even from the YER
precipice where foams the very fire.
food of ruin. 1t was the memory q
his home that touched the poo
Lrodioai son Of the Gospel, in th
midst of the husks of swine in
foreign land. and brought him back
. sorrowful and repentant, to the fee
Of loving and generous father.
, This IS no fancy sketch, but is a.
tual tangible truth The pages
2 history attest that nearly all tn
great men, men distinguished ahov
5 their fellows for extraordinary deed
+; great heroes or great tyrants. me
2 who strove best to benefit their rae
3 and country, or who by their crime
inflicted most nisery and injury O
both, have nearly all been such
, their mothers trained them. Loo
: into the biographies of the great me