Christian literature for children; Women -- Social and moral questions; Young women -- Conduct of life
Look again at the fraternal influences in a family group. What
inestimable power, can a wise and virtuous Sister exert. Has she a
brother prone to waywardness and passion? Her words may restrain his
wanderings, her example subdue his anger. It can hardly fail, that a
daily influence, mild, gentle, Christian in its character, will produce
no effect on so near a relative. Do the brothers incline to seek their
recreations abroad? Are the charms of merriment, of sensuality, or of
questionable excitements and pleasures, stealing on the heart, and
estranging it from God and duty, from purity and heaven? Now is the
moment for kind remonstrance, for affectionate counsel, and earnest
entreaty. She, who employs these means, and adds to them all the
attractions she can throw round their common home, may be sure that her
efforts will not be lost. Let her persevere, and success, earlier or
later, shall crown her toils and hopes. What power is there in her
intercessions before Heaven, "Years have passed away," says the
grateful brother, as his thoughts revert to his distant home, "and
Heaven has prospered me. Often, when temptations have assailed me,
should I have yielded to them, had not a still small voice have
whispered, thy sister prays for thee."
"High above
The fret and tumult, and discordant jar
Of the base world, she led me, and the war
Of grosser passions, which she dreamed not of."
But there is yet another relation, which gives woman her chief power
over the destinies of our race. It is that of the Mother. We have
already spoken of this power, as affecting the intellect of children.
But a far higher work is still to be accomplished. For if the mind alone
be educated; if science and literature be all she impart to them, if
their love of knowledge be not quickened and controlled by a spiritual
love, it will be a vain possession. The culture of the religious
affections, the developement of the sense of duty and of the entire
moral nature, this is the great business of human life. And to whom has
God entrusted the commencement of this solemn work? Who is to cherish
the swelling bud, who to point the infant soul to its spiritual Father?
On whom does it devolve to call forth the infant man? Where is the
influence that shall keep the young heart from fatal wanderings and
errors? It is the mother to whom we look, for the discharge of these
momentous offices. It is not more certain that Providence designed her
to supply the first wants of the animal nature, than it is that she must
impart to her child its spiritual nutriment. If she neglect to do this,
there remains no substitute, none to whom we can turn, to excite, purify
and foster its immortal faculties. An irreligious mother! what an
anomaly, what a monster, among things human, is she. A wicked woman is
always one of the darkest spectacles this earth can exhibit. But if that
woman be a parent, and give poison to her own offspring, who can
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