FEMALE INDUSTRY.-MATERNAL INFLUENCE. 47 FEMALE INDUSTRY. "She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness." Prov. xxxi, 27. In this chapter, the wise man is describing those qualities in a virtuous woman, which render her praise-worthy and estimable in society. And what are they? He enumerates diligence, industry, the judicious management of domestic concerns, tenderness and affection, charity to the poor, discretion and wisdom in conversation, and above all, the fear of the Lord. In the days of Solomon, and long after, women, however rich, or elevated in the ranks of life, were plain and industrious. They even labored with their hands to supply the necessities of the family. It is for this reason, that he says so much in the book of Proverbs, on the subject of female industry. Happy would it have been for the sex, had these good and wholesome habits of primitive times, been handed down to the present generation. It is evidently a sore misfortune, that custom and licentiousness, have denied to a very considerable portion of females, the pleasure and privilege of working with their own hands. We discover it in that train of bodily infirmities, with which so many are afflicted. It was not so in former ages, in ages of simplicity, before luxury and effeminacy had made their dreadful inroads upon the physical constitution. Let such as are under the necessity of laying "their hands to the spindle," remember, that this was once the honorable employment of king's daughters. For health and an opportunity to labor, you have occasion for gratitude to God. You are not thrown into those fairy regions of indolence and indulgence, where health, peace, and virtue, are continually assailed and destroyed. For the Mother's Magazine. MATERNAL INFLUENCE. A. I am a mother! To me is committed the training of immortal beings; in some degree, I am responsible for the souls of my children, and for the influence they will exert in the world where they are placed. Solemn, interesting fact! An immortal soul, who can estimate its value? The influence of one soul upon others all along through time, and through eternity, who can estimate the mighty sum? The influence of a mother, who has the care of a number of such souls, in the bud of their existence, during that period in which the character receives an impress lasting as eternity; who that occupies so responsible a station, does not with trembling solicitude inquire, "who is sufficient for these things?" But to carry the thought yet forward, and inquire, what is to be the influence of all the mothers upon the succeeding generation? Tremendous thought! Who dare answer? Much has been said and written upon female influence; much by those who love Zion, and seek the peace of Jerusalem. But let mothers believe it, and feel it too, that eternity alone can reveal in all its extent a mother's influence, and let us remember, that though we may not feel it, this stupidity on our part, does not diminish our influence or our responsibility. Do let us be persuaded to awake now to this subject, while perhaps it may avail something to inquire, what we can do, not only as Christians, but as mothers, towards the conversion of the world? We have the privilege of living at a time when Christians begin to believe that the world is to be converted, and to act, as though it might possibly be done through their agency. This fact increases our responsibility. Every facility is now afforded for training our children in the the right way, that the press, Sabbath and infant school and Bible class instruction, also maternal associations and a magazine for our exclusive benefit, can afford. Thus again our responsibility is increased. We are praying "thy kingdom come," and is it not true that instead of promoting the kingdom of Christ, we prevent an answer to our prayers, if we do not exert all our influence to bring back a revolted world to Christ? And if we neglect to employ, or in any way abuse our influence as mothers, do we not neglect the most favorable means afforded us, for promoting this blessed work? I have proposed to my own mind the following questions, hoping that by carefully considering them, I may be brought to feel more deeply my obligations as a mother, to consecrate my children to God, not merely that they may be happy in heaven, but that they may be employed in his service, and be qualified to do much towards building up his kingdom in this wicked world. Questions.-What have I done? What can I do? And what will I do, to bring a sinful world under the influence of the religion of Christ? A. L. THE VIRTUOUS WIFE. "Domestic happiness, thou only bliss Of Paradise that has survived the fall! Thou art not known, where PLEASURE is adored, How true and how beautiful are the words of Solomon; "Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. She layeth her hand to the distaff. She stretcheth out her hands to the poor, yea she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. Strength and honor are her clothing; and she shall rejoice for the time to come. She openeth her mouth with wisdom, and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of Her children rise up her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. and call her blessed, her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruits of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates." A beautiful comment on this lovely passage is to be found in the "Friend," by COLERIDGE, amongst some "specimens of Rabinical wisdom, selected from MATERNAL WATCHFULNESS. 49 the MISNA. It is entitled "Whoso hath found a virtuous wife, hath a greater treasure than costly pearls." Such a treasure had the celebrated RABBI MEIR found. He sat during the whole of one Sabbath day, in the public school and instructed the people. · During his absence from his house, his two sons died, both of them of uncommon beauty, and enlightened in the law. His wife bore them to her bed chamber, laid them upon the marriage bed, and spread a white covering over their bodies. answer." see them." In the evening Rabbi Meir came home. "Where are my sons," he asked, "that I may give them my blessing?" " They are gone to school," was the "I repeatedly looked round the school," he replied, "but I did not She reached to him a goblet, he praised the Lord at the going out of the Sabbath, drank, and again asked, "Where are my sons, that they too may drink of the cup of blessing?" "6 They will not be far off," she said, and placed food before him that he might eat. He was in a gladsome and genial mood, and when he had said grace, after the meal, she thus addressed him: "Rabbi permit me one question." "Ask it then my love," he replied. "A few days ago, a person entrusted some jewels to my custody, and now he demands them again; should I give them back to him?" "This is a question," said Rabbi Meir, "which my wife should not have thought necessary to ask. What! wouldst thou hesitate or be reluctant to restore to every one his own?" "O no,” replied she, "But I thought it not best to restore them without acquainting thee therewith." She then led him to their chamber, and stepping to their bed, took the white covering from their dead bodies. "Ah, my sons! my sons!" thus loudly lamented the father, " my sons! the light of mine eyes, and the light of mine understanding! I was your father, but ye were my teachers in the law !" The mother turned away and wept bitterly. At length she took her husband by the hand, and said, “ Rabbi, didst thou not teach me that we must not be reluctant to restore that which was entrusted to our keeping? See, the Lord gave, the Lord hath taken away, and blessed be the name of the Lord!" "Blessed be the name of the Lord!" echoed Rabbi Meir," and blessed be his name for thy sake too; for well it is written.' Whoso hath found a virtuous wife, hath a greater treasure than costly pearls. She, openeth her mouth with wisdom, and in her tongue is the law of kindness.' 66 For the Mother's Magazine. MATERNAL WATCHFULNESS. MRS. W―, I lately attended an examination of the young ladies attached to the school taught by Miss B-s, of this village, and which may be classed with the first seminaries, of this description in our land. While my eye rested on the interesting group of some sixty or seventy happy faces, between the age of eight and sixteen-I was led to reflect upon the immense influence that these young immortals were probably to have on future generations; and O! how did the responsibilities of the mother and the governess rise to my view. In the first number of your magazine, you expressed a wish, that mothers should so attend to the physical education of their children, as to make them as "fine animals as possible, the first ten years of their existence." That excellent periodical, the "Journal of Health," (edited by physicians of eminence,) advocates the same doctrine. My observation upon the dress of the young ladies, at the examination, led me to reflect upon the propriety of hinting to mothers generally, the necessity of continuing their watchfulness and care, over the health of their daughters during all their school days, and even afterwards, with more particularity, than I fear is usual. I speak with reference to the warmth of their clothing, and conforming it to the changes of our variable climate. For instance while I admired the chasteness of taste, the modesty and simplicity of the young ladies' dress and appearance, I could not but fear that the foundation of many a future consumption, was now laid, and that the worm in the bud would here begin its ravages, on the rosy cheek of some of these fair beings. Although the day was cold, I observed the warm woollen hose exchanged for those of a thinner texture-the comfortable merino or circassian dress displaced by one of silk or cotton, and the throat more than usually exposed. The second day of the examination, I heard a cough from one of the pupils that startled me, and I looked involuntarily for the mother, to see if she perceived her child's danger. Would it not be well for mothers to consider the consequences, that will follow inattention to their daughters' health at this age. Either the healthy or the weakly future wife and mother, may now be, in some good degree, according to the mother's present management; and O! have not the present generation of females, suffered enough from this tribute to vanity and fashion. While we would dictate to none, arbitrary or fixed rules for dress, will not the common sense and prudence of mothers, prevail over false pride, public opinion, and every thing else, that exposes the health of their daughters, and which will inevitably lead to the same untimely grave of so many of their predecessors. C. L. Rochester, Feb. 21st, 1833. For the Mother's Magazine. THE MOTHER. "It may be autumn, yea, winter, with the woman; but with the mother, as a mother, it is always spring."-Sermon by Rev. T. Cobbet, at Lynn, Mass. 1656. I saw an aged woman bow Time wrote in sorrow on her brow, Hope from her breast has torn away What was it, that like sun beam clear, As pressing toward her deafened ear, What was it! Ask a mother's breast, What was it! Ask the King of kings, That change should mark all earthly things L. H. S. THE MOTHER'S MAGAZINE FOR APRIL, MDCCCXXXIII. For the Mother's Magazine. EXTRACTS FROM A MOTHER'S COMMON-PLACE BOOK. ANALYSIS OF MISS HAMILTON'S LETTERS ON EDUCATION. Miss Hamilton divided education into two great branches; the cultivation of the heart and of the understanding. In treating of the first, the great principle on which she proceeds, is the association of ideas. These she contends, are to be watched over and directed from the earliest infancy, with the utmost care and assiduity. "Desire and aversion are the great springs of human conduct, the germ of the passions; they appear in the early dawn of life, and show symptoms of strength and vigor, at a period, when the higher intellectual faculties are yet feeble and imperfect." Again, "Upon the direction given to desire and aversion, the whole moral conduct entirely depends. And if it be by means of early and powerful associations, that the desires and aversions of the soul are principally excited; it necessarily follows, that to watch over the associations which are formed by the tender mind, becomes a duty of the first importance." Of course, some knowledge of the principles of the human mind, is essential for every mother who would thus educate her children. But a considerable degree of this knowledge is possessed by many mothers, who never saw a volume of Locke, Stewart, or Brown. Reflection and observation will give much knowledge on this subject, though the individual may not know that she possesses it. Yet, unquestionably it is the duty of every mother whose circumstances will admit of it, to read and study on this subject. If the watchmaker must learn his trade, how much more she, who controls the delicate and complicated machinery of the mind. For the practical purposes of education, I think Miss Hamilton's work contains as happy and complete a view of intellectual philosophy, as can come within the reach of a large class of mothers; and in this view, if no other, I would highly recommend it. Miss Hamilton well remarks, "The absolute necessity of contemplating with attention, and defining with accuracy, what is the real object we wish by education to accomplish." I think that on this subject, it is desirable that every mother should have her schedule. Mine is as follows: |