登陆注册
4613800000014

第14章 HOME POWER.(3)

It is not saying too much to aver that the happiness or misery, the enlightenment or ignorance, the civilisation or barbarism of the world, depends in a very high degree upon the exercise of woman's power within her special kingdom of home. Indeed, Emerson says, broadly and truly, that "a sufficient measure of civilisation is the influence of good women." Posterity may be said to lie before us in the person of the child in the mother's lap. What that child will eventually become, mainly depends upon the training and example which he has received from his first and most influential educator.

Woman, above all other educators, educates humanly. Man is the brain, but woman is the heart of humanity; he its judgment, she its feeling; he its strength, she its grace, ornament, and solace.

Even the understanding of the best woman seems to work mainly through her affections. And thus, though man may direct the intellect, woman cultivates the feelings, which mainly determine the character. While he fills the memory, she occupies the heart.

She makes us love what he can only make us believe, and it is chiefly through her that we are enabled to arrive at virtue.

The respective influences of the father and the mother on the training and development of character, are remarkably illustrated in the life of St. Augustine. While Augustine's father, a poor freeman of Thagaste, proud of his son's abilities, endeavoured to furnish his mind with the highest learning of the schools, and was extolled by his neighbours for the sacrifices he made with that object "beyond the ability of his means"--his mother Monica, on the other hand, sought to lead her son's mind in the direction of the highest good, and with pious care counselled him, entreated him, advised him to chastity, and, amidst much anguish and tribulation, because of his wicked life, never ceased to pray for him until her prayers were heard and answered. Thus her love at last triumphed, and the patience and goodness of the mother were rewarded, not only by the conversion of her gifted son, but also of her husband. Later in life, and after her husband's death, Monica, drawn by her affection, followed her son to Milan, to watch over him; and there she died, when he was in his thirty-third year. But it was in the earlier period of his life that her example and instruction made the deepest impression upon his mind, and determined his future character.

There are many similar instances of early impressions made upon a child's mind, springing up into good acts late in life, after an intervening period of selfishness and vice. Parents may do all that they can to develope an upright and virtuous character in their children, and apparently in vain. It seems like bread cast upon the waters and lost. And yet sometimes it happens that long after the parents have gone to their Rest--it may be twenty years or more--the good precept, the good example set before their sons and daughters in childhood, at length springs up and bears fruit.

One of the most remarkable of such instances was that of the Reverend John Newton of Olney, the friend of Cowper the poet. It was long subsequent to the death of both his parents, and after leading a vicious life as a youth and as a seaman, that he became suddenly awakened to a sense of his depravity; and then it was that the lessons which his mother had given him when a child sprang up vividly in his memory. Her voice came to him as it were from the dead, and led him gently back to virtue and goodness.

Another instance is that of John Randolph, the American statesman, who once said: "I should have been an atheist if it had not been for one recollection--and that was the memory of the time when my departed mother used to take my little hand in hers, and cause me on my knees to say, 'Our Father who art in heaven!'"But such instance must, on the whole, be regarded as exceptional.

As the character is biassed in early life, so it generally remains, gradually assuming its permanent form as manhood is reached. "Live as long as you may," said Southey, "the first twenty years are the longest half of your life," and they are by far the most pregnant in consequences. When the worn-out slanderer and voluptuary, Dr. Wolcot, lay on his deathbed, one of his friends asked if he could do anything to gratify him. "Yes,"said the dying man, eagerly, "give me back my youth." Give him but that, and he would repent--he would reform. But it was all too late! His life had become bound and enthralled by the chains of habit.' (3)Gretry, the musical composer, thought so highly of the importance of woman as an educator of character, that he described a good mother as "Nature's CHEF-D'OEUVRE." And he was right: for good mothers, far more than fathers, tend to the perpetual renovation of mankind, creating, as they do, the moral atmosphere of the home, which is the nutriment of man's moral being, as the physical atmosphere is of his corporeal frame. By good temper, suavity, and kindness, directed by intelligence, woman surrounds the indwellers with a pervading atmosphere of cheerfulness, contentment, and peace, suitable for the growth of the purest as of the manliest natures.

The poorest dwelling, presided over by a virtuous, thrifty, cheerful, and cleanly woman, may thus be the abode of comfort, virtue, and happiness; it may be the scene of every ennobling relation in family life; it may be endeared to a man by many delightful associations; furnishing a sanctuary for the heart, a refuge from the storms of life, a sweet resting-place after labour, a consolation in misfortune, a pride in prosperity, and a joy at all times.

同类推荐
  • 郊庙歌辞 禅社首乐

    郊庙歌辞 禅社首乐

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 太极葛仙公传

    太极葛仙公传

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 玉壶野史

    玉壶野史

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 道德真经集义

    道德真经集义

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 绝余编

    绝余编

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 武林大爆炸

    武林大爆炸

    真功夫从来不怕传,拳术本身不存在高低,差的是人。崔山鹰年少习武,一生无败绩!斗天下,战擂台,见生死,北名南扬,血雨腥风铸造一代形意宗师之路!
  • 仙草供应商

    仙草供应商

    白云黄鹤道人家,一琴一剑一杯茶。羽衣常带烟霞色,不染人间桃李花。常世人间笑哈哈,周游四海你为啥。苦终受尽修正道,不染人间桃李花。山不在高,有仙则名,水不在深,有龙则灵。灵田在手,仙草我有!!修修仙种种田,其乐无穷!!-------------------------------ps:本文正统仙侠种田文,无系统,有节操!欢迎品阅!!
  • 霸道总裁:辣妻哪里跑

    霸道总裁:辣妻哪里跑

    【初见就被认为终身篇】“你是不是男人?”她咬牙盯着那个禁锢着自己的男人吼道。“你说了算。”他黑眸铮亮,喜欢她这副拿他没有办法的样子,雕刻般的脸上尽是笑意。“你不是男人。”她弯身,却被他轻易扛起来。“现在我们去试试。”“.......”她想杀人,各种杀他,洛天衢。【对于配角炮灰篇】“看你胸平脑大,阿天怎么会看上你的?”前女友的挑衅,倒是没让肖晴败北。“因为他复明了。”肖晴莞尔一笑然后耸了耸肩。
  • 迫嫁:帝妃难宠

    迫嫁:帝妃难宠

    她是卫国多愁多病,心有七窍的盛名公主,嫁于雪国英明睿智,果敢狠绝的少年天子——靖元帝,赐封怡妃。正史对于她的介绍,只有寥寥数语。萧氏未央,卫国长乐公主,于康嘉三十五年,和亲雪国。靖元元年,被赐封怡妃。倒是坊间流传得多。传说,她曾三千宠爱集于一身,令后宫其他粉黛毫无颜色。传说,宰相范绍礼曾骂她是妖孽,并因此逼宫。靖元帝斩宰相满门于闹市,血流成河。传说,靖元帝宠她至极,却灭她母国,令其父客死异乡。后宫争斗,宰相逼宫,太后篡位,王位之争,卫雪大战......处于风口浪尖上的她,到底是他的一颗棋,还是烙在他心底最深处的女子?
  • 恰红妆

    恰红妆

    她本是有才有貌的千金小姐,却因为家道中落,出嫁冲喜。不过半年,丈夫的姨太太上门陷害,她惨淡离婚。父亲去世,被继母以败坏门风为由赶出家门。原本以为遇上唐其臻,会让她的一生安然无虞,却不知道,那是她苦难的开始。--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 藏族天宝 中华天宝

    藏族天宝 中华天宝

    桑吉悦希1935年参加红军,经历过二万五千里长征;1949年9月,他出席了第一届中国人民 政 治协商会议第一次全体会议,成为藏族的第一位全国政协委员,并代表藏胞在大会上发言, 衷心拥护中国共产党和毛主席的领导,拥护《共同纲领》,旗帜鲜明地维护祖国统一和民族 团结,热烈欢呼新中国的成立。1949年10月1日上午,他站在天安门观礼台上目睹了毛主席 亲自按动电钮,升起五星红旗;他积极参与新中国第一个民族自治地方--西康省藏族自治 区的筹建,并担任第一任主席,与此同时,还担任四川省藏族自治区人民政府主席。
  • 跟德鲁克学管理

    跟德鲁克学管理

    跟德鲁克学管理,让自己成为下一个CEO。本书以德鲁克的管理思想和理念为中心,运用大量案例来说明,并结合中国企业管理实际,进行了深度解剖,试图借此来激发企业家和经理人去思考中国管理中的实际问题,并进一步优化管理,提高管理者的绩效能力。
  • 混沌再世录

    混沌再世录

    混沌初开,无极化太极,太极生两仪,两仪渐离,清气上升,浊气下沉,清气孕育仙界而成仙神轩辕,浊气孕育魔界而成魔尊蚩尤,仙魔相克亦相生,清浊相离亦相容,仙魔二界之间,清浊之气交汇处,两仪相接又生四象而成五行,五行初成,便有了大千世界。大千世界之中,一场远古的神魔之战在这里展开,一个难料的结果使得最后的战争将要延续,千万年之后,一个平凡的少年,因为一次奇遇,展开了一场精彩的人生游戏,是缘!是份!是情!是恨!
  • 预防老年人跌倒知识读本

    预防老年人跌倒知识读本

    老年人跌倒的危险因素既包括生理、病理、药物、等内在因素,也包括灯光、路面、台阶等环境因素,以及卫生保健水平、是否独居等社会因素。
  • 都市妖帝传

    都市妖帝传

    【超火新书!火热燃爆!】他,一代妖帝,就此陨落,但,老天不负他,给予他混沌之气,因此得以重生!并且天赋异禀!从此吊打一切不服者!本不想泡妞,但妹子路过我时,却走不动路……本不想打脸,但你丫的把脸伸来是怎么回事?本不想装逼,但……还不是我兄弟教的?他乃:东皇太一!