The mothers of England, their influence & responsibility. By the author of the 'Women of England'

Preface

. In offering to the public the last of a series of works on the subject of female duty, I feel that to confess their deficiencies would not be to supply them ; and therefore I would prefer soliciting the attention of the reader to this fact — that they have not been written under the idea of present ing an entire summary of the fife and character of Woman, in the situation of Daughter, Wde, and Mother; nor, consequently, under that of offering a substitute for any of those standard and excellent works on the same subject which adorn our libraries ; but rather with the hope of throwing out a few hints and observations relative to the

PREFACE.

. present state of English society — the tendency of modern education — and the peculiar social and domestic requirements of the country and the times in which we live. Thus I have purposely avoided entering upon many important points of duty, and particularly those of a strictly religious nature, because I knew that the reader could find them more clearly and more ably treated elsewhere ; and because I felt it to be more within the compass of my own quad fications, to endeavour to assist and encourage the inexperienced but wed-meaning, than to instruct the ignorant, or to convert the irreligious. Looking seriously at those faults which are generady adowed, and at those fodies which are sanctioned by society, I have been compeded occa sionady to speak in strong language of certain peculiarities in the present aspect of social and domestic lde ; and especiady of some of the habits and prejudices of my own sex. Had such peculi arities been less popular, or less generady indulged ; had they, in short, been regarded as objectionable,

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. rather than otherwise, there would have been no need for me to have made any of them the subject of a book ; but the very fact of the opinion of society, and of many excedent persons, being in favour of that which is really opposed to the true interests of mankind, renders it the more necessary for those who think differently to speak what they believe to be the truth, and to speak it with out palliation or reserve. If, in the performance of this somewhat stern duty, I may at times have appeared unjust, or unsisterly to the class of readers whose attention I have been anxious to engage, they wdl surely have been able to perceive that it was from no want of sympathy with the weakness, the trials, and the temptations to which woman is peculiarly liable ; but rather, since we can least bear a fault in that which we most admire, from an extreme solicitude that woman should fid, with advantage to others and enjoyment to herself, that high place in the creation for which I believe her character to have been designed.

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. It was originady my intention to have added to the present work, a chapter of hints for Step mothers, and another on the consolations of Old Maids, which I am far from believing to be few ; but the subject more immediately under consideration grew from its importance to the usual extent of a book, almost before I was aware of it ; and it grew also upon my own mind, as the duties and responsibilities of a mother were graduallyunfolded, to an aspect of such solemn, profound, and im measurable interest, that I feel the more forcibly how inadequate are my feeble representations, to do justice to the claims of society upon the devoted, conscientious, and persevering exertions of the Mothers of England. CONTENTS. CHAP. I Page A Mother's First Thoughts 1 CHAP. II. Authority, Influence, and Example 27 CHAP. III.

The Use of a Mind 6L CHAP. IV. Elements of Character 92 CHAP. V. Generosity and Affection 117 CHAP. VI. Individual and Social Happiness 149 CHAP. VII. Moral Courage and Worldly-mindedness ., 186 CHAP. VIII. Gei.eral Duties of a Mother CONTENTS. CHAP. IX. Hints on Education 255 "CHAP. X. On the Training of Boys 280 CHAP. XI. On the Training of Girls 321 CHAP. XII. On Religious Influence