按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
a place to fly from； rather than to fly to； and the children
whose misfortune it is to be brought up there； will be morally
dwarfed and deformedthe cause of misery to themselves as well
as to others。
Napoleon Buonaparte was accustomed to say that 〃the future good or
bad conduct of a child depended entirely on the mother。〃 He
himself attributed his rise in life in a great measure to the
training of his will； his energy； and his self…control； by his
mother at home。 〃Nobody had any command over him；〃 says one of
his biographers； 〃except his mother； who found means； by a mixture
of tenderness； severity； and justice； to make him love； respect；
and obey her： from her he learnt the virtue of obedience。〃
A curious illustration of the dependence of the character of
children on that of the mother incidentally occurs in one of Mr。
Tufnell's school reports。 The truth； he observes； is so well
established that it has even been made subservient to mercantile
calculation。 〃I was informed；〃 he says； 〃in a large factory；
where many children were employed； that the managers before they
engaged a boy always inquired into the mother's character； and if
that was satisfactory they were tolerably certain that her
children would conduct themselves creditably。 NO ATTENTION WAS
PAID TO THE CHARACTER OF THE FATHER。〃 （4）
It has also been observed that in cases where the father has
turned out badlybecome a drunkard； and 〃gone to the dogs〃
provided the mother is prudent and sensible； the family will be
kept together； and the children probably make their way honourably
in life； whereas in cases of the opposite sort； where the mother
turns out badly； no matter how well…conducted the father may be；
the instances of after…success in life on the part of the children
are comparatively rare。
The greater part of the influence exercised by women on the
formation of character necessarily remains unknown。 They
accomplish their best work in the quiet seclusion of the home and
the family； by sustained effort and patient perseverance in the
path of duty。 Their greatest triumphs； because private and
domestic； are rarely recorded； and it is not often； even in the
biographies of distinguished men； that we hear of the share which
their mothers have had in the formation of their character； and in
giving them a bias towards goodness。 Yet are they not on that
account without their reward。 The influence they have exercised；
though unrecorded； lives after them； and goes on propagating
itself in consequences for ever。
We do not often hear of great women； as we do of great men。 It is
of good women that we mostly hear； and it is probable that by
determining the character of men and women for good； they are
doing even greater work than if they were to paint great pictures；
write great books； or compose great operas。 〃It is quite true；〃
said Joseph de Maistre； 〃that women have produced no CHEFS…
DOEUVRE。 They have written no 'Iliad；' nor 'Jerusalem Delivered；'
nor 'Hamlet；' nor 'Phaedre；' nor 'Paradise Lost；' nor 'Tartuffe；'
they have designed no Church of St。 Peter's； composed no
'Messiah；' carved no 'Apollo Belvidere；' painted no 'Last
Judgment；' they have invented neither algebra； nor telescopes； nor
steam…engines； but they have done something far greater and better
than all this； for it is at their knees that upright and virtuous
men and women have been trainedthe most excellent productions
in the world。〃
De Maistre； in his letters and writings； speaks of his own mother
with immense love and reverence。 Her noble character made all
other women venerable in his eyes。 He described her as his
〃sublime mother〃〃an angel to whom God had lent a body for a
brief season。〃 To her he attributed the bent of his character； and
all his bias towards good； and when he had grown to mature years；
while acting as ambassador at the Court of St。 Petersburg； he
referred to her noble example and precepts as the ruling
influence in his life。
One of the most charming features in the character of Samuel
Johnson； notwithstanding his rough and shaggy exterior； was the
tenderness with which he invariably spoke of his mother （5）a
woman of strong understanding； who firmly implanted in his mind；
as he himself acknowledges； his first impressions of religion。 He
was accustomed； even in the time of his greatest difficulties； to
contribute largely； out of his slender means； to her comfort； and
one of his last acts of filial duty was to write 'Rasselas'
for the purpose of paying her little debts and defraying
her funeral charges。
George Washington was only eleven years of agethe eldest of
five childrenwhen his father died； leaving his mother a widow。
She was a woman of rare excellencefull of resources； a good
woman of business； an excellent manager； and possessed of much
strength of character。 She had her children to educate and bring
up； a large household to govern； and extensive estates to manage；
all of which she accomplished with complete success。 Her good
sense； assiduity； tenderness； industry； and vigilance； enabled her
to overcome every obstacle； and as the richest reward of her
solicitude and toil； she had the happiness to see all her children
come forward with a fair promise into life； filling the spheres
allotted to them in a manner equally honourable to themselves； and
to the parent who had been the only guide of their； principles；
conduct； and habits。 （6）
The biographer of Cromwell says little about the Protector's
father； but dwells upon the character of his mother； whom he
describes as a woman of rare vigour and decision of purpose： 〃A
woman；〃 he says； 〃possessed of the glorious faculty of self…help
when other assistance failed her； ready for the demands of fortune
in its extremest adverse turn； of spirit and energy equal to her
mildness and patience； who； with the labour of her own hands； gave
dowries to five daughters sufficient to marry them into families
as honourable but more wealthy than their own； whose single pride
was honesty； and whose passion was love； who preserved in the
gorgeous palace at Whitehall the simple tastes that distinguished
her in the old brewery at Huntingdon； and whose only care； amidst
all her splendour； was for the safety of her son in his dangerous
eminence。〃 （7）
We have spoken of the mother of Napoleon Buonaparte as a woman of
great force of character。 Not less so was the mother of the Duke
of Wellington； whom her son strikingly resembled in features；
person； and character； while his father was principally
distinguished as a musical composer and performer。 （8） But；
strange to say； Wellington's mother mistook him for a dunce； and；
for some reason or other； he was not such a favourite as her other
children； until his great deeds in after…life constrained her to
be proud of him。
The Napiers were blessed in both parents； but especially in their
mother； Lady Sarah Lennox； who early so