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 while； taking it up again； and； with a tear in my eye； calling
you 'my beloved son；' you would comprehend what it costs me to use
sometimes the stern language of authority； and to occasion to you
moments of pain。 * * * Work diligentlybe； above all； modest
and humble； and when you find yourself excelling others； then
compare what you have done with Nature itself； or with the 'ideal'
of your own mind； and you will be secured； by the contrast which
will be apparent； against the effects of pride and presumption。〃
Long years after； when Ary Scheffer was himself a grandfather； he
remembered with affection the advice of his mother； and repeated
it to his children。 And thus the vital power of good example
lives on from generation to generation； keeping the world ever
fresh and young。 Writing to his daughter； Madame Marjolin； in
1846； his departed mother's advice recurred to him； and he said：
〃The word MUSTfix it well in your memory； dear child； your
grandmother seldom had it out of hers。 The truth is； that through
our lives nothing brings any good fruit except what is earned by
either the work of the hands； or by the exertion of one's self…
denial。 Sacrifices must； in short； be ever going on if we would
obtain any comfort or happiness。 Now that I am no longer young； I
declare that few passages in my life afford me so much
satisfaction as those in which I made sacrifices； or denied myself
enjoyments。 'Das Entsagen' （the forbidden） is the motto of the
wise man。 Self…denial is the quality of which Jesus Christ
set us the example。〃 （13）
The French historian Michelet makes the following touching
reference to his mother in the Preface to one of his most popular
books； the subject of much embittered controversy at the time at
which it appeared：… 〃Whilst writing all this； I have had in my
mind a woman； whose strong and serious mind would not have failed
to support me in these contentions。 I lost her thirty years ago
（I was a child then）nevertheless； ever living in my memory； she
follows me from age to age。
〃She suffered with me in my poverty； and was not allowed to share
my better fortune。 When young； I made her sad； and now I cannot
console her。 I know not even where her bones are： I was too poor
then to buy earth to bury her！〃
〃And yet I owe her much。 I feel deeply that I am the son of
woman。 Every instant； in my ideas and words （not to mention
my features and gestures）； I find again my mother in myself。
It is my mother's blood which gives me the sympathy I feel
for bygone ages； and the tender remembrance of all those
who are now no more。〃
〃What return then could I； who am myself advancing towards
old age； make her for the many things I owe her？ One； for
which she would have thanked methis protest in favour
of women and mothers。〃 （14）
But while a mother may greatly influence the poetic or artistic
mind of her son for good； she may also influence it for evil。
Thus the characteristics of Lord Byronthe waywardness of his
impulses； his defiance of restraint； the bitterness of his hate；
and the precipitancy of his resentmentswere traceable in no
small degree to the adverse influences exercised upon his mind
from his birth by his capricious； violent； and headstrong mother。
She even taunted her son with his personal deformity； and it was
no unfrequent occurrence； in the violent quarrels which occurred
between them； for her to take up the poker or tongs； and hurl them
after him as he fled from her presence。 （15） It was this unnatural
treatment that gave a morbid turn to Byron's after…life； and；
careworn； unhappy； great； and yet weak as he was； he carried about
with him the mother's poison which he had sucked in his infancy。
Hence he exclaims； in his 'Childe Harold'：…
〃Yet must I think less wildly：… I have thought
Too long and darkly； till my brain became；
In its own eddy boiling and o'erwrought；
A whirling gulf of phantasy and flame：
And thus； UNTAUGHT IN YOUTH MY HEART TO TAME；
MY SPRINGS OF LIFE WERE POISONED。〃
In like manner； though in a different way； the character of Mrs。
Foote； the actor's mother； was curiously repeated in the life of
her joyous； jovial…hearted son。 Though she had been heiress to a
large fortune； she soon spent it all； and was at length imprisoned
for debt。 In this condition she wrote to Sam； who had been
allowing her a hundred a year out of the proceeds of his acting：…
〃Dear Sam； I am in prison for debt； come and assist your loving
mother； E。 Foote。〃 To which her son characteristically replied
〃Dear mother； so am I； which prevents his duty being paid to his
loving mother by her affectionate son； Sam Foote。〃
A foolish mother may also spoil a gifted son； by imbuing his mind
with unsound sentiments。 Thus Lamartine's mother is said to have
trained him in altogether erroneous ideas of life； in the school
of Rousseau and Bernardin de St。…Pierre； by which his
sentimentalism； sufficiently strong by nature； was exaggerated
instead of repressed： （16） and he became the victim of tears；
affectation； and improvidence； all his life long。 It almost
savours of the ridiculous to find Lamartine； in his 'Confidences；'
representing himself as a 〃statue of Adolescence raised as a model
for young men。〃 （17） As he was his mother's spoilt child； so he
was the spoilt child of his country to the end； which was bitter
and sad。 Sainte…Beuve says of him： 〃He was the continual object
of the richest gifts； which he had not the power of managing；
scattering and wasting themall； excepting； the gift of words；
which seemed inexhaustible； and on which he continued to play to
the end as on an enchanted flute。〃 （18）
We have spoken of the mother of Washington as an excellent woman
of business； and to possess such a quality as capacity for
business is not only compatible with true womanliness； but is in a
measure essential to the comfort and wellbeing of every properly…
governed family。 Habits of business do not relate to trade
merely； but apply to all the practical affairs of lifeto
everything that has to be arranged； to be organised； to be
provided for； to be done。 And in all these respects the
management of a family； and of a household； is as much a matter of
business as the management of a shop or of a counting…house。 It
requires method； accuracy； organization； industry； economy；
discipline； tact； knowledge； and capacity for adapting means to
ends。 All this is of the essence of business； and hence business
habits are as necessary to be cultivated by women who would
succeed in the affairs of homein other words； who would make
home happyas by men in the affairs of trade； of commerce； or of
manufacture。
The idea has； however； heretofore prevailed； that women have no
concern with such matters； and that business habits and
qualifications relate to men only。 Take； for instance； the
knowledge of figures。 Mr。 Bright has s