English; that, as the French have not the word, so they are far behind us in the home feeling: those who know them best, say, on the contrary, that among them the home affections are especially powerful, and you may sometimes find a joint residence, under the same roof, of three generations, in a way that among us would be considered quite impracticable. Lord Lytton has shown up such insular arrogance rather unsparingly. All that's not English in Englishmen's eyes Is something to jeer'at, sneer, and despise. To consider him either a knave or fool. And we honestly think, when we get abroad, That England alone was made of God; While the rest of the world, though nobly planned, How many self complacent comparisons are annually drawn between English home life and domesticity, and foreign want of it! It may be doubted, however, whether our sturdy Teuton neighbours, at any rate, are not fully equal to us, and sometimes even excel through a more unpretending homely heartiness. Mutter treu Wird täglich neu. is a little gem of a proverb, on this subject, for which we are indebted to them. It is rather hard to translate. The French have succeeded. Tendresse maternelle Toujours se renouvelle. Keeps constant youth. A mother's heart never grows old. is some kind of an approximation to it. There is no mother like the mother who bore us. In Eastern lands it forms a tie of especial closeness to have been the sons of the same mother. Hence, as the extremity of baseness, "Yea, and hath slandered his own mother's son." Psalm 1, 20. A word against a mother is not easily pardoned. The Egyptians make a quaint application of this. Don't curse the Crocodile's Mother when passing a river. This explains also the cruel galling of Saul's furious taunt at Jonathan "Thou son of the perverse and rebellious woman." I Sam. xx, 30. The foundation of families is the conjugal relation. This is well shewn in those marriage-lines, explaining the two parts of it, 'I take thee,' the old form ran, in the Marriage Service, 'to my wedded housebonder.' which may be thus expanded, Wife, to weave true the web of life, The name of the husband what does it but say, And proverbs advise Be captain of your own ship. It never goes well when the hen crows. If the father drops the reins, the family coach will soon get into the ditch. Give a child his will and you will ruin both! He that hath wife and children wants not business. On the subjects of large families the proverb world is divided. But then Children are poor men's riches. The young suckers drain the old tree. He that has not children knows not what love is. To make a happy fireside chime That's the true pathos and sublime On the other hand Little children and head aches Great children and heart aches. Children are certain cares, uncertain comforts. That couple in America had made up their mind, though they were rather premature in their mode of expressing it, who, being in the printing line, called the first child Imprimis, and the next Finis, and were then compelled to intercalate Addendum, Appendix, and, I believe, also Postscript. Taking the children for granted, education follows, and the need of care in it. When children stand still Children are great imitators. Wie die aeltern singen So zwitschern auch die Jungen. As the old cock crows so crows the young. What children learn at home, soon flies abroad. Maxima debetur pueris reverentia. We should be very careful what we say before young people. Catch them young. 'Give me the teaching until seven, and you may teach them what you like afterwards,' said a great statesman; though that is rather an early date. The Roman poet was quite right, Quo semel est imbuta recens, servabit odorem which has been happily paraphrased by Moore, Forced fruits fail in flavour. Tight clothes are the most likely to tear.-Ryle. Dickens has well shown up the Dr. Blimber blunder. Spring bids many a bud to swell Which ne'er will grow to flowers.-Clare. On the other hand A ragged colt may make a good horse. The world is his who knows how to wait for it. 'Old maids' children,' and 'Bachelors' wives' are faultless beings, but then they have no existence ! In educating, Patience is most important. Be patient, and you shall have patient children; as also an early recognition of that which they are best adapted for, Send a lad to the well against his will, The can will break, and the water spill. The Proverbs of Solomon overflow with divinely inspired sayings on this important subject, to which in this connection we need but refer. Drawing towards a conclusion as we come to grown up children, we find Marry your son when you will, your daughter when you may. A son is a son till he gets him a wife, A daughter is a daughter all the days of her life. The top of the hill is now turned, and the descent commences. Seniores priores. Age before honesty. Seniores ad honores Juniores ad labores. Let age be honoured, and let youth work hard. The young man's wrath is like dry straw on fire, Every one can keep house better than her mother-until she tries! It's ill teaching an old dog tricks. Many old camels carry the skins of young camels to market.— Arab. Though old and wise Yet still advise, Time has a taming hand.-Newman. Young folks think old folks fools, old folks know this of young ones. Yet still, There's no fool like an old fool. When a wise man errs he errs with a vengeance. Youth is a garland of roses Old age is a crown of thorns.-Talmud. Once a man twice a child. You might as well physic the dead, as try to teach the old. But we may conclude with a higher, happier, and holier sentiment. "The hoary head is a crown of glory, If it be found in the way of righteousness." Prov. xiv, 31. |