mothers,--painful both for its testimony and its
prophecy. Its testimony is of over-care, over-work, over-weariness,
the abuse of capacities that were bestowed for most sacred uses, an
utter waste of most pure and life-giving waters. Its prophecy is early
decline and decadence, forfeiture of position and power, and worst,
perhaps, of all, irreparable loss and grievous wrong to the children
for whom all is sacrificed.

God gives to the mother supremacy in her family. It belongs to her to
maintain it. This cannot not be done without exertion. The temptation
to come down from her throne, and become a mere hewer of wood and
drawer of water is very strong. It is so much easier to work with the
hands than with the head. One can chop sticks all day serenely
unperplexed. But to administer a government demands observation and
knowledge and judgment and resolution and inexhaustible patience. Yet,
however uneasy lies the head that wears the crown of womanhood, that
crown cannot be bartered away for any baser wreath without infinite
harm. In both cases there must be sacrifice; but in the one case it is
unto death, in the other unto life. If the mother stands on high
ground, she brings her children up to her own level; if she sinks, they
sink with her.

To maintain her rank, no exertion is too great, no means too small.
Dress is one of the most obvious things to a child. If the mother wears
cheap or shabby or ill-assorted clothes, while the children's are fine
and harmonious, it is impossible that they should not receive the
impression that they are of more consequence than their mother.
Therefore, for her children's sake, if not for her own, the mother
should always be well-dressed. Her baby, so far as it is concerned in
the matter, instead of being an excuse for a faded bonnet, should be an
inducement for a fresh one. It is not a question of riches or poverty;
it is a thing of relations. It is simply that the mother's dress--her
morning and evening and street and church dress--should be quite as
good as, and if there is any difference, better than her child's. It
is of manner of consequence how a child is clad, provided only its
health be not injured, its taste corrupted, or its self-respect
wounded. Children look prettier in the cheapest and simplest materials
than in the richest and most elaborate. But how common is it to see
the children gaily caparisoned in silk and feathers and flounces, while
the mother is e