Mothers! Where shall the youthful spirit look for the saving influence
of love, if not to you? The young heart craves sympathy. It must have
it--it will have it. If not found at home, it will be found in the
streets, and oh, what danger lurks there! Fathers and mothers--see to
it, that if your child's heart cease to beat, your own break not with
the remembrance of words and looks, that bite like a serpent and sting
like an adder!
ELLEN ELLISON.
* * * * *
Original.
CHINESE DAUGHTERS.
_Changhai, Aug. 15th, 1851._
MY DEAR MRS. WHITTELSEY:
In order to keep before my own mind a deep interest for this people, and
to awaken corresponding sympathies in my native land, I make short
monthly memorandums of my observations among the Chinese. They are
indeed a singular people, with manners and customs peculiar to
themselves; and it would seem that, in domestic life, every practice was
the opposite of our own; but in the kindly feelings of our nature, those
whom I have seen brought under the influence of Christian cultivation,
are as susceptible as those of any nation on earth. At first they are
exceedingly suspicious of you,--they do not, they _cannot_ understand
your motives in your efforts to do them good; and it is not until by
making one's actions consistent with our words, and by close observation
on their part, that you enjoy their confidence.
Pages:
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36