Southern Christian Advocate

THE TEACHER'S CHARACTER.

A gentleman calling upon a teacher recently, said, "I notice with great pleasure that your character is imprinting itself upon my little girl, and on her account, more than on any other, I regret going into the country. The other day, overhearing her say to her brother, 'Whatever you may say, Miss Wilson would think that that is wrong, and it is wrong,' I asked, 'Did you ever hear Miss Wilson express her opinion on the subject?' 'No, father,' she answered; 'but we always know without her speaking. She seems to make you know what is right by just looking at you, and we feel so ashamed when we do wrong, because she's so good herself.' "

Here was the point. The gentleman had spoken correctly; the teacher was imprinting herself upon her class; her look, her tone and manner, as well as her spoken words, were constantly protesting against wrong, and encouraging to well-doing. She was daily reflecting into the young minds around her, her own power of judging and of feeling. She was drawing them towards right, as the sun draws moisture into the clouds, and was sustaining them by the buoyancy of her own loving smile. She had won their love, made them trust her, and now she could hold their attention till the spark of truth had been so enkindled in their minds that it could be acted upon, and used as a part of their mental furniture.

This only is teaching. To do this, our own natures must be aroused to that intense, out-going energy, which, like steam, seems to infuse life into what before was dull and motionless. Then how quickly the face reveals the glowing light within! The eye, the very attitude, bears witness to the quickening power. Everything that arrests the attention teaches either good or evil; and we can confer no greater benefit on any one than to influence him so that his mind shall be set towards the right, and observe those things which tend to truth and holiness.

Here is the mother's power. Day by day, as she answers the child's numberless questions, she may teach it to see God's loving care in all things, and turn its young affections heavenwards. But, on the other hand, if petulance rule her own spirit, she will surely see, full soon, its manifestations in her child, and perhaps blindly wonder at its development, forgetting that her irritable tones and looks have surely taught their own lesson.--Quiver.