The Litchfield County Post

FEMALE INFLUENCE.

Every where throughout the circle of her intercourse, her influence is to be felt like the dew of heaven, gentle, silent and unseen; yet pervading and efficient. But in the domestic circle its power is to be concentrated; and is to be like the life-giving beams of the sun; awakening, illustrating, and almost creating the moral aspect of the scene. To speak first of the filial relation---none can conceive how much a daughter may promote the comfort and the moral benefit of her parents, but who have seen the female character exhibited under the influence of an enlightened understanding and an improved heart: which by their mutual action, have produced the most extended views of duty, with the strongest desire to fulfil it. As a sister, a female may exert the most important influence. With no strong counteracting circumstances, she may give what features she please to the moral and intellectual character of those with whom she is connected in this relation. All the sweet endearments of mutual affection and confidence, will give weight to her influence. An intelligent, high aiming female, of a well disciplined mind and pious heart, has been known to give a much higher cast of character, attainment, and condition to a large circle of brothers and sisters, than they otherwise would have received. But it is as a mother that woman has all her powers with which the munificence of her Divine Benefactor has endowed her, matured to their highest perfection, and exercised in their greatest strength.

The duties and responsibilities of a mother. It is a subject too weighty to be wielded by an immature hand; too extensive to be seized by an imbecile grasp. Yet with a single glance at the subject it may be said to every one who holds this important relation. "If you would write your name as with a sunbeam on the record of those who influenced the moral destinies of mankind, be a well informed, judicious, indefatigable mother! The infant who slumbers in the cradle beside you, is not a mere piece of clay, constructed to act as a mere automaton on the stage of life, and then become amalgamated with the dust of the earth. It has within an ethereal spark, which was kindled from the flame of Eternal Love, and while it animates the youthful frame, is aspiring high even unto the throne of God's divinity. True, the stamp of its heavenly origin is defaced and obscured; retracing the fading lineaments and repressing the perverse propensities which would destroy them may by patient continuance in such exertion, be the means of restoring the lustre of the impress. You may give the soul an impetus to intellectual and moral greatness, that shall secure it a higher destiny throughout the range of its existence. Oh, that the world would awake to the responsibilities of a mother, and that those who hold this relation might be properly qualified by the complete education of the mind and heart, for the influence they hold over the destinies of man."