It is idle to teach a child that pride--hatred--revenge--anger, are unholy passions, if a mother's own conduct displays either of them.

How useless is it to teach that vanity should never be indulged in, when a mother delights in display! Such instruction as this is like the web of Penelope--unpicked as fast as done.

The greatest reverence is due to a child; and previously to becoming a teacher, a mother should learn this hardest of all lessons--'Know thyself.' Without this, the instruction she gives her children will at best prove very imperfect.

It is quite useless to teach children to reverence any thing, when a mother's conduct shows that, practically at least, she has no belief in the truths she inculcates.

And a very hard requirement this is: but it is a requirement absolutely necessary, if education is meant to be any thing more than nominal.