How important, then, that the mothers be right-minded; that our young women, of whom our mothers come, be brought up with a high sense of personal character—be taught to prefer virtue to gold, and death itself rather than a violated chastity. The women make the men; therefore the women should be greater than the men, in order that they be the mothers of great men. I mean good men, for none are great who are not good.
But this requires the transforming grace of God; requires that our mothers be women of strong faith and fervent daily prayers; requires that they live beneath the wings of the Cherubim—at the foot of the Cross—loving the God-man “whose favor is life, and whose loving kindness is better than life.”
Such mothers will care for the heart education of their children, and will consequently lay continuous siege to the Throne of God in behalf of their sons and daughters, even as the Syrophœnician mother importuned the compassionate Jesus in behalf of her afflicted daughter, or as Queen Esther did Ahasuerus in behalf of her menaced kinsmen.
Such mothers will carefully train their children, as Moses was trained by his mother, preserving him pure from the vices of a Court and the baneful examples of lordly superiors: or, like Susanna Wesley, will educate their sons, as she did John and Charles, in the atmosphere of such spiritual excellence, and with such a moral power, as will make them ministering angels of good to man and glory to God Most High.
Lastly—Let us advise you respecting money. Some people value it too much, others too little. Of these extremes take the medium; for money has its proper value. That value lies in its adaptedness to promote the ends of Christian enlightenment; to purchase the best medical aid and other comforts in the days of affliction; to administer to the wants of old age, and to enable us to assist in making mankind wiser and better.
But how are we to get money? Get it by diligent labor. Work, work, work! Shun no work that will bring you an honest penny. ’Tis honorable to labor with our own hands. God works, and shall man be greater than God? Fools only think labor dishonorable. Wise men feel themselves honored in following the example of God, whose works adorn and bless both heaven and earth.
But when you get the pennies save them. Then you will soon have dollars. The dollars will enable you to buy comfortable homes for yourselves and your children.
You can save your pennies—yea, dollars—if you will run away from whiskey, rum and tobacco. A few years ago an intelligent minister said that the colored people of the District of Columbia spent ten thousand dollars a year for tobacco.—What a sum for poison! Better take that money to build churches and school houses; better take it to obtain and pay thoroughly educated teachers for your pulpits and your school houses—the schoolmasters as well as the preachers.
Work for money; work every day, work diligently, and save your money when you get it.
Be obliging and faithful to your employers, and you will be sure to keep your places. Never be above your business.—Many a man has ruined himself and his family by this foolish pride.