This daughter will study the ethics of the period of engagement and will not abuse or destroy the mysterious charm which belongs alone to the early period of wife-hood.
A girl should be taught the duties of married life; to fulfil the beautiful aim of motherhood should be her ambition and her daily prayer.
Boys, also, get their estimate of colored womanhood from their mothers.
A whipping, striking, scolding, threatening, "shut-up" mother presents him a wrong view point of real motherhood.
The colored mother beautiful will teach her son to respect colored womanhood and to show this respect in every word and action. He is not supposed to know the "wheat from the tare." To any woman in all the small courtesies of life he will reflect his mother's home training. He will be taught to look up to, and to show special respect and reverence for the great women and men of the race.
Even in the way he puts on or takes off his hat he reflects his mother.
If a colored boy is expected to tip his hat to any woman, he should tip it to the women of his mother's race.
If it is expected that he should stand erect before any woman, he should before the women of his mother's race. Off will go his hat, if even asked a question. His voice, his eyes, his backbone, his heels, all reflect his mother and her training. In spite of protest he will never sit if a woman is standing unless he is ill or a cripple. Especially does he exhibit the mother training he has received from his manner in his actions to colored women.
If he is expected to speak respectfully to any woman he should to the women of his mother's race.
If he works faithfully for any woman who employs him he should work faithfully for a woman of his mother's race.