Appendix

Brncx this sermon was composed and partly printed, I have received the following letter:

‘*Dear Mr. James — In your next sermon to Young Women, will you kindly give some advice to common-place mothers, who, not gi‘ted with extraordinary affection, or extraordinary patience, are apt to be sadly worried with the incessant and multifarious claims of a large little family; especially where a limited income imposes unremitting toil to arrange for ordinary domestic comfort; and the numerous inmates ef a small house almost preclude the refreshment of solitary closet intercourse with that Heavenly Father who rewardeth openly. Asaclass, we would gladly be instructed how to avoid, or, at least, to surmount the impatience and irritation so frequently engendered by the perplexities of the nursery and the school-room; the hasty speech, the angry action, which must be not only a hindrance to maternal influence, but perhaps even a hindrance to the efficacy of a mother’s prayers.

Excuse the liberty I take in thus writing to you, and with many thanks for your past valuable hints,

‘* Believe me, dear sir, yours very respectfully,

‘‘A Common-Piace Morne.”

November, 1852.

This letter claims and awakens my tenderest sympathy for the class of mothers to whom it appertains; I mean women without the advantages of wealth, the accommodations of a nursery, and the help of servants to lighten the load of maternal cares, and to assist in the performance of maternal duties; women who must ever be in the midst of the perpetually-recurring trials of temper to which the circumstances of large little family must ever expose them; and who may fancy themselves, as to intellectual and other qualifications, only ‘‘ Common-place mothers.” Let such women not despond as if they were but slenderly fitted for their duties. The writer of the letter above given, gives full evidence that she is not disqualified for a mother’s functions, so far as mental ability is concerned; but perhaps she, and others in her situation, may have something yet to learn and acquire as to temper and manner. It is evident she is in danger in these respects. The waywardness and freaks of unamiable disposition in her children produce petulance and irritability, and lead, perhaps, too often, on her part, to unseemly anger. A scold, a slap, or a shake, sometimes take the place of a mild but firm expostulation, and calm correction. To her, and to all in her situation, we say, what you need, and what you must put forth all your constant and determined effort, and wrestling supplication with God, to obtain, is the complete subjugation of your temper. You must bring this under control. You must acquire forbearance, patience, and a calm serenity. It will cost you much trouble and much prayer to attain it; but God’s grace will be sufficient for you. I do not, of course, counsel you to seek after that apathetic, easy indifference which lets the children take their own course, and for the sake of a little ease throws up the reins of discipline. Still a mother must often have eyes, and not see; ears, and not hear. A fussing, fidgety notice of every little thing that goes wrong in the temper of all the children, will keep her in perpetual misery. To all, then, who are in the situa. tion of ‘‘ The Common-place Mother,” I again and again, with all possible emphasis, say, subdue your irritability, and acquire a calm, patient, forbearing, loving, and serene mind. God will help you if you seek it You must not think such a frame of mind unattainable, nor allow your provocations and temptations to be an apology for your little sallies of bad temper.

The misfortune, perhaps, in the case of such mothers is, that they did not begin well. The first child was not well managed. Bad habits crept on, and now, with the family increased, it is difficult to break them. I have known even large, very large little families, where, by good temper, patience, and kindness, mixed with firmness, on the part of the mother, aided by a wise, kind, firm father, and where there were few domestic accommodations, the children were all well-managed, and the parents happy.

It would greatly comfort, help, and encourage these mothers, if, where such institutions were formed, they attended the meetings of Mothers’ Societies. There is a very well-conducted one, which assembles every fortnight in the class-room of Carr’s Lane Chapel, and I recommend my unknown correspondent, and others of her class, to join the society. They need encouragement, and at such meetings they find it.

As regards what is said about the opportunity for prayer, I can hardly admit a crowded house to be an excuse for the neglect of this. Every mother. has her own chamber at command, a little sanctuary to which, when infant voices are hushed in sleep, she can repair, and pour out her heart to God for her children, and breathe over some of them, slumbering, perhaps, on the bed at which she kneels, 2 mother’s prayers. Besides, how much of prayer, silent and ejaculatory, yet sincere, fervent, and believing, may be presented to God, without the formalities of devotion, or the retirement of the closet.

I again say, let no mother despair of herself because she does not possess high intellectual qualifications; the more of these there are, of course the better; but a temper under control — a patient, loving, forbearing disposition — a mild firmness — a gentle, but constant maintenance ef parental authority — a judicious administration of rewards and correction, will enable any woman to fill her place with efficiency, though she may think herself to be ‘* A Common-place Mother.”