Her parental affection, indeed, scarcely deserves the
name, when it does not lead her to suckle her children, because the
discharge of this duty is equally calculated to inspire maternal and
filial affection: and it is the indispensable duty of men and women to
fulfil the duties which give birth to affections that are the surest
preservatives against vice. Natural affection, as it is termed, I
believe to be a very faint tie, affections must grow out of the
habitual exercise of a mutual sympathy; and what sympathy does a
mother exercise who sends her babe to a nurse, and only takes it
from a nurse to send it to a school?
In the exercise of their maternal feelings providence has
furnished women with a natural substitute for love, when the lover
becomes only a friend, and mutual confidence takes place of
overstrained admiration- a child then gently twists the relaxing cord,
and a mutual care produces a new mutual sympathy.- But a child, though
a pledge of affection, will not enliven it, if both father and
mother be content to transfer the charge to hirelings; for they who do
their duty by proxy should not murmur if they miss the reward of duty-
parental affection produces filial duty.
Chap. XI.
Duty to Parents.
There seems to be an indolent propensity in man to make prescription
always take place of reason, and to place every duty on an arbitrary
foundation. The rights of kings are deduced in a direct line from
the King of kings; and that of parents from our first parent.
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