MATERNAL IMPRESSIONS. 245 



ness some day, she will see all her pleasant smiles 

 reflected in a happy face ; her mirth will have be- 

 come a rippling river of laughter in a dimpled- 

 cheeked child of joy. 



Repeated experiments, in hundreds of well 

 authenticated cases, indicate that the moral nature Influencing the 



of the foetus is most susceptible to maternal im- 



pressions during the last two and a half months. 

 Therefore the rules given in the previous chapter 

 for the cultivation of the moral sentiments should 

 be most fully applied at this time. 



It is an established fact that the earnest, per- 

 sistent exercise of the moral and religious senti- 

 ments by the prospective mother tends to give encies may be 

 to her offspring a conscientious, reverential spirit, ransmilt 

 so that a religious life is in a sense natural to it. 

 The great significance of this fact cannot be fully 

 comprehended. What marvelous results might 

 be achieved for the cause of Christianity for the 

 salvation of men, and for the upbuilding of the 

 whole human race were this law appreciated and 

 practically applied ! 



The Bible contains many striking illustrations 

 of the influence of a mother's mind. Samuel was 

 ordained "from his mother's womb." Mary, the 

 mother of Christ, was in the upper hill country of Birth. 

 Judah's balmy clime, full of heavenly joy and 

 spiritual exultation. "My soul doth magnify the 

 Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my 

 Savior." It is strange that the ministry has 

 placed so little emphasis upon the many passages 

 of Scripture bearing upon this all-important sub- 

 ject. With their opportunity to instruct, had they 

 made this law tlear to their parishioners, thou- 



