SPECIAL PROBLEMS OF INVOLUTION 129 



sought the wisest man to be found as the architect 

 of his boy's character. Ah, here is a calling for 

 woman that was deemed worthy of an Aristotle! 



The process of gestation is by no means finished 

 with the birth of the child. After God had made 

 man in His own image He still found it necessary to 

 breathe into him the breath of life. But mothers 

 are too apt to think that their creating is finished 

 with the body; they overlook the spirit. Nor can 

 this matter of the spirit be entrusted to some one 

 else; the mother, having brought forth the body, 

 should know best with what spirit to inform it ; and a 

 most intimate process, too, is this of breathing into 

 a child the breath of life. It can be done only by 

 close companionship and much giving of time. 



The mother who is occupied with business or pro- 

 fessional duties must of necessity give the child over 

 to governesses and teachers. She justifies herself 

 that he receives better training from these specialists 

 than she can give him. But no amount of skill on 

 the part of others can have the same constructive 

 force for the making of character as mother-love if 

 combined with culture and training. All who have 

 gardened know how plants respond to love and at- 

 tention ; much more so children yes, and husbands 

 too. O ye women who cry aloud that your work has 

 been taken from you, there is for you still in the home 

 the greatest of all work, the upbuilding and strength- 

 ening of purpose and character in those who are 



