Page:Vindication Women's Rights (Wollstonecraft).djvu/279

Rh to do certain things habitually; for, from a teady adherence to a few imple principles of conduct flows that alutary power which a judicious parent gradually gains over a child's mind. And this power becomes trong indeed, if tempered by an even diplay of affection brought home to the child's heart. For I believe, as a general rule, it mut be allowed that the affection which we inpire always reembles that we cultivate; o that natural affections, which have been uppoed almot ditinct from reaon, may be found more nearly connected with judgment than is commonly allowed. Nay, as another proof of the neceity of cultivating the female undertanding, it is but jut to oberve, that the affections eem to have a kind of animal capriciounes when they merely reide in the heart.

It is the irregular exercie of parental authority that firt injures the mind, and to thee irregularities girls are more ubject than boys. The will of thoe who never allow their will to be diputed, unles they happen to be in a good humour, when they relax proportionally, is almot always unreaonable. To elude this arbitrary authority girls very early learn the leons which they afterwards practie on their hubands; for I have frequently een a little harp-faced mis rule a whole family, excepting that now and then mamma's anger will burt out of ome accidental cloud; either her hair was ill dreed, or he had lot more money at cards, the night before, than Rh