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.
