TO MAORI MOTHERS.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume 2, Issue 49, 7 November 1850, Page 4

TO MAORI MOTHERS.

Auckland, October, 1850. My Frinds, —With what joy and gratitude of heart must you view the many improvements by which some of you ate surrounded at the present time. l,:,tj:y tracts of laud under ]>lcasi'i<; cuUtvniiuii ; your husbands and sons

busily employed in manly and profitable work. Yo" have car's a'ld horses, to call all your own, —oxen, ploughs, and harrows, wilh a great variety of useful implements ;—not of war—hut of husbandry, and travellers begin to see how advantageously these are worked, by the neatness and ort'er tint may be traced in the laying out of your various plantations, which at this season of the year especially, present a sight most cheering and refreshing. No doubt jou frequency watch the various kinds of seeds pushing their way out of tin; earth, and admire the progress which you can easily discern after kindly descending showers, which, indeed, are like so many fresh I inducenif-nts, to fearless toil, and patient hope, ' for a rich and abundant harvest. Now, my ' friends, when you indulge yourselves with • time to admire and wonder at the productions j of the earth, cither in the field, the orchard, or I the garden,—do not go alone, but take your children by the hand, endeavour to draw their attention, and expluin to them their nature, colour, and form, in the most instinctive manner you are able; kindly answer their simple questions, and while you are seeking out the best way of imparling knowledge to them, you will perhaps find clear light more plentifully pouring into your own mind ; Ibis is often the case. Let thorn take a >mc of the seeds in their own lit Ic hands,—let them examine it as minutely as they please, let them see you put it into the ground, let them frequently visit the spot, wailing and wishing for its nppcarance, till nt length yon hear them exclaim, —Here it is, I see it rising I Encourage them to keep an inquisitive eye over it through all its stages, till you arc again able to picsent it to them looking just as it did when they saw you cover it over with the earth. When you have the opportunity, lake thou to a Hour mill, let them see it nt work, and show them how speedily the grain is prepared for their bread, pudding, &c. How pleasant my friends, to hnvo such sweet wholesome loud for yourselves and children, the more so because now (through the kind and persevering exertions of your Missionaries) it is ihe fruit of jour own industry. Soon you will have no more need to In g, you nill have plenty of your own. Think of the words lioni your friend, An English Mother.