The nurse in an eastern family is always an important personage.
Modern travellers inform us, that in Syria she is considered as a sort
of second parent, whether she has been foster-mother or otherwise. She
always accompanies the bride to her husband’s house, and ever remains
there an honoured character. Thus it was in ancient Greece. This will
serve to explain Genesis xxiv, 59: And they sent away Rebekah their
sister, and her nurse.” In Hindostan the nurse is not looked upon as a
stranger, but becomes one of the family, and passes the remainder of her
life in the midst of the children she has suckled, by whom she is
honoured and cherished as a second mother. In many parts of Hindostan
are mosques and mausoleums, built by the Mohammedan princes, near the
sepulchres of their nurses. They are excited by a grateful affection to
erect these structures in memory of those who with maternal anxiety
watched over their helpless infancy: thus it has been from time
immemorial.
Modern travellers inform us, that in Syria she is considered as a sort
of second parent, whether she has been foster-mother or otherwise. She
always accompanies the bride to her husband’s house, and ever remains
there an honoured character. Thus it was in ancient Greece. This will
serve to explain Genesis xxiv, 59: And they sent away Rebekah their
sister, and her nurse.” In Hindostan the nurse is not looked upon as a
stranger, but becomes one of the family, and passes the remainder of her
life in the midst of the children she has suckled, by whom she is
honoured and cherished as a second mother. In many parts of Hindostan
are mosques and mausoleums, built by the Mohammedan princes, near the
sepulchres of their nurses. They are excited by a grateful affection to
erect these structures in memory of those who with maternal anxiety
watched over their helpless infancy: thus it has been from time
immemorial.