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The crow thinks her own bird the fairest.

"Every mother's child is handsome" (German).ssss1 "No ape but swears he has the finest children" (German).ssss1 "If our child squints, our neighbour's child has a cast in both eyes" (Livonian).

As the old cock crows so crows the young

As the old cock crows the young cock learns

If the mare have a bald face the filly will have a blaze.

Trot feyther, trot mither, how can foal amble?

Children generally follow the example of their parents, but imitate their faults more surely than their virtues. Thus,—

A light-heeled mother makes a heavy-heeled daughter.

Unless the mother transfers a part of her household cares to the daughter, the latter will grow up in sloth and ignorance of good housewifery. "A tender-hearted mother rears a scabby daughter" (French, Italian).ssss1

A child may have too much of its mother's blessing.

Her foolish fondness may spoil it.

The worst store is a maid unbestowed.

"A house full of daughters is a cellar full of sour beer" (Dutch).ssss1 Chaucer says,—