Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-08-28
From the Goangcticnt Courant.
THE BRIEF REAL.3RKE2. .

THE benefits resulting. to children.
from a due attention giving them early
instruction in tne rudlments Of learning
and virtue, have frequently been made
the subject at able pens. Both in prose
and verse they have been described so
clearly and with soqnuch fulness, that it
would be difficult tf add aught to what is
written already. But it has been TOO lit
tie considered Of what unspeakabie bene-
lit GOOD family instruction is 20 the IA
rents themselves.
He that is teaching another is therehy
teaching himself; and more especially is
it So in moral point OF view. Those at
tentions which parents employ il the no
raj and religious Instruction Of tier Oft,
spring have powerful tendency toward
guarding and tightening their own mo-
raj and religious feelings and habits.
Hardly can they, i'll serious earnest, de-
hort their children from vice without ex-
perienclng an increase of resolution to
guard against II in their own lives: Of
earnestly incuicate upon them the neces-
sity of yirtuous conduct without acquiring
an encrease of desire and Careulness to
act virtuously themselves They mist
needs be sensible that example has more
influence on the souog mind than pre-
cept, and ihat their good precep's viii be
thrown away unless they be careful 10 cX-
emplify them in their domestic lie ana
habits. They cannot but be conscious
that their own example has most power,
full and decided influence III training up
their children to honour or to disgrace,
to happiness or to misery : and conse-
ouentfy they have, in their children, a
constant stimulation toa ylrtuou3 reapec-
table course of behaviour.
While your attention is daily employ
ed in training up your child IN the way
he should 90. You are at the same tine
nurturipgin Yourself wbatsoeyerthinss a'e
virtuous aud lovely you are amellorlat-
ing your own temper and disposition :;
aud YOU are attaining double security
against aHgbt of word or act that has the
appearance of vice, or even OF indecorum
So true is it, that your daily efforts to rem
der your example worthy Of the imitation
81 your child are daily remunerated, rich
~ rcmunerated, by the benefits resulting
theretrom to the frame of your moral na-
ture, independently of the benefits accru-
inc to the child. Nor would it be ha-
zarding too much to say, that parents
who had discharged the parental duties
and d!screetly never yet failed
of repayins, to themselves, an amount Of
profit far exceeding all the pains; even
though the welfare Of their children were
put altogether out Of The question.
The scene of marriage was originally
laid out amongst s. he thorns ard this
tles" Of the curse, but in the blsslul "a
BODIES OF paridase. The FIRST divine bene-
,iiction was pronounced upon the conju-
gal union Of man and women and in ne
wise is it eyincive Of the narrowness of
superstition to indulge religious be
'ief, that Yirtuous marriage has, generally.
"A some respect or other, been crowned
) tn tie blessings OF God, from the time
4 was first cousummated in the Garden
f E'ien upto the present day.
Eon'estic happiness. thou only bliss
Of Pa az !se, that has sutviv'd the fall
hou at the nurse OF virtue'-
a well chosen conjugaI relation tena
TO smcctn he natural asperlhe- OF ma
70 soften lis manners. to sweetep his ten'-
Per, and to expand his heart. The bach-j