Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1819-11-16
From the National Advocate.
DOEMSTIC ECONOMY.

"uiSH % W % HiuCn ffldi iulcFe6t, ana so
little understood, as the management OF
children. am confirmed in the opinion,
from attentive observation, that this branch
OF domestic economy is very much neg
lected, and that children we're better gov
erned, some twenty-five years ago, than
they are at present. Parents as well as
society at large; the interest OF country
and the welfare of mankind, depend in a
great measure, on early impfessions-on
a proper impulse and direction, given to
chifdren's minds; aid this cannot be neg
lected without violating those great obi
cations which morality imposes. / am
excessively fond Of children when they
are not rude or noisy, and can possibly
have 10 higher qualification than in mix
ing in their Innocent amusements and par
ticipating ii their joyful gambols--I take
great delight 10 conversing with sensible,
modest boy, and can nurse rosy cheek d
infant for hours, if the urchin does not
cry. With such feelings, accepted an
invitation, from friend, TO dinner, who
had a large family of Dung children, and
who seasoned his invitation by assurances
that / should meet some gentlemen Of in
telligence, as vel! as being gra!iied With
The sight of a promising family. These
we're sufficient inducements; and at the
appointed hour was there, for nothing
is more rude than to keep family waiting
dinner beyond the hour Of invitation. L
met with friendly welcome and the
young ones, consisting OF three boys and
a girl, were, severaliy. ordered up to
shake hands with me, and be exhibited.
They each made some resistance, shuffled
off little, and came very reluctantly.
| did not augur well from this specimen
of breeding: child should be instructed
10 approach stranger With respectful
confidence, Invested, alike, of assurance
or timidity. would 10. judge hastily,
and dinner was shortly announced. The
children were almost the first seated, and
there was some indecent scuffling for
chairs, which required the interference OF
the father to stop, and which was done
not without some difficulty, as mama beg.
ged him not TO create riot. Order DE.
ing restored, began to eat my soup, but
with little comfort: the young ones were
again noisy and clamorous: one did not
like mutton--the other vociferousIy de-
handed the ship Of turkey---a third
called for beer with an air of authority
and papa whispered the fourth to ask me
to drink glass of wine with him, an hon
our which would have declined, but was
fearful of hurting the feelings of the fa-
Their, WHO was thus rubbing his child, by
teaching him maxims of high life, and
customs ofsmature age, while yet an in
FAINT We got through the dinner after
some wrangling; few tears; expostula-
ltions from the father, and opposition from
the mother. The dessert was introduced +;
and the young ones made dash at the
finest Of the fruit--helped themselves
plentifnlly-and, while two we're fighting
for peach they knocked over butter
boat with sauce for the pudding, which
they safely lodged, partly in mama's lap,
and partly on my black small clothes. I
was very near losing my temper on the
occasion it fretted me TO see children Sc
much neglected. However, while the
urchins we're busily engaged 10 destroy inc
whatever they fancied, I was conyersing.
with gentleman who sat opposite to me
on the subject Of manufactures, and the
means of decreasing pauperism and giving
employment to our poor; but this deeply
interesting topic was Interrupted by the
nurse entering, with an infant 10 her
arms, and boy, of two years old, leading
by the hand. A new scene of uproar com
menced: the children seized the baby
the baby squalled for fruit--lhe young one
grasped at every thing in bis way-a per.
feet riot ensued--and it was with areat
difficulty that the room was cleared, after
bribing each Of them with something eat.
able. l took my departure with pleasure.
happy in terminating this unpleasant in
tervieW.
Times are strangely altered, or rather
wholesome doctrines have become unfash.
ionabIe. When | was boy my breakfast,
with seven others, consisted of milk aud
water, or very weak coffee, which was
placed in large earthen pan, and each
Of us had a tin cup, and two good slices
Of bread and butter: all of our meals
we're served up 10 this manner. under the
superintendent Of Que Of the family, and
we were dispatched TO school at the pro-
per hour: We had reasonable proportion
of delicacies reserved for us, and at night
We joined the family party, who were all
pleased to see us, and that was the season
Tor mirth and iudicious hilariiy: our edu
cation was not neglected-our appetites
we're not pampered--our minds were not
ruined by extravagance--and our princi-
pes we're not vitiaied by bad examples.
Nothing can have better effect than