The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1825-12-29
Rod ofchildhood and youth soon pass away;

7 Rod childhood and youth soon pass away;
and that they ought not 10 be deprived OF
any sntisfactions which Of right belong To
them. Let your government be mild and
equable. Provoke not your children 70
anger, lest they be discouraged. Irritate
not their tempers with severity torture
not their hearts with cruelty. The love
Of power il 80 natural to man, that even
parents are in danger Of displaying too
much in the management Of their children,
and of exacting from them too slaylsh sub
mission. The wills Of children should be
regulated, but not broken. BE careful,
therefore, whilst you aim TO make them
modest and obedicnt, that you do not rem
der them dihident and servle-that you do
not stifle mahliness of sentiment, and he
roisin of conduct--that you do not disqual-
ify them from serving their country as
seamen and soldiers, as statesmen'and ora
tors. But in avoiding this extreme, guard
at the same time against an excessive indul-
gence, an error which is equally perncious.
Do not, for the sake of gratifying them in
a present moment, lay up for them many
future years of bitter repentance.
Though the minds of children may be
innocent, yet they are not, previous to in
structon, positively virtuous. They are
| a soil where every kind of seed will vege-
tate. Nov the air is filed with the seeds
of vice--plnck mp therefore the weeds Of
evil as soon as they appear-be constantly
employed in cultiysting the manners, the
understandings, and the hearts of your off
spring. Let the hours which are not
spent in the schools of judicious and en-
lightened preceptors, be passed under
your own eyes. Let not your children be
educated in the streets, where they will be
in constant danger Of learning impure and
profane language, and of becoming rude,
mischievous and qnarrelsome.
In fine, bring up your children in the
nurture and admontion Of the Lord--make
them pious christians and good men. Re-
member that you are entrusted with an
important charge, and that the welfare of
your country depends on your domestic
disc ipline--ior the best and wisest laws
avail little in country where family gov
ernment is generally neglected.
On the other hand, children ought TO
love, obey and honour their parents. Let
your mother, IN particular, who, in your
tender years, has the more immediate
charge ofyou, be on earth the most sacred
object ofyour affections. Let her be your
first friend and chief confident. Conceal
nothing from her, but make her acquainted
with the company which you keep, the
books which you read, oven the faults
which you commit Happy is the son, and
particularly happy is the daughter, who arc
not afraid to communicate TO their mother
their most secret thoughts. Whilst they
remain thus artless and undisguised, they
are free from danger.--Children, obey your
parents in your youth, but when you are
no longer under their care, let not your
reverence abote. II by the providence of
God you should rise above them in the
world; grow not ashamed ofthem. While
they are bending under the inhrmities of
old age, still continue to treat them with
respect, as well as affection.