The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1831-02-02
From the Massachusetts Journal.
MISMANAGEMENT OF CHILDREN

The conundrum asks, "What Miss vii
ruin any child ?" and the answer is cIeurl,
enough, Mis-manngement. Books with
out number have been written, sermon.
preached, and societies formed, TO assis
parents in the education of their children
yet judicious observer is constantly pain
ell by the depl0rable mistakes made on this
important subject. A few days ago, | visit
ed mother whose youngest child was ILL.,
The spoiled pet cried for some minre- pie,
which she had seen on the table few min
utcs before. The mother told her it was
all gone whispering to child II few wears
older not to tell her she had seen it pnt in
the closet; what Il lesson of deception for
the older daughter! The little invalid had
probably been deceived fore for notwith-
standing her mothers protestaton she still
continued to scream for mince-pie. "Moth-
er hasn't got any for her darling" was the
reply of the injudicions parent pussy
came and ate it all up" What lesson OF
falsehood for the youngest daughter! Be-
ing an intimate friend. | suggested the i'm
proprietv of such proceedings, and the dan
gcrous consequences likely TO result from it.
The lady assured me | made too serious IL
matter of such trifling affair. "Noihing
is trifiing to the mind of child" said | !;
"everv casual word is n seed dropped into
fertile soil-it wiH take root, aud bear
fruit, either good or evil. Those who paint
in sincco cannot alter a shade they have
onre laid in; if mistake is made. it must
endure as long as the work; and thus it is
with a mothers example to her children.
We may do great deal, in after years. to
correct evil habits formed in youth, hut the
tendency tn those habits remains with us for
life. Deception in small things leads to
deception in greater things; and this affair
of the mince pie may end in making artful
hypocrites of both your daughters"
The mother seemed distressed: But
how" asked she, "can / lie expected to
know much about education, when went
TO school so little myself?"
Ny dear madan," replied, "that is a
very common, and very pernicious error
Going TO school is not education. The gov
eminent of our thoughts, feelings, and ex-
pressions, by our own fre-sldes, every day
OF onr lives, ia what constitutes the edura-
ton of our chidren.-not the comparatively
unlmportant lessons learned at school. You
do not need book-learning to educate your
children. A plain, simple regard to truth
and nature, is all that is wanted. You do
not need to go 10 school TO learn that n
falsehood is wrong; yet you told your little
daughter that the cat had eaten the minre-
pie, when both and her sister knew ii
was not true. You have the kindest inten-
tons in the world hut you must not he
surprised, my dear friend, if your children
tell lies. and say in excuse, Mother tells
lies TO u.s."
Another of my acquaintance has an I'M
ruly little son, who when any thing is rcfls-
cd him, Immediately says, another if you
don't give it to me, I'll roar" And the
mother, from sheer Incidence, generally
yields to the threat-as she SAYS, to avoid
trouble. But in this case the old proverh is
peculiarly true; i. e. Lazy folks take the
most pains.' Shut hoy up Ivy himself
whenever he begins to cry for what it is
improper to have, and he will he soon cured
of saying, "If you don't give it 10 me, I'll
roar." But if in yonr anxiety to avoid a
contest, You yield to his screams, never eX-
pect an end TO his demands upon your pa
thence.
a third mistake, more common than any,
is the teaching children to do right from
wrong motives. Thus hoy is encouraged
TO he kind, ohliging, and generous, by being
tod that he will he sure to gain by il in the
end; that others will oblige him in return ;
that nothing is lost by gaining friends wher c
you can, &c. Now the fact is, our kind
and benevolent actions are not sure 10 meet
reward in this world the chanre is, it
will he far otherwise and it is well that it
is so-for if the motive he selfish how can
the act he pure? IF the fountain he pollut-
ed, how can the drop lie stainless /? A child
hronght up to expect REGARD for Kindness
and generosity, and finding in manhood,
thnt his early expectations were unfoundcd,
gradually becomes cold and selfish toward
the world, which has thus disappointed him.
1t would not be thus, had he heen taught 10
love goodness because il is good and pleas.
ing in the sight of God.
AFFECTING INCIDENT. az once tsays