Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-01-05

led so f4r astray BY worldly spirit, that l
despair Of i reformation in any of my fam.
ily.'
at is too apparent nay friend that
Your children arc in sad way, and that
vou will have much to contend with. You
will labor under many disadvantages in
correcting their faults, and yet, apprchend
that your chief difficulty will be found in
changing your OWN ways"
IL am greatly distressed, Mrs. Smith, to
find that one trouble seldom comes alone;
and what especially alarms Inc is, that one
sin brings in its train others, so appalling to
INV awakened conscience, that they even
now seem to hiss upon nc like a nest Of
young vipcrs; but still have not told you
my heaviest misfortune. | feel like the un-
wary traveller, who, having heedlessly lost
his way, is not merely ashamed to rctrace
his steps, but unwilling to avow the fact to
others. have not only lost the little inilu-
cnce once possessed over my children, but
my husbands manner is exceedingly chang
cI. While our children were young, he
was q most affcctionate husband; but nop,
when more thun ever need his advice and
assistance, in the management Of our tur-
bulant children, he often justifics them and
condemns me. If I removc them for gla-
ring offences, he thinks might have done
it in less Objectionable manner. Though
he does not always say this in words, yet
the looks and gestures Of my boys plainly
indicate that in their opinion their father Is
right, and their mother is wrong; so that
when this subject is brought up for discus
sion, it produces alteration, and usually
ends in elimination and recrimination.
"You have presented nortifying pic
turc of the state of your family, Mrs. Jones.
No wonder that you consider your children
in hopeless condition. Their insubordi.
nation would be awfully alarming, if you
and your husband were at this moment,
perfectly agreed as to the best mode of re-
gaining your lost advantage over their hearts,
minds, and conscicnces. You and your
husband profess to be governed by the pre-
cepts of the Bible; but you will allow me
to say that your daily conduct is at vari-
ance with its plainest dictates. Did not
hope that your heart was touched by the
Spirit and grace Of God, | should consider
it fruitless to suggest any motives, however
imperative, even for your consideration. It
is worse. than idle for you and your husband
to spend your time in settling the question
who is right, and who is wrong. If you
knew that Your house was cnvcloped in
flames, and that both of you had been the
means of the conflagrution, would you
spend your energies in settling the question
which was the most in fault? A bystandcr
would be shocked on Witnessing such a
contest, or listening to alterations under
such appalling circumstances
81 fear, Mrs. Jones, you have fallen up
ON .a an error, which has destroyed many
families. In such cases both parties arc
commonly to blame. l we'll remember,
however, an instance to the contrary
Will, l was residing in l.. Mrs. R. and
myself were on terms of the greatest init.
macy. She had been blessed with superior
education. When | first knew her, fel,
that nothing was wanting but piety, to con.
stitute her just the friend should choose
to supply the place Of my excellent sisters,
from whom had been so recently separa.
ted. One year after our acquaintance, she
became decided Christian. The father
of her husband was an eminent divine, and
his family were of the first grade, both as
to intellect and rank in socitcy. My friends
husband had therefore enjoyed every nd.
vantage which an enlightened and Christian
education could afford. For considcra.
bic period was left to conjecture the cause
Of his acquiring habits of intemperance,
especially as his home was rendered en-.
chanting to the virtuous and intelligent, by
the smiles and graces Of such good, dig.
nifcd and accomplished lady and house.
wife. But subsequently learned that this
son was the pct of his mother. She al.
ways thought her darling son must have
every thing he. wanted. Thus habit OF
eating and drinking too freely, commenced
in childhood, but ripcned into excess after
he became husband and father. Such
was the commanding influence of this
young man, when first knew him, that it
was often remarked, that if Mr.. B. were a
Christian, he might do more gcol in socic.
ty than even our minister. But unfortu-
nately his influence was thrown into the op.
posite scale. His business, if not wholly
neglected, began to decline; his temper,
naturally amiable, became at length austere
and irascible. What trial for the mother
of five precious children! Though my in.
tercourse with this lovely woman was more
intimate than usually subsists between sis.
ters, vet the unfortunate habits, the neglect.
full treatment, the unkind language, which
this Christian sister continually received
L. A.. r.L,,, &c ko. .,b,lJ~a, oo1 {ho