Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1836-11-02
PARENTS, DEPARTMENT.
From the Mothers Magazine.
A BEsETTING SIN:


Ar1aongthe most prominent and trouble
some and vicious habits of childhood, is
that of falsehood. So prevalent is this
vice, in early life, that we scarce y find a
child upon whose veracity we can depend.
10 gain knowledge Of cause, is taking
an important step towards removing its
effect Let US then inquire, TO what is to
be attributed the prevalence of the vice OF
lying, in childhood.
Let any parent look back to the first
untrhth his child uttered, and we believe
he will find it was dictated by fear. If
memory does not serve him here, let him
observe child soyoung that this vice has
not become habit, and we think he will
remark that fear gives rise to every un-
truth.
If this be so, it is want of moral cour-
age that lies at the foundation ofthe evil,
and this admitted, we shall know how to
apply the remedy.
/ Generally, children are by nature tim
id. They shrink from every kind ofdan
ger, where they think it exists. They
have still less of moral than of physical
should shrink from correction and re-
proof Unfortunately, parents are not
sufficiently cautious in putting their cour-
age to too severe test. Something has
been done amiss; with threatening eye
and a raised voice, the question is asked,
/ Did you do this, sir2 Tell me the
TRUTH" Under such circumstances, the
parent has scarcely the right to expect
such an exertion Of moral courage as the
truth would require; from the delinquent.
Some parents have found so much diff
Guilty on this subject, that they have de-
clared they believed such child was a
constitutional liar. What an awful and
what discouraging thought If any
mothers heart has bIed over this refec-
ton, let her consider the disposition of the
child, and inquire if it is not constitution
ally very timid one, or if she is not
habltually too severe or harsh.
Lying, like every other habit, is
siren thened by time. He who first lied
from fear, will no doubt afterwards lie
from habit. 1t is also contagious. can
not agree with one who asserts, that all
children are made liars bv the untruths
told them by their parents. But it is a
melancholy truth, that they have exam
pies Of deception set them, by those to
). whom God has intrusted the care of their
souls, thatcannot have other than the most
pernicous tendency. Elder brothers and
sisters also, frequently exercise most un-
happy Influence in this particular So do
playmates; 50 do servants. But a fact
occurs tome that proves conclusivelv, that
this habit may exist independent of any
other cause than want of moral cour-
age.
Mrs. NJ had an only child, educated
solely by her mother, lived constantly I'M
, der her eye, and from not going to school,
associated but little with other children.
Mrs. NJ. was a person Of the strictest We
racity. She detested the very semblance
Of falsehood, and never practsed any of
those deceptions so common in the man
agement of children And vet this little
girl was addicted to this vice to a great
degree. But it was only under circum-
stances, in which her moral courage fail
: ed her. She had been carefully taught
the Inconvenience, the disgrace, and the
sin Of lying; and where fear did not pre-
vent the operation of principle, she strict
ly adhered to truth. And yet when it
came to the question ola fault, her moth.
: er never knew when to believe her She
had not moral courage to incur the dan.
ger of punishment. She was naturally
ola very timid disposition, and her moth
er had not been careful not to bring this
: constitutional defect into action.
But let mothers take encouragement
and persevere in the path Of duty. As
the moral courage of the child was
strengthened by years, the force of early
: instruction was seen, and principle had
its triumph. When she attained the years
Of womanhood, she was remarkable fol
her strict veracity.
S How often has her mothers heart ach
= ed, when this her only child was guilty
E ola sin so abhorent to her feeIingsl Ma
: ny time has she despaired Of Graduating
I: this fault; but still she strove, and sti!
J. she prayed, and her efforts We're blessed
/ If, then, want Of moral courage laws the
foundation of this vice, children should a.
much as possible be treated in such {
,. manner, that they will no: be tempted t
d commit this sin If it can be avoided. DE-
e not place them in situations in which the,
a must exert great moral courage or tell al
g untruth; they are almost certain to d.
n the latter, for they do not possess the for
rs mer.
n Converse frequently with them upol
l. the subject; habitually impress upon thei
10 minds the sin Of lie, and the punish
l. ment God has annexed 10 It, and pray fire
D, quently in their hearing that they may b
e preserved from it.
ID A little boy had done some trifing in
b. jury. When asked if he had done it, h
n, denied all knowledge oft. and was b