Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-07-05
PARENTS DEPARTMENT.
From the Mothers Magazine.
THE CONTRAST.

hold, and eateth not the bread OF ldicness.
Having passed the summer months IN
small village, in one of the Western states,
/ had opportunity to become familiarly
acquainted with the characters and cir
cumstances of two families, in one neigh
borhood, which formed striking contrast
TO each other.
The different degrees of happiness and
responsibility enjoyed by these families
might readily be traced to the different
management of the two mothers. Their
husbands, MIR. Genett and Mr. Ladd,
were farmers, both of whom had been en-
abled, some years previous, by decent
patrimony, to purchase good farm at the
West. Before they left their native State,
they were temperate, but not temperance
men. AS is too often the case, the labors
and hardships incident to clearing up new
settlements, proved the means of exposing
the latent evils Of The human heart in all
their native and disgusting deformity.
In the course of a few Years, both these
husbands became confirmed drunkards.
Their children had arrived at an age TO
render great assistance in the cultivation
of their respective farms, and had there
been wise management on the part Of both
the mothers, they might have been equal
ly happy and prosperous.
Mrs. Genett was bern in an eastern
city. She was not only amiab'e, but as to
books. well informed. She also possessed
a fine countenancc, and agrecblc manners;
and bv strangers especially, she was con-
sidered a prepossessing woman. But not
witbstanding all these commentators,
hesitate not to say, that she was totally
unfit, under any circumstances, iora a wife
ora mother. Incidence and self-esteem
were the predominant traits of her charac-
for. In early life, like too many others,
she probably imbibed the impression
that domestic labor, and the requisite
attention to domestic duties, were unbe-
coming lady. Mrs. Genett's house, as
might be expected, was always untidy' and
in an uproar.
Her children were iudolent, quarrel
some. selfish, and disobedient. l regret to
say, that they were taught, even by their
mother. to treat their father with disre-
snect. and rudeness, which often so exas-
nerated him, that the most revolving
scenes often occurred between this iather
and his sons. The Sabbath was spent by
these children, by sauntering in the fields
in pursuit of pleasure, or in gathering nuts
or berries. Though Mrs. Genet was a
professor of religion, yet how often was
the name of God profaned in her family.
o. how could mother be so totally
blinded as to suppose that she did truly
love her God, or was disposed to obey
his holy and reasonable commands while
she SO sinfuly neglected to train up her
children in the way they should 60, alike
ieopardizing their temporal & eternal vel
fare! Rarely ever did a remonstrance fall
from this mothers lips, even Tor the most
fragrant offences, and never did her voice in
prayer, fall like "sweet music upon the
delighted ear of her children" Positive
and open rebellion to her commands was
of every day Occurrences; need not add,
that more indolent and ungovernable
family was not to be found. Que Of her
daughters was at length married, and for
two years, her example was revolving
comment upon her mothers miserable
management. At the expiration of this
period, God, inrhis sovereign mercy, saw
fit TO snatch this mother as brand from
the burning; and she is now endeavoring
TO retrace her steps, hoping, if possible, to
dislodce some of her own early and erro-
:, neous impressions. It's due to MIR. Genet
TO say, that his management with his
children, when not under the influence OF
the inebratiag cup, was. far more consls-
tent than that ofhis wife. He always set
before them IN example of industry and
economy; ~ had not this been the case
utter ruin and poverty must have ensued.
And here would remark: What bless
inc parents entail upon their children
when they train them to habits of industry
,nd economy! In the case Of Mr..
Genet, this fact was .strikiusly exempli-
fed. Even after many years of iptem-
enrance, his habits Of early childhood
had such powerful influence over hum,
that they might be said, mainly, to sway
the husband, the father, and the man.
Let US now reverse this sad picture.
BEHOLD in Mrs. I4add, a woman in whom
was centred every requisite qualification
to render her good wife and mother
She was pattern Of Christian forsitude'
natience, self-denial, perseverance, actIvl-
T. ,,,s,rv nea,ness, and economy: nor