Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1836-10-12
PARENTS DEPARTMENT.
From the Religious Magazine.
FILIAL AFFECTION.

In nothing is the kindness Of our bene-
ficient Creator more apparent than in his
institution ofthe family Fami!y-touch
ing word What host Of tender associ-
atoms cluster in our minds around the
simple thought, "my home!' What is
it which gives to home this magic power
over us2 Abroad in the busy world we
have honor, emolument distinction; at
home we have Lore. Even the stern and
fearless man cannot subsist upon the con-
ventional and heartless attention, or even
the sincere and gratifying respect of the
world abroad his soul yearns for the fond
expressions of his wife and little ones for
the assistance, support, and respectful sym
pathy in all his plans of his older children
at home. And of all the charms of home
there is none superior in power and beau
" to the charm of filial affection. Its in
fuence and operation are as noiseless and
unobtrusive as the quiet twilight of Sab
bath eve; but it throws halo of glory
around the family where it is unobstruct-
ed Its power, like that Of the religion of
Jesus. is pervading. 1t controls the whole
character. To suppose the child full of
flial affection to be lacking in fraternal
| love, is absurd. Filial affection is a
mighty principle, inferior, yet like, to love
to God. The child reasons under eyery
circumstance, will nv father, will nv
mother be pleased to have me do thus %
That the parents have trained up their
children ia the way that they should 60,
is the supposition here Its beauty, who
can describe Observe the sympathy
which exists between that gentle daughter
and her busy father. anna" he says
as he goes abroad to the tolls of morning
= lecture, "Anna, my love, this is the arti
Gle wish you to copy to day in your fair
hand my manuscript is such a scrawl, ]
fear you will be troubled with it." mo
fear Of that, dearest father; l know your
writing well, and shall easily puzzle ii
out" In the same manner she applies
herself day after day, and even copies vol
umes; lively flial affection fostered by q
fathers smile making that a pleasure
which is really a laborious task, anc
which to another would be irksome anc
disgusting.
Does such flial affection exist In all ia
miles, The very question is distressing
but vet it must be met, since this, follow
: ed by the inquiry, why not is the yer.
object ofthis paper. The first inquiry GU
readers Experience will have answered
: We pass to the other. We shall not sta.
!, TO prove the obligation of children to low
y their parents. That God hath command
y ed ii is enough. But the duty is self-evi
: dent One would think that God enjoln
? ed it in the rDecalogue, merely that tn
!, vilest might be without excuse, and know
and be assured that obedience here wa
not matter Of indifference but of explic
Is command Our subject considered Z
} length would be far too comprehensive fo
= the limits Of a single paper. We sha
!, therefore pass the case Of those famihe
"a where God is not acknowledged. For
"a you love not God, to whom you stand II
v debted for your all. think you the sage
precepts to your children, will counterva
g this glaring practical lesson of disobed
m ence." Can you, who quietly resist tn
r so much greater obligation, with muc
re confidence expect your offspring to recoi
IN nize the loss, Morbid we propose to col
In slider the duty of fllial obedience any tarth'
ed than it is inseparable from filial love-
v The inquiry which particularly attrac
To our attention is, why is it that in SON
lie Christian families, where the chiidrs
IS have been trained up in the nurture al
y, admonition of the Lord; have been co
verted If you please, and even attribu
sc their conversion TO the faithful efforts
their parents; where they entertain
IN high respect for the endowments of the
IA parents, and for their standing in socict
OFT there should yet be comparatively lit
g. ilial loye2 Isl TAT these parents ha
sd-ltalsen les pains, made les siiort, srps