Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1838-05-17
Miscellaneous,
THE ELDEST DAjj3H,TER

tant station in the family. She stands mex
10 her mother. She is, in one sense
her right hand. If properly trained, sh,
will be the support of her mother, IN sus
tanning her authority in the family; she vii
be at hand 10 render assistance when need
cd; aud she will take the place OF her mo
thcr III her absence. But, above all if the
mother should be removed by death, she
Will occupy her place in the education %
younger cl,ldrem. All these things shoul,
he taken INTO consideration b, the parents
III The training Ofiie eldest daughter. A
n"!hct has mach more time to devote tt
her first chtl than she can have 10 an,
other; and more to Inc first daughter than
I" the younger ones. Ii she succeed in
training her alright, she will find hcr,ei
greatly relieved in the management anu
education of all The rest. Children are imi.
ta'ive beings; and they will acquire habits
from other children, much more readil,
than by the teaching of parents; this rem
dcrs II the more important tha, the first chil,
should he well established in good principles
and correct habits; and especially in the
case 0t daughter, SO far US respects her
influence upon the younger children, be-
cause she will be for Il longer time the com
| i'anlon and assistant of her mother, and
lave much greater share in the direction
ot family arrangements. She will also he
IN" companion of the Younger children,
when the mothers eye cannot be upon them:
and IT properly trained, she will at such
times. he the representative of the mother )
authority.
But, il parents fai; in the training cfthc
| first chil'l-espccialy if il be a tiaugh
they will probably fail with all the rest. If
she grow up lll-hrcad, with bad habits. and
without liked principles of action, her cx-
ample and influence will counteract the ci.
forts of the parents, if they attempt to re-
trlcvc their error in the better traiilin. of
The younger ones. But ,hatthe subject may
bc seen III all lis bearings, we will consider
some particulars, t0 which the aticntiou of
parents ought to be directed, III the educa-
ton of their first child: but more especially
their eldest daughter.
|. Ihey should sccurc prompt obedience.
There is no point in the moral training of
children, :" Important rs this, because no
thing else cXcris so great an influence over
ills Ei'i IS failure in every thing tGs BsrS Bsis ~
the acl of submitting to the authority Of the
parents bears SO strong Il resemblance to
| lha, ol submission to God thai the one seems
To prepare III" WAY for the other. and ii is
not impossible that the latter may nc some
times involved i'll the former. No pains
should he spared, ,ihcrclurr,:O secure prompt,
ready and perfect obedience, un the part of
the frsl child for upon This must depend.
! in Il measure the question. whethcr The au-
| lii0rity Of the parents shall bc maintained
| in the family. lflost with the first, it can
scarcely he Subsequently rrgaincd. The
child should he suffered To have no will oi
it's own. The parents will must be the
rule Of its duty In whatever way this will
| is made known To the child it must he i'm
plci,ly obcych. There must be no demnr-
ring, no answering back, no delay, no fail
IRE of complete performance. The di>po-
stlon TO require explanations, TO !iagcr and
10 vary :, little from instructions. SD often
witnessed in children. arises from an unsub.
dmrd will and disposition 10 have their
own way, If this i, no. promptly nippcd
in the bud, it sill he diilicul, ever to over
come ii. aud ifpcrmiticd in the eldest child.
il will not hc easy to convince Tic younger
ones that they ought not 10 be ai!o" ed the
same indulgence. A good beginning in this
| particular, may save parents Il series Ui ac-
cumnlating difficulties, pcrplsXtic> and >or-
rows, which may cmbillcr their whole lives
=. Intimately connected with lhr above
is oLcdicncc TO God How important rha,
The eldest daughter, " no is to occupy 81
conspicuous Il station in the family, should
have her heart early brought under the in
llucncc Of religious principles As she
yields To the will of her parents, she Should
he brought ais" 10 yield her heart 10 hcl
Creator. And this must be hv The hlr,sll.
of God upon parental instruction. aud it
answer t" parental soliciluic AMI prayer
II They fail III this respect. they have no So
curity for the future character of their ian
"; for the heart that Is un>uhdurd by tht
Grace of G0d, is always impatient of re
>tra'nt; and parental authority may bc cas-
Off as the child approaches maturity, if i
be not sustained hy the fear and love of Go,
in the heart. The child should be earl,
taught to act in al things from religion
principle; and with the impression that tn,
all seeing Eye rests upon her. This shnnl,
grow into Il habit, and be interwovcn witt
her earliest associations. No tongue cal
tell the benefits which would accrue to IN
{ younger members of the family. by lla,in
constantly before them such an example q
! conscientious action.
3. Vcracity. Strict regard 10 truth is
cardinal virtue. 1t is one of The bond
which hold society together. |, is the pril,
:. cipc which inspires confidence bclwcc
man and man. 1t ought therefore. TO or
: cupy prominent place, in The cducatio
of The nursery and IN order to do so, III
6 habit must be- established with the cldc
!, daughter. She must be taught by the pre-
: ccpt. examples and authority of the parent
d never to oprcvarlratc. deceive. or in any 9th,
d mannrrio dcvialc from the plain and sin
. nI, irutL- Nru DriprnS Succf1JOr