Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1839-11-14
TRUTH BEAUTIFULLY EXPRESSED

The following passage, beautiful in
its truth aAd in the expression Of that
truth, is from the editor of the Balti-
more American. 1t will be deeply felt
and appreciated by every parent, and
most heartily do we commend it to the
attention Of children:
"If children could only be made a.
ware Of the heartfelt delight with which
parents behold the development of tai
ent and noble sentiment in their Off
spring, with what avidity would they
seek the means of their Intelligence,
and cherish the moral sentiments that
impart dignity to the human character.
From infancy to manhood the welfare
and happiness Of the child is 'he sole
object of the parents solicitude. I'm
der all circumstances through good or
evil fortune, the present and future con-
dition of those whom they may have
rocked in the cradle, or dandled on the
knee, is the polar star to which their
affections point with undertaking con-
stancy. Should their path through life
be prosperous the possession of wealth
and distinction is only precious in their
eyes, AZ atfording the means of confer
ring OH those who ore, in future years, to
be their representatives, the honors that
attend riches and exalted character;
and should adversely be their lot, and
difficulties beset them, they are forg OF
ten in the hope that circumstances may
ensure n better fate to their children
The child may be atiectionatc and ten
der, but the fiial relation is not suscep-
tible Of the intensity of affection which
belongs to the parental tie. 1t is this
debt of love, that enables the old to pass
from the stage Of life without regret.
They feel that in their children they
will continue to i've, and that, whatever
this world and its concerns may be lost
to them, succeeding generations will re-
cognize in their offspring portions of
themselvs. With what unspeakable de-
light does father behold the first mani
festations of exalted intelligence in son
and how does he dwell upon actions that
bespeak nobleness of purpose and sound
ness of integrity. If these feelings of
qualification are inexprcssibly delight
ful, so on the other hand the emotions
with which he views indications of an
opposite character are unutterably pain
iul. To see the object of his paternal
solicitude, over whom he has watched
day after day, and year after year, fall
ling off from the path Of virtue, and
deaf to appeals of honorable motives,
il to have a source Of bitterness Of re-
gret, to which no temporal blessing can
furnish an antidote. Honors may await
and the confidence and love of his fel-
low beings may, for a moment, cheer
his path through life, but when he re-
fleets that this honor and this love are
to be changed into contempt and dis
like in the person of his own child, he
feels as it it were better to be deprived
Of all, than to witness so heart-rending
q contrast. If there be reserved for
human life a JOY more exalted than all
others, it is that Of beholding its last
moments cheered by the iondness and
affections Of worthy and virtuous
progeny, and if there be n pang more
agonizing than any other, it is that of
dying parent, whose last thoughts rest
upon the crimes Of depraved but fond
loved child"