Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1841-02-03
RELIGIOUS MISCELLANY
From the Oberl;n Evangelist
LETTERS TO PARENTS. -yo. 4.
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LETTERS TO PARENTS. -yo.4
Dear Brethren and Sisters
In continuing my remarks upon
the subject of training children. let me
say
Ia. Keep them, as much as possible,
with yourself, and under your own eye
Be yourself, as far as possible, the COM
panion of your own children. There is
perhaps no greater error among parents,
than TO suffer the children of a neighbor-
hood TO mingle with each other. without
restraint, find their own sports, and en-
ploy themselves as they please. There is.
scarcely no neighborhood in which there
are not more or less children, who have
heard more or less filthy conversation,
vulgar, hateful, polluting, immoral, and
perhaps proiane and blasphemous things;
and whose minds have become deeply
imbued, perhaps, with the spirit of the pit
or some other abomination, that, if left
without restraint, will corrup: allthe child
rem in the neighborhood. Thus, one
wicked child, if left TO mingle freely with
the whole neighborhood of playful, con-
filling, and unsuspecting children, will
defile and ruin them. Therefore. below
ed, keep your children at home. Suffer
no children of your neigbors to come
within your yard, or upon their play
ground, without your consent. And be
careful not to give your consent, unless
you or some responsible adult member o
your family can be with them. BE sure
that you do not con6de in the purity of q
neighbor's children, because their parent.
are good people, and suppose that tn,
minister's or the deacon's children, may
safely be left to mingie with yours o
course. You should remember, that. tn,
best of parents may have their children
corrupted by contact with other wicke'
chilGren; and you cannot be sure tina
they have not been. Therefore, be O.
}your guard, or perhaps, from the chidre
[of 2ions parents, an influence may flow i
upon your family that will deeply corruI
and finally destroy your children.
Objection. But most parents are al
to say, we cannot give up our time to OF
children. We are obliged to attend |
other matters. To this reply:
That this very seldom need to be s.
If parents would satisfy themselves with
competency ofthis worlds goods, and aba
don their fastidious and fashionable way
ofliving, they would, in almost all case
have abundant time for companionsh
with their children.
OBJ. 2. But again it is objected, tn
children need the society of each other
that the children Of a neghborhood a
, benefited by contact with each other.
that without this contact, they are apt
= be selfish, and proud, and TO lack inter,
in others besides themselves. TO this
Ii answer:
.. That to be sure, children need socie
!, They need contact with other mne
!. They need to be so associated with hum
as beings. as to take an interest in them,
witness the developments ofcharacter, a
" to develope their own characters. But
is | is believed. al least by me. that chiIdr
re are vastly more benefited by contact "
of adult minds. than with the minds of chi
of rem. mean ofcourse, those adults wh,
On spirit, and conversation, and conduct, I
ed what they ought to be. And, to be su
We it ought to be the contact with those "
To- take an interest in them. The example
of adults has more influence with childr,
than that of children with each 9th
he And | honestly say, | would not care
have my children ever see any other Chi
up rem. could they be favored with The ri
ID, kind of adult contact.
m Is. Provide means for their anu
to ment at home. Children must hi
ne amusement. They must and will be {
'en ployed. They must have a room !
ov- grounds to play in. They mus. b
nm means and things with which to am
in themselves. And parents can never nj
cry a more just and appropriate use Of Il
the money than by providing with il the me
to of amusing. employing. and educai