Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1841-02-10
VOL. XIII. NO. 81.

by the way, and when thou lies, down.
and when thou risest up"
rs. Parents and the guardians of child.
rem, should never suffer themselves TO evade
the inquiries of children by falsehood.
For example-When an infant is born
IN the family, telling them that the pysi-
clan brought it, or that it was found in a
hollow tree, or, In short. telling them any
thing false about it There is nothing
improper, unnatural. or indecent, in letting
them know SO much upon the subject. as
thot II was torn of their mother. -.
&c. To tell children falsehoods about
such things, is only still further TO excite
their curiosity, and create the necessity
either OF telling them the truth or still
more falsehoods.
II. Be especially careful of the influ-
ences that act upon your children at com.
mon schools. 1t often seems to me, that
parents hardly dream of the amount oil
corruption, filthy language and conduct
often witnessed in common schools. Lit
tie children of the same, as well as of
opposite sexes, deeply corrupting and de-
hing each other. These things are often
pracsised, TO most shocking extent, with
out parents seeming even so much as to
know of it. would rather be at any ex-
pense, at all within my means, or even to
satisfy myself with one meal a day, to en-
able me to educate my children at home
sooner than to give them over to the iu-
ffuence of common schools, as they are
often arranged and conducted.
%. Remember that your children soiH
be educated, either by yourself or by some
one else. Either truth or error must
possess their minds. They will have iu-
struction, and if you do not secure to them,
right instruction, they will have that which
is false.
20. Prove yourselves in all respects
worthy of the confidence ofyour children.
Let them always witness in you the ut
most integrity Of character Let them, in
no instance, see in you the appearance of
deceit, falsehood, OF unkindness. Let your
whole heart stand open to them and, in
return, you will find, as thing ofcourse,
that their little hearts will stand open to
you. lfyou show yourselves worthy of
their confidence rely upon it you will have
it.
80. Deal thoroughly with their con-
ciences. AS soon as they are able to be
instructed on moral questions, give your
seIftoa thorough enlightening their minds
upon every precept of the law of God.
Put their minds as fully as possible in
possession of those truths that will make
their consciences quick and sharp as two
edged sword.
81. Guard against the cultivation of so
legal a spirit, as to drive them to despair
when they have sinned While YOU cul-
tivatethe most discriminating conscience,be
sure, aIso,to instruct the little one thorough.
Iy in respect to the plan of salvation by
faith in Jesus Christ.
80. Add physical discipline to moral
instructions. have referred to this sub
Ject before, but wish TO say in addition,
that 1t is doubtless one of the greatest er-
rors, in the education Of children, to over
look the fact, that at that early age the
discipline of the rod, will often present to
them a more powerful motive than can be
brought to bear upon them by moral truth.
presented to their unimformed minds.
The rod cannot be laid aside, until the
powers of the mind are so fully developed
and the mind SO thoroughly instructed, that
the whole range of moral truth may be
brought to exert its appropriate influence
on the mind, without the infiction ofpain
1t seems to me, that some parents affect to
be wiser than God. in taking it upon them
to decide, that it is not wise to use the rod
upon children. Prov. xix. l8: & xiii.
Is, IA: "Chasten thy son while there
IS hope, and let not thy soul spare for his
,rying. Withhold not correction from
he child: for if thou beatest him with the
cd, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat
lim with the rod, and shall deliver his
oul from hell"
80. Let them see that your RELIGION ia