New-York daily tribune., 1845-12-24
A Word for Mothers.


highly appreciated by multtudes who will rejoice in the
opportunity of obtaining the authors latest and most
mature thoughts the important topics OF which il
treats For sound moral instruction practical good
sense we know OF no work OF its class worthy to be
compared with it, aud we could wish Ina; copy
placed in the hand OF every mother in land. The
sentiments OF the author on one topc-tha, OF logging
Chi!dren-accord SO perfectly with our and are
moreover timely, thai permit readers
share with the pleasure OF ;heir perusal. We copy
from the concluding chapter OF the work as follows:
This book was published fourteen years ago, and is
repubished al the request OF few friends. Were
TO write ii now it would not be precisely 1t is but
comparing this sereoyped record with my present
views ind thai have not changed have only yro,cu
On subject, this growth has sufficiently modified
my opinions, TO make some recan,aton necessary
the subject OF punishment. have, throughout
the work alluded to whipping as sometimes, and TO
moderate degree, necessary. | now believe otherwise
Such measures may, OF course, secure more prompt
obedience by exciting fear but believe this
be done without injury TO the cnild.
have very judicous friend. the mother Of a fine
family With her first children she acted upon the
commonly received idea that il sometimes necessary
to slap them when they were naughty. She observed
however tina. this failed excite Cecrce of
resentment and or less diverted their attention
from the wrong they had done 70 the injury they SUIT
fercd. With her younger children, she discontinued
whipping, and substituted m.lder forms OF punishment,
SUCH as shutting them up i'll room By themselves
making them go 10 bed supperess &c This excited
their evil feelings less bur, in degree, this like
wise turned their attention from their fault 10 the
punishment inflicted. The accusation, which should
have fallen with Its whole weight themselves was
partially bestowed the parent. Something OF resist
and rebellion always reused. though its out
ward manifestation might be restrained by the fear Of
additional punishment NY friend was wise woman
and knew that it was far better avoid contests
with her children. than on victorious in them
The less the coIbatlve principle Is reused INTO activity
before reason aud conscience are mature enough TO
guate it, the better Habits OF the mind whether good
or bad strengthened in this way. the muscles OF
gold beateEs grow stout By constant II a child
is OF obstinate temper is therefore better
any little matter of difference lightly than his
besetng ain by compulsory efforts 10 subdue him. 1t
is better to keep his obstlnacy quiescent posi-
bic, ul he Is old enough 10 be reasoned with and thus
taught to employ his perseverance, tor worthy and noble
ends
Acting upon this principle OF not arousng evil feel
inss, If possible avoid H. my friend resolved try
with her youngest girl the effect OF sorrow instead OF
penalty. She very volatile, and her mother had
many doubts whether the experiment would prove sue
cessiul. The first time she tried 1t the occasion
Of visiting relative The child was extremely desirous
to accompany her parents but was told that un
suitable Tor her 20 be out so late they intended 10 stay
Habitual hrnness had taught her that teasing OF
avail and she gave up the effort AT parting her
mother bade her be good girl and go quietly TO bed at
eight O'Clock and in the morning she should hear al
about the visit At o'clock her parents returned and
seated themselves at the paror fire. chatting over the
events OF the evening Presently they heard timid,
nal suppressed Elgge ana, looking rOun0, tney saw
little Mary peeping from under the table. My daugh
ter how is it that you not in bed said her mother
calmly The little rogue stole forth from her hiding
place. and looked very sheepsh she answered
Why, mother wanted to sit up till you came back
But ! told you to go TO bed al eight My little daugh.
ter knows she has done very wrong. The cuprt stood
while in perpeXity she expected TO be ordered in.
stanty to bed least to be reproved But her pa
rents went talking with each other she
in the room and at last, she hestatDgly drew up her
little stool and seated herself at her mothers side AZ
far bn MIN nm po,1rau aak ahptt
visit. Who was there, lid any body say any thing
about me, &c Her mother answered al her questions,
very kindly, though somewhat sadly. At lcueth she
said Mother think il is time for me TO 20 to bed -
Well Mary. Let unpin your clothes. II is bright
moonlight, and you will need no lamp. Do not waken
Elizabeth
The child fingered and hesitated and at last said
May kiss you and father = They drew her toward
them, imprinted kiss her lips and bade her af
fectionate good night
After she had gone they queried with each other
whether this mode Oi treatment would make her think
lightly of her fault and more prone 10 be disobedeht in
future. She such froicksome, thoughtcss child,
that they were not without fears that it might be
They were even doubtful whether she noticed the sad
ness OF their tones when they kissed her and bade her
good night; for she went away smiling, and tripped
lightly up stairs But when her mother retired for the
night, she had scarcely placed her head the pillow,
before she heard little bare feet padding the
try floor; and moment after little curly head was
her BOSOM sobbng out Oh, mother dear, can't so to
sleep. Forgive me. know did very wrong. Sweet
moments of reconciliation passed between parents and
child in the still moonlight and then the little went
to her pillow and slept as the lambs sleep
The perfect kindness with which she had been treated
while she felt that her parents grieved by her con-
duct left work for her heart 10 do but to accuse her
SELF and only by confession and repentance could she
be at peace.
Whether such course would always produce similar
results will not venture to say but every day Of my
life become and more convinced OF the omnipo
tence OF love IN subduing all evil II is indeed absolutely
necessary that gentlencss should be united with
promising hrmness Children should never be allowed
10 gain their point in opposition 10 any rule that has
been established for them To be at once gentle and
unyeldng. requires strong effort. Hence many peo
pie who dislike severity fall into the opposite
OF inudicious indulgence and their example IS often
quoted in favor OF the od'iashoned rgidity OF dscI
pine.
Whipping is, however, coming more and more into
disrepue; and before long wise parent will practice
it, allow his child TO attend school where il prac.
ticed. To attain the difficult habit OF being both mild
and firm, of studying in all things the permanent gsod
OF the child, rather than present convenience to self
requires a humble and selfdenying spirit. The moral
atmosphere which emanates from parents hab!tual
state OF mind greatly affects The children. II they are
quiet gentle and refined II will be reflected the bab
It's and manners OF the family. If they rough, l
patient, or noisy the children Will be little bedaInes.
however much good advice they may may give in oppo
slton TO their own example.
1t is impossible 10 eXaggera.e the importance OF the
splrua! atmosphere OF home oi the thousand little
things done said without calculation of results of
the daily and heurly emanatOns from charac-
ters IL has been beautifully said
Education does not commence with the alphabet
II begins with mothers look-wiih fathers nod OF
appreciation sigh of reproof-wth sisters gentle
pressure OF the hand brothers noble OF orbear
snce-with handiuls Of flowers in green and daisy
meadows-wth birds nests admired but not touched
with creeping and almost impercepible emRets-
with humming bees and glass bee hives-wth pleasant
walks in shady lanes-and with thoughts directed, IN
sweet and kindly words beauty 10 acts OF
benevolence deeds oil all virtue and to the Of
all good, TO God himself
Is not our Heavenly Father kind to
these little Innocent souls that ourselves may enter
his kingdom, by the prayeriul effort 10 keep them for
ever near their guardian angels y
E CHEEvERs LECTURES on THE PILGRIMS
PROGRESS and on the Lie and Times OF JOHN BuNYAN
Fourth Edition has jus, been issued BY Edward Walker
la Fultonst. 1t giltedged OF 5l4 pages
fully and fairly illustrated printed large and good
type and would be acceptable Holiday present or de-
vout persons of Orthodox faith The work, however
has higher merits than might be implied from this
mark. That Bunyan's works are entirely unlike any
thing else In Literature (and doubtless viii De after
another thousand miiators shall have fitted their brief
hour and been forgoteu) all readers OF English
aware but Mr.. Cheever's peculiar merits are not as
widely famous. AS vigorous writer an able dsputau