Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1845-03-10
"I HAVE NO CONTROL OVER MY SON.

81 HAVE NO CONTROL OVER MY SON."
Thus said parent TO US, about year
and half since, on our telling him that a
boy of his, about fifteen years Of age, had
purchased some papers, Tor selling, OF US,
and laughed at US afterwards when asked
for payment, as if he had played an excel
lent trick. We thought it our duty then
TO inform the parent OF the dishonest act,
that the boy might be seasonably arrested
in his vicious practices, ere he became
confirmed in them, and greater, which
would ultimately lead him to inevita bic
ruin, and bring disgrace and heartfelt sor-
row upon his relatives and friends. But,
in the goodness of his heart, the parent had
"spared the rod, and spoiled the child"
until, in his own words, he had no con
troll over him" Time passed on, and we
heard no more Of the boy, until this week;
he was arrested, and brought before Justice
MAYNARD, and committed to take his trial
for stealing, if not for burglary. Little
did that parent think of the high and holy
duty he was neglecting, in suffering that
hayward boy of his to grow up unrestrained
and uncontrolled, even in the indulgence
of vicious habits. in the days Of his early
youth-ihe period Of life in which the roun
daton Of character is laid, when habits are
formed which are to go with US, and make
US all we are, in our after existence
"Train up child in the way he should
go, and when he is old he will not depart
from it," is the lesson Of wisdom which has
stood recorded, upon the sacred page, for
ages, and would that it would sink deep
into the heart of every parent, and all upon
whom devolves the great responsibility Of
the early education Of children. 1t should
be the uppermost sentiment in the bosom
Of every mother, as in the OVERLOOKING Of
the abundance Of maternal love, she moulds
and fashions the character Of the charge
within her keeping, when so much is de-
pending upon the teachings she shall give.
And The father should never I" lose control
over his sons" by kindly influences, until
they have grown to mans estate-nave
strength Of mind-an established principle
Of action-and have become imbued with
lessons of wisdom and virtue for their gui.
dance and direction amid the snares and
temptations which beset them in every step
Of lIfe's journey. How oft, in after life,
do the teachings Of mother-the prayers
which she has sent up for US, come to our
minds with a pervading influence, and re.
strain US from the commission Of wrong,
even when removed by time far away from
the home Of our childhood. Memory comes
booming across the ocean Of time, bearing
US back to early scenes, and our minds al nd
our hearts are chastened by the RETROSPECT.
ton. How important, then, that the teach.
ings of our young life be of the light kind
that the infant mind and the tender hear
should receive the impress of Truth, ere
error has had time TO tastcn its stain upon
either. Those lessons of piety which are
essential 10 the true dignity and safety OIL
man, come not 10 us with half their effects
from other sources, as from a mothers
lps-we receive them from thence with
confidence, as from the heart of one who
loves US, with all the tenderness and devo
tedness Of which human nature is capable.
Well may that parent tremble for the
future who has "no control over his chill
dren." Dark clouds envelope it, and disnla
: prospects alone shroud the coming destiny.
Heed we, then, the voice Of wisdom-the
voice of God, and train up your children
in the way they should go, that when they
are old they may not depart from it. Then
joy will come 10 the soul in your declining
years, and your gray hairs will go down
TO the grave in peace, and your children
will rise up and bless your memory for the
good you have done them.