The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-09-10
From the Golden Rule.
The influence Of Alnuselnent5 in
the formation of Character.

the formation OF Character.
\ DIALOGUE BETWEEN TWO MOTHERS.
The substance of the following dialogue &C.
Cured in our hearing not long since. in the
names, and to some extent, in the forms OF cX-
preston, we have consulted our own fancy
Ed.
Mrs Badcn.-Good morning, sister.
Mrs. Woodtord.-Good morning Are you
i'll or have you left any one i'll at home
There is a mark Of deep anxiety on your
countenancc that you are not accustomed to
wear. DO explain to me the cause without
delay, for | am anxious to learn.
Mrs. B.-Indecd, [ am sorry thus to have
awakened your apprchensions. Twill answer
YOU first negatively, | am not i'll, nor have
| left any patient at home All are well, and
CAV as the birds that checred me with their
carols as passed the Hickey grove on my
way. But there is a subject now resting on
my mind that gives me some anxiety. l al
most fear to tell you what it is, lest you think
me oficous and fault finding,
Mrs. W-O you need not fear that; YOU
know have always looked to you for counsel
as an older sister.
Mrs. B-Well then, proceed The sub
iect that now gives me anxiety is nothing
more nor less than the anusoments Of your
children.
Mrs. W.--Thc ansueements ofmy children :
Well, really, you have taken nc unawarcs,
and / am at loss to comprehend you. If
you had said the want Of docility Of my chill
dren, or their backwardness i'll learning, or
almost any OF their defects, | should have
been prepared for you, knowing as do, how
eaglc-cyed you are to discover the faults, not
only of my children, but Of your own. But
what of their amusements? | have heard
you contend strenuously, that children must
have time, and room, and means, and variety
of amusement; and l have tried to profit by
your homilies on that topic, and by quoting
your authority to their tathcr--who by the
way thinks you quite an oracle on family
trainng--have persuaded him to purchase
them several articles for their amusement
such as hoops, bow and arrows, mimic guns
and bayoncts, and soldiers uniform, and
have been quite gratitied with the success of
the experiment, for they have had fewer
ouarres, and have been far less trouble to
me since they have had these sources of
amusement than ever before.
Mrs. B.--You have now touched the source
of my anxiety, which was awakened by wit
Messing their mimic martial 1eats as | came
up the alley. A fine appearance they made,
truly, and proud enough they were with their
bright tin bayonets glittering in the sun, and
their gay plumcs waving, and Alvord looked
brave as boy of twelve could look, as he
exclaimed L" See, aunt Eunice, ] am Captain
Taylor, and shall be General Taylor by and
by and when we get ready, we will take Mat
amoras," and he wheeled to the right, and or
dered forward, march, in gallant style, and
-" Yankee Doodle was not disgraced by their
young drummer and fife player Truly, sis
ter, must acknowledge that your sons and
the few companions they seem to have enrol
led in their company, are no mean prolicicnts
in martial teats.
Mrs. W.--Wel, sister, if they make such
exhilarating amusement of it, where is the
objection especially as you are 50 great an
advocate for the cultivation Of musical talent
in children.
Mrs. B--NTy objection is, that this amusc-
ment is cultivatng a warlikc spirit in your
children. They are learning to associate in
their minds the cmolumcnts and glory (fasIely
so called) of war, and of its bloodshed, car
mage and suffering, and its thousand namcless
horrors. And, if they imbibe this spirit and
these impressions in their childhood, they will
abide by them in ripper years.
Mrs. W-Well truly, sister, you have I'M
bibed more fully than had imagined the pu-
ritanical notions of our Grandfather, though
Of his burning patriotism it seems to me you
have not Inherited a particle. Were his
shade to visit the little martial band which
has excited so much apprehension in your
mind | doubt very much whether he would
sympathize very deeply in your feelings; for
never did his e e kindle with such ardor as
when he recounted some Of the daring and
glorious achievements of the revolutionary
struggle,
Mrs B--I apprehcnd you have mistaken
little the ground on which rested the ardor
and enthusiasm ofnur venerable Grandfather.
1t was not the spirit of war; in itself consider
ed, that fred his bosom, for have heard him