Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-05-07
ever gets glance from admiring swains as
sincere as that, she will he lucky"

sincere as that, she will he lucky"
All, these children little witches! pretty
IN oil their faults and absurdities winning,
even in their sins and iniqui,ies. See, for
example, yonder lille fellow in naughty fl
he has shaken his long curls over his deep
blue eyes-'he lair brow is bent in frown
the rose lip Is pursed up in infinite def
ance, aud the white shoulder thrust haughtly
forward. Can any one but child look SO
pretty even in their naughtinessl
Then comes the instant change-nashing
smiles and tears, as the good comes back all
in a rush, and you are overwhelmed with
protestations, promises and kisses They
are irresistible, too, these little ones. They
pull away the scholars pen-tumble about
his Papers-make somereets over his books.
and what can he dol They tear his news
papers-l,ter his carpets, break, pull and up-
set, and :hen jabber unimaginable English in
self-defcnce, and what can you do for your
selfl
"If had child" says the precise man,
"you should see."
He does have child, and his child tears
mp his papers, tumbles over his things, and
pulls his nose. like all other children. and
what has the precise man to say for himself?
Nothing; he is like every body else, ga little
child shall lead himr'
Poor little children! they bring and teach
us, human beings, more good than they can
get in return. How often does the infant,
with its soft cheek and helpless hand, awaken
a mother from worldliness and egolism, to a
world of newer and higher feeling ! How
often does the mother repay This by doing
her best 10 wipe of, even before the time, the
dew and simplicity Of childhood, and make
her daughter too soon woman of the world.
as she has been
The hardened heart Of the worldly man is
unlocked by the guieless tones and simple
caresses of his son-but he repays it, in time,
by impariing to his boy all the crooked tricks,
and hard ways, aud callous maxims which
have undone himself.
Go TO the jail-to the northumberland
find there the wretch most sullen, brutal and
hardened. Then look at your infant son.
Such as he is to you, such to some mother
was this man. That hard hand was soft and
delicate-tlat rough voice was tender and
lisping-fond eyes followed him as he played
and he was rocked and graded as some
thing holy. There was time when his
heart, soft and unworn, might have opened TO
questionings Of God, and Jesus, and been
sealed with the seal of heaven. But harsh
hands seized it--ferce goblin lineamcats were
impressed upon it--and it Is all over with him
forever!
So, OF the tender, weeping child, is made
the callous, heartless man-of the all. beliey.
ing child, the sneering skeptic-of the beau
tiful and modest, the shameless and abandon
ed-and this is what tile World Goes for the
little one.
There was a time when the Divine One
stood on earth. and the little children sought
to draw near to him. But harsh human be-
ings stood between him and them. forbiddlng
their approach. All !! has it not been ALWAYS
sor DO not even we, with onr hard and I'M
subdued feelings-our worldly and unscrip.
tural habits and inaxIms--stands like dark
screen between our child and its Savior, and
arrest the sweet radiance which might unfold
paradise? "Su(fer little children to come unto
me-" is still the voice Of the Son Of God, but
me cold world still closes around and forbids
When of old, the disciples would question
their Lord of the higher mysteries of His
Kingdom, he took little child and set him
IN the midst, as sign Of him who should be
greatest in heaven. That gentle teacher still
remains to us. BY every hearth and Preside
Jesus still sets the lille chilli in the midst OF
us
Wouldst thou know, o parent what is that
faith which unlocks heaven Go not to the
wrangling poemics, or creeds and forms of
theology, but draw to thy bosom thy little
one, and read in that clear, trusting eve, the
lesson Of eternal lfe Be only to thy God
Rs thy child is to thee, and all ia done,-
Blessed shalt thou be indeed, when "a 7iu7e
child shall lead thee ~ Y Evangelist.
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