Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-07-29

w AA"t Jul ~ nllON VI uCuIH!
Over it Immortality broods like the day. But,
above all, how absolute and uncompromisng and
godike is child's sense Of right He recogni-
yes no limitations to the law of duty lie knows
not policy until he learns it from the evil prac-
tees of the world Repeat to a child the i'm
mortal lessons of peace and love which Christ
uttered and he instantly recognizes the very
commandments Of God, and asks, "Why them
do men 90 to war? Why do they ill-treat and
enslave one another?" With terrible fidelity of
application, he turns your instructions directly
upon you, and demands, since such is Gods law
why you do thus and so. Children cannot I'M
derstand until the world teaches them, how any
necessity should interfere to render entire obedi-
ence impossible.
In all these respects We may distinguish in
them the features Of Grace Of heaven" and
learn the deep significance Of the command
which requires US all to become like little chill
dren. Soon, very soon, by our worldliness, by
our cowardly compromises, we drag them down
from the lofty position which they occupy. Much
as is said and done about the the instruction,
the moral and religious instruction, of the young,
it seems to me sometimes that the world is in
nothing more busily engaged than in corruptlng
every child that comes int0rit 1t compes the
young to cast away as impracticable distractions
the plainest monitions of duty 1t hides from
them the wickedncss Of war by its vain talk about
"famous victories" 1t dazzles their eyes with
the gaudy trappngs of the soldier. 1t hardcns
them to the deadly wrong which man inActs Oh
man, by pleading the way of the world, and i
system of things which not God, but man, has
devised And so.their wings are clipped, and
al 40 a. ortb lilo
If we reyercnced childhood as we should, if we
distinguished in it the IncamentS of the higher
life, we should sit like children low at its feet
and the established relation of teachers and
children would be reversed, and with the reli-
gious poet of our age, the parent would exclam
TO his child:
30 dearest, dearest child, my heart
For better lore would seldom yearn
Could | but teach the hundredh part
OF what from thee learn"
As it is, amidst The thick steaming corruptions
of the world, it is childhood that still keeps
some sweetness in it. Though the young soon
aIight upon the earth, and become earthly like
us, yet for a space they hover over us, like an
gelic minisrants, tanning with white wings the
fevered brain of many SHINING man and wo
man, and sending purifying beams of blessed
z light in upon our stained and hardened hearts
Even in their inarticulate hclplessness, wher
they first make their appearance here, what
springs of tenderness do they cause to break
forth in human bosoms. How mighty is thei
coming. Like the angel at Bethesda, they sti
the fountain of life, dark with the surroundin!
shadows of sin, and instantly it receives heal
ing efficacy. Whether they come or depart
their ministry is alike powerful. Their depart
ure, like their coming, sheds celestial influence
through the whole household, like the broker
box of precious perfume poured by Mary upol
the head of Jesus Said not Christ truly, 90
such is the kingdom of heaven" ?"-F~"ess.