The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1847-02-18
The Sin and Folly of scolding.
"Fret not thyself in any wise to do evil."-Psalms
XXXvii. 2.

The Sin and Folly of Scolding.
"Fret not thysef in any wise to do evil."-Psalms
XXxvii. 2.
l. It IS a sin against God. 1t is an evil and
only evil, and that continually. David under
stood both human nature and the law of God.
He says, " fret not thysef in any wise to do
evil" That is, never fret or scold, for it Is
always a sin If you cannot speak without
fretting or scolding, keep silence.
2 1t destroys affection. No one ever did,
ever can, or ever will love an habtual fret
ter, fault-fnder, or scolder, Husbands, wives,
children, relatives or domestics, have no af-
lection for peevsh, fretful fault-fnders. Few
tears are shed over the graves of such. Per-
sons of high moral principle may tolerate
them-may bear with them. But they can
not love them more than the sting Of nettles
or the noise Of mosquitoes. Many man has
been driven to the tavern and to dissipation
by peevish, fretful wife. Many wife has
been made miserable by peevish, frettul huS-
band.
8. It is the Jane Of domestic happiness. A
fretful, peevish, complaining fault finder in
family is like the continual chatting of an in
famed sore. Woe to the man, woman or
child, who is exposed to the influence of such
a temper in another. Nine tenths of all des
nestle trials and unhappiness spring from this
source. Mrs ID. is of this temperament. She
wonders her husband is not more fond of
her company; that her children give her so
much trouble that domestics do not like to
work for her; that she cannot secure the good
will Of young people. The truth is, she is
peeyish and trettul Children fear her, and
do not love her. She never yet gained the
oNn oF
except she leaves off fretting
l.. II defeats the end Of family government.
Good family government is the blending au-
thority with affection, so as to secure respect
and love. Indeed, this is the great secret Of
managing young people. Now your letters
may inspire fear, but they always make two
faults where they correct one. Scolding at
child, fretting at a child ,sneering at a child,
taunting child, treating child as though it
had no teelings,inspires dread and dislike and
fosters those very dispositions from which
many of the faults Of childhood proceed. Mr.
G and Mrs F. are of this class Their chill
dren are made to mind; but how? Mrs F.
frets and scolds her children. She is severe
enough upon their faults She seems to watch
them in order to find fault. She sneers at
Them treats them as though they had no
feelings. She seldom gives them command
without threat and iong-running, fault
finding commentary. When she chides, it is
not done il a dignifed manner. She raises
her voice, puts on a cross look, threatens and
strikes them, pinches their ears, snaps their
heads, SC. The children cry, pout, sulk, and
thus poor Mrs + has to do her work over
pretty often. Then she will find fault with
her husband because he does not fall in with
her ways, or chime with her as chorus.
5. FreHing and Scolding makes hypocrites.-
As fretter never receives confidence and
affection, so no one likes to say any thing dis
agreeable, and thus procure for themselves
tretting. Now, children conceal as much as
they can from such persons. They cannot
make up their minds to be frank and OPEN
hearted. So husbands conceal from their
wives, and wives from their husbands. Fora
man may brave lion, but he likes not to
6. II destroys ones peace of mind. The
more one frets the more he may. A fretter
may always have enough to fret at. Espec-
tally if he or she has the bump of order and
neatness largely developed. Something will
always be out of place. There may always
be some dirt somewhere others may not look
right, eat right, talk right; he may not do
these things so as to please them. And fret
ters often are so selfish as to have no regard
for any ones comfort but their own.
Z. II is a mark Of a Uulgor dispositions
Some persons have so much gall in their dis
position, are so selfish that they have no re-
gard to the feelings of others, Every thing
must be done to suit them. They make their
husbands, wives, children, domestics, the con-
ductors by which their spleen and ill nature
are discharged. Woe to the children who are
exposed to such influences. 1t makes them
caIous and unfeeling, and when they grow
up they pursue the same course with their
own children, or those entrused to their man
agomcnt, and thus the race of fretters is per-
petuated. Amy person who is in the habit of
freting or sneering, taunting their husbands,
wives, children, or domcstics either shows
bad disposition, or else low breeding For it
is generally your ignorant, low-brcd people
that are guilty of such things Congregations
al Journal,