Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-01-27
Tbr GarntIp GtrtIt.
For the Green Mountain Freeman.
The Family Circle
NUMBER TWO.

The family circle should be made attractive
to each member of the family. Children will
desire to be where they can find the greatest en-
joyment. If there are no attractions at home,
they will seek their happiness abroad. Ifhome
is more pleasant than any other place, they will
choose to be much at home.
1t does not require wealth and splendor to
make a home the best of places. The poor are
often much more happy than the rich, and would
not exchange their pleasant little cottage for the
splendid palace ofthe wealthy.
The more public and fashionable places of a
musement, would, in my opinion, soon be left
comparatively unoccupied, should the family cir
Gle be made as attractive, generally, as it might
be. Doubtless many who have happy homes do
now, sometimes, spend the l%ive-long night in the
merry dance; but should eocry home become
what it should be, there would ne. be a demand
for such an amusement, and few if any would be
found to expose their health by such protracted
exercise at such an u|ntimely season. If am
not mistaken, the main reason why so many seek
amusement in public parties, theaters, balls &c,
is because their family circle is not what it should
be.
Children should not be taught to suppose that
it is wrong for them, at times, to seek the soce-
ty of their fellows in a congregated capacity
Undue restraint is hurtful. All have a social
propensity that should, to some extent, be graft
fed, or even cultivated, This desire, however,
will regulate itself, if honor is what it should
be. 1t is, no doubt, beneficial to children to as
%sociate with other children Of good character
and habits. Their associates, however, should
be chosen by their parents for them. And the
times and manner Of their associating together,
should likewise be regulated by their parents Or
guardians.
Youth cannot always be kept from improper
places o fresort, by prohibitory commands. Pa
rents, who depend on their authority alone to
keep their children from frequenting improper
society, will often be subject to disappointment
All persons, old and young, will, in some way,
find that company which they love best. The
only way to keep youth from bad associates, is
to induce them to hate the society ofthe bad and
love the society of the good. To do this the So
ciety of home must be made Just what it ought
to be. If at home children are taught to be kind
and gentle, and attentive to each other, always
addressing one another in terms of repect and
affection, and they love such conduct, they will
be shocked at the rude, harsh and vulgar, Ian
guage and manners of wicked children, and
shun their society as they would a den of SER
penis.
The great inquiry then, of those who have the
care of younth, particularly of parents, is, how
shall children be induced to love good society
and hate wicked associates! How shall the fa-
mily circle be made the most attractive, and hap
py place, for each member, that can be found on
earth!
Doubtless each parent who shall read and con-
slider this question, will see improvements that
might be made in his own family circle, and will
at once a reform. But all parents
who love their children, are willing to receive
suggestions; and there are few that cannot learn
something, even from one who is not a parent, in
regard to the best manner Of making home hap
by. We will consider this topic more in a fu-
ture article. A. A. W.