Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1851-05-09
CHILDHOOD

O1lLDI1OOD.
Be kind to the little child. You cannot
tell how one harsh word or unkind look will
his heart and fill his eyes with tears
You may forget that the word has been spo-
ken, and try by kind acts to win the child's
affections, but you may never be able TO re-
move the impression which that look and
word have made. Many people suppose
that children are less observing than older
persons, and they use language before them
which they would consider too impolite to be
used before their friends and acquaintance.
This is a sad aud fatal mistake. A child
impressions are sometimes so lasting that a
whole life-time's after experience is not able
to remove them. Each one may recall some of
the feelings in childhood which have contin-
ued to the present time, and which a sober
judgment has not been able to remove
Let the words spoken to young children be
gentle, loving words, which we should not
regret to have them remember in after years.
Let the child be treated with sincerity, and
let only the words of truth be addressed to
him, for in this way alone can he he taught
to practice the truth in word and action. If
a slight deception is detected by a child, he
will not again trust you. No effort of yours
can restore that perfect confidence, which is
one Of the most attractive attributes of child
hood. Unkindness is indeed an injury to
the child, for it chills his warm affections, and
teaches him to feel misery. God meant be
should he happy. But harshness is far bet.
ter than deception, for this robs the soul Of
its trust, and may rob it of its most precious
jewel, the diamond truth.
W. have read of a father who once prom.
ised his son that he should he present at thu
: blasting Of a stone wall, which was to tax,
place at a certain time.
: The boy was absent at the time, and thu
father, forgetting that be had made the prom
! Use, allowed the blasting to take place in hi
. sons absence. The boy returned and fount
!; that his father had broken his plighted word
For the first time in his life, bis father ha,
: deceived him, and full of injured feeling
his breast swelling with disappointed hopes
: he sought-his father, and eagerly reminde
! him of his promise.
For a moment the parents brow was ovel
I cast. He had forgotten his promise !; tn
! heavy stonewall, with great labor and expens
had been destroyed, and his son had not wi
). messed it destruction. But what was labc
and expense compared to a fathers truth
= Turning to the boy he said L did prom
! Use you that you should see the blasting, m
: son ; and you shall see it. The wall shall
rebuilt, and my promise shall be performed
T. Accordingly the wall was rebuilt, and tt
, boy learnt that his father valued his word
j bove all price, and would spare no expen,
y to keep a promise which he had made his sol
= There are no lectures or essays which tn
y father could have spoken, which could hay
impressed the value of truth upon his son
mind as powerfully as did this single actio
The sorrows of childhood are often callt
fleeing. They are SO. In most childr,
the smile may be easily called up in the mid
le Of tears, and the sunshine and clouds su
coed each other in the face of childhood
Yet, though transient, the child's sorro1
a. are real sorrows, and his little heart ach
\ as truly as if years had taught him more r
y tience. He has less philosophy, and h
not yet learned reason about his grief n
70 does he realize that the darkest night is oft
y just before day. For this very reason
'e feels his sorrows more keenly that if he we
70 older and more philosophical, and sympat
y in his griefs will be as sweet 10 him as
,eI one in the prime oflife.
lei Then let the child receive sympathy in
IN sorrows and let us do all in our power
Tal tighten his grief and soothe his pain, RENE
Dy bering that of such is the kingdom
are Heaven.'-O hve Branch.