Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1853-11-13
Forced Blossoms.
4 skErcK FOR PARENTS AND TEACHERS.


There is moral in the following little story
which it would be well if some parents and teach
ers would catch. There are too many instances Of
children who are injured by study and selentary
habits In fact, when boy will learn-when he
takes kindly to his books, most persons are inclined
TO urge him on TO his highest intellectual speed
| There is a selfish reason for this. BOYS who are
fond of books, or who can be kept by compulsiOn
or persuasion for greater part of the day at their
studies are far less troublesome and expensive than
those reckless, whOpping Juveniles who wear out
clothes and smash windows. But there is day of
reckoning for all things and in after years the boy
who has paled over books if he lives at ALL shows
the early want of air. exercise, and cheerful sport,
in delicate health, in fearfully excitable Der-
vous system. We can recall an instance of child,
who after being put through Virgil and Homer at
seven or eight years of age, ended as an idiot at
seventeen. Unfortunately the ruined health is new
er attributed TO its zue cause. "Gr0Bing or con-
stitutional infrmity is supposed to be the reason
and medical treatment aud change of air is resort
ed to when no remedy can be of any aid
mo danger of HaTys making himself i'll with
study; and as he will learn shall let him. He is at
the head in all his classes, and his teacher tells US
that the boy is really genius. He came yesterday
for permission to commence French lessons-but as
he had long task in Latin hesitated."
"How old is Harry sister,
Mine last month; and for boy of his age, /
must say he is doing uncOmmonly well. He has
gone through Bakers Natural Philosophy and now
is delighted with abridgement Of Waylands
Moral Science. / confess do not understand it
all myself but he must for he repeats chapter after
chapter without missing word. There are boys
in his class seventeen and eighteen years old. Why
what are you doing, Laura?"
Her sister was busily employed, and did not look
up at first. As the conversation progressed, she
seemed quite unconscious that she had taken wax
en- bud from rich cluster of tube roses, that stood
in vase upon the table before her and had forced
the pure petals outward till the bud became bios
som.
is it not beautiful" said she, giving it to her
sister; "and out so long before the rest"
"Yes, very beautiful just now, but how long do
you think it will stay so? 1t droops already; why
could you not let il be- till it was developed natur-
aIy?"
Her remark was just-beautiful as it was at first,
the petals soon became brown, then shriyeled. Its
freshness and fragrance were passing away, just
then fine little fellow come into the room and, Ia
king a book from the center-table, threw himself
languidly upon the sofa, and brushing back the
Wy hair from full pale forehead, commenced read
ing very intently.
why do you not go and play with your cousins,
Harry" said his mother.
30, they are so rude, so noisy, | meant am in
hurry to finish this, too, and the boys eyes were
once more fastened upon the page before him.
His mother smiled well pleased at his studious-
ness; but his aunt looked grave, aud pointed to
his flushed cheek and the peculiar brilliancy of his
eye.
He needs exercise; you should insist upon his
going out" said she. Il do not wish TO alarm you
needIessly, but youNill find the truth of your own
words, and she held up the withering blossom
Beautiful Just now; but how long think you it will
stay so? 1t droops already; why could yOu not let
| it develop itself naturally
Harry" said his mother, starting as if a new
light had flashed upon her mind Il insist that you
90 into the air for half an hour at least You can
finish your book this evening"
She had seen the Justice of her sisters delicate
proof; and we trust that if this little paragraph
falls under the notice of parents who are given TO
| the .forcing system" they also may be warned in
time Henry is not an imaginary example, neither
is he solitary instance where the mind is suffered
to develop itself at the expense of the physical pow
ers