Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1854-10-25
CLEARFIELD WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25 1854
To Parents.

y Z
We commend the following excellent e1-
tract TO the particular attention of parents
We are confident that there are very many
who may profit by is persual: 1t makes one
less hopeful of the future TO pass through our
streets of an evening, and listen to the rude
and profane speeches which proceed from
crowds OF boys, who ought, AT such times, to
be under the home roof. Parents do not real
ize the responsibility which rcsts upon them
! in these matters. They forget that the future
character of their children is almost entirely
under their control, We believe that in most
cases the parent may mould. the character of
his child as he will, and if, when the child ar
rives at manhood, he is a source OF sorrow and
disgrace to the parent, the only consolation
which the parent can obtain, is, that it is his
or her own work. The parent may, even in
village such as this, select the Intimate COM
panions of his children. lie should, At least,
know the character of those with whom they
associate on terms Of intimacy. There are
children whose very companionship is pollu
ton. You may as well expect that your chill
dsen may roll in the mud without being be-
daubcd as that they may mingle with bad boys,
as companions, and not be in degree
deblsed.
BOYS OUT AT NIGHT.-I have be =; an obscr
yer, l am sympathizing lover of boys. /
like to see them happy, cheerful gleesome. In
deed can hardly understand how a high-toned
ed useful man can be the ripened fruit Of boy
who had not enjoyed full share OF the glad
privileges due 70 youth. But Whilc'l watch
with very joyous eye all rights and customs
which entrench upon the proper rights of boys,
am equally apprehensive lest parents Who
are not fore-thoughtful, and who have not ha-
bituated themselves to close observations up
on this subject, permit their sons indulgencies
which are almost certain to result in their de-
moralization.s if not in their total ruins and
among the habits which l have observed tend
ing most surely to ruin, know of none more
prominent than that of parents permitting
! their sons 10 be IN the sheet nfler n gtUaH
1t is ruinous to their morals in allinstances.
They acquire, under the cover of night, an un-
! healthful state of mind-bad. vulgar. immoral,
and profane language, obscene practices, ,crini-
inal sentiments, a lawless and riotous bear
ing Indeed, it is in the street after nightfall
that the boys principally acquire education OF
the bad, and capacity for becoming rowdy,
dissolute, criminal men,. Parents should in
this particular have a rigid and intexible rule,
that viii not permit son under any circum-
stances whatever to 60 in the streets after
nghtlar with view of engaging in out-of-door
sports or meet other boys for social chance
occupation. 4 right rule of this kind, invari-
ably adhered to, viii soon deaden the desire
for such dangerous practices.
| Bows should be taught to have pleasures
! around the family center table, in reading. in
/ conversation. and in quiet amusements. Boys
are seen in the streets after nightfail beha-
wing in a manner entirely destructive OF all
good morals Fathers and mothers keep your
children home at night and see that you take
pains TO make your homes pleasant, attractive,
and profitable to them: and above all. with a
view OF their security from future destruction,
let them not become, while forming their char
acters for life, 80 accustomed 20 disregard the
moral sense of shame TO openly violate the
,1b5uth- -iay in street pastimes during Its day
or evening hours.