Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-01-16
Improper Speech among Children.

There is no greater source of evil connec-
ted with the rising generation, than the in
ludlclous manner In which chrildren are
brought up. The proper culture of children
looks to the elevation Of their intellectual
and moral character E; and, subsidiary to
this, good conscience, high selfrespect, are
appliances not to be overlooked. If once the
moral sense of child becomes corrupted, or
his feeling of self-respect destroyed, there is
no protection against at least, a secret indul-
gence In crime which like the pent up
fires, may, at last, break forth in the most
destructive conhagratinp- 81 if he sees not
Il proper oA".art. Of puritA rsrao;ty, and
yeneratlon of the supreme God, in his naVn-
raj guide. it can hardly be imagined that he
will respect these virtues in himself 70
say nothing of that constitutional feature in
youthful minds, to initiate the words and acts
of those around them, especially of parents,
. nothing sooner makes an inssnsibility to
right and wrong, than the use of indelcate
and impure speech in their presence, as moth
, ing sooner dlscourages every attemptin them
to do right, than i'll natured and opprobrious
!, censures-characterizin them as 'mean,'
vulgar FOOLS liars, Williams and the
, like. If they are clearly and manifestly
guilty of such improprieties. some such mode
! Of punishment as shall prevent repetition
of the deed in future should be Immediately
: adopted +; if they are not, it is decidedly un-
! just and wrong to charge it upon them. It
. should be sedulously remembered, that words
, are both Suggestive and modifying that
crimes never before conceived, are often sug-
~ gested by word and that the mind, mould
>. ed and fashioned by ideas received, easily
= adopts any course to which it's ideas look.
), This is especially true whera by false
representation of character, every motive is
taken away to do right. 4 child represent
. ed generally bad and wicked, or charged
q with specific crimes, as prevaricatlOn, pro-
= family, cruelty, revellng, &C., early comes to
feel that he has nothing to gain or lose by
his conduct in such cases; that if he refrains
from such acts, he is aone the better or if
+ be does them, he is none the worse ; and
. with little hesitancy, therefore, he surren-
e. ders himself to any impulse thatm may prompt
his future conduct. These are facts in the
10 philosophy of mind, and they forcbly illus
trate the strictness which should be obser-
= we'd in promising, threatening, censuring,
judging or condemning the acts Of children.
Ia Christian Era.
= FINE SERMONS. The Ladies' Repository OF
-. November contains the following anecdote
in relation to fine sermons
Years ago, when living at Princeton, n
os j., there was a man remarkable for his fine
ba ~. preaching talents that is to say, he could
"A frame elegant sentences, and speak then
= ~ from the pulpit with grace and dignity.
-. recollect his preaching on certain specia
-. occasion. There was great crowd out, anC
~ when the sermon was over, I walked hom
;t ;tb with group of theological students, among
~ 'ha whom was quizzcal but somewhat thought
M ~ full Yankee named P. The sermon wa
nd praised as being exceedingly fine by all ex
ro cept P. At last he was pressed for an opin
,U ,on ion and coming to a dead halt, he abrupt
exclaimed, The sermon, gentlemen, wa
Won fne-very fne-as fine, indeed, as chaff-
ont bat gentlemen, it would take CARLOAD
.ra such sermons to convert even the soul of
inc musquito = After that, there was no MOI
,;s talk about fine sermons. There is NOR:
the to the incident, but leave that for you an
w w YOUR readers to draw