The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1856-03-06
4be Desterlp Gfbo,
AND
Pawo atmok Advertiser.
westerly, March 9, 1855.


gious than hereditary. Ithas been said
and in some measure truthfully, "Liks
priest, like people," but to far great
er extent may it be said, Like parent,
like child. 1t is a rule that works with
fearful or blissful truthfulsess, as true
as the needle to the pole. BY an al
most iDasxible law Of our natsie, we as.
simulate, it may be gradually and in
percepsibly, ye. no less certainly, to the
spirit and temper of those with whom
we associate, unless the natural work.
ings of the law bs modified by ths
stronger force of grace. Especially j.
this true in early life, when the paren,
should be, and generally is, looked upon
as guide to tho youthful and uuinitis-
ted mind, and when there is no moral
power to countsract its legitimate tend
ency.
Parent, what you are, you may de-
pend upon your child being /; what you
do, it will do. Rely upon it. You
may interpose your precspt, but it will
be powerless il at variance with your
example. Il tell them BETTER" may
serve as a salvo to a reproying con-
science but it will be an insufficient
plea when the Judge shall requir. their
blood at your hand. IF your examples
arc not consistent before your children,
however fair your admonit,ons and
councils, blood stains will be found on
your garments. You arc running up q
fearful account which shall meet you
when requisition is made for the jewel.
committed to your keeping +; for not
withstandiDg your good maxins, may
they not be stumbling over your evil
examples into detection Of morals p
Instead of rearing those tender plants
to bring forth fruit unto holiness, {"
finally to be transplanted into . richer
soil, 70 forever unfold and bloom be-
meath the smile of Heaven, are you no,
rather rearing tn EN-, or allowing them
to grow up, to bear the fruits of rebel
lion and ungodliness Are you not
giving to society the ungrateful legacy
of ill-tutored sons and daughters, and
this by reproduction, to the "third
and fourth generation ?" Now is the
seed time ; the harvest time will soon
come; and it will be in kind like the
seed sown, those who have "sown of
the wind shall reap of the whirlwind," :"
and how fearful is oftentines tho gath
eriug in Of tho fruits Of early mis-gov-
ernment The mother, as she bends
over the infant in the cradle, or presses
it to her heart, is stamping upon i. her
own moral lkcncss--infusing her own
spirit into its spirit-forming its char.
actsr-shaping its destiny writing its
history. If she indulge in perturbed,
fretful spirit, irrascible tomper, hor child
will take the contagion. Can it breathe
in miasma constan ly and not be infect
ed Can it tako fire into its bosom
and its clothes not be burledi 1t will
soon learn to initiate her words, action,
spirit. She is its law and its gospel
it knows no superior to her, until taught.
How important then that she should
refrain from everything which she would
deprscate in her child. Surround child
ren with an atmosphere Of love, gentle
n, IS, rhserfulness, and it will hold in
REF. .raint the evil passions-tbsy will be
lovely, ami,ble; SO that when tho angel
of grace comes along and gently brushes
away vhstsvsr of moral dsformity there
NAV be. tho tra>sition will be scarcely
poti.eabl.. Good example, then, let it
bs rem emb.reJ, is o. the utmost impsr-
tance in the training OF the yOung-it
admits of no substitute.
Parents should carefully avoid max
ing any premises, either Of reward or
punishment, that hoy do not mean to
fulfill. Promises made to children
should be as truthful and sincere as any
other otherwise it can hardly bs sy-
pectsd that they will entertain respect
for the truth. Oh, how our heart has
often been panied when We have heard
parents-profsssed Christian parents
tell their children as cool and az dsliber-
ate lie M svsr was framed by the
father of liars himself! Promise spar
ingly, but perform sorupulously, rolig-
iously. What are those extravsgant
promises and threats, INDUCED in by 50
many, but = 81 ecies Of falsshoOd, utter
ly indsfensibls !; Truth, n q priceless
Jewel, and shtud not be tarnishsd,--
Say what you mean, and mean what
you say--no moreno less. Don't, to
indulge your own laziness, or 10 Moi Or
70 false sympathy, attempt TO frighisn