The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1856-02-21
Che Desterlp Glbo,
AND
Pawo atwck Advertiser.
Westerly, February FL. 1856.


our venerable "umbrella, ana mako
q brief sojourn in tho family circle, for
tho purpose Of offering few suggestions
for the regulation Of the {" home de-
partmont." We have often witnessed
with pain, what We thought sad def
cheney, on the part of those to whom
Gsd bad committed the charge Of train
ing immortal souls foreternity. We have
sometimes thought that, perhaps the
great lack Of family government which
seems to obtain in this country was q
consequent necessity Of the extreme
spirit Of democracy which has become
SO prevalent, and the grea. facilities
which arc new off'red for educational
advantages, So thoroughly have tho
rising generation become indoctrinated
with democratic principles, that submis-
sion, even to parental discipline, is high
ly dorogatory to the dignity of the min
iaturs specimen Of humanity f; and 50
great and so generally improved are the
facilities of educational advantages in
this country, at this day, that it is not
to bo wondered at if tho son or the
daughter should excel in book knopledge
the parents, who, very probably, have
never enjoyed advantages of that kind
above what we're afforded BY the district
school Of twenty, thirty, forty, and fifty
years ago--and district schools Of that
time were quite differently managed
from what they are in these days, their
facilities then being extremely limited
We have often seen young gentle
man." on whose chin the aascent badge
otma nhood has not made its appearance,
or young "lady" whose years have yet
scarcely bloomed into her teens, setting
at nsught the counssliDgs and admoui-
tions of tho old woman" Oh bidding
defiance to the prscepts and warnings
of the " old man" Often when We
1.-Two msditated on these things has our
" ind reverted to Tbs fearful denuncia-
tions which tho Word Of God pronoun-
ices on uudutiful and disebedient chill
dren. But in eur ruminatious on these
matters the question forces itself on our
mind" Does not the fault Of this do
plorable evil, after all, rest in a great
measure with the parent, in not proper
ly discharging the wcighty obligations
which q benevolent Father has oonfsrr-
ed upon them, in placing in their charge
immortal spirits!' - Is it not simply u
vcrication Of the saying Of one of old
"Sparo the rod and spoil the child "
But, in quoting this ancient maxim VIC
would not bs understood a. advocating
the indiscriminats use Of the birch which
some lew parents resort to even In these
days Of lax discipline.
/ 1t is doubtless most difficult task in
T. aiming children, so to study and under
staud them as to steer between the two
extremes of iniudicious indulgence or
the ono hand and unadvissd severity or
tho other. But that there 10 such 9
course, and that such course is sufficient.
Ily plain for all who will to understand
and practice, is evident to every believer
in tho promises Of God. Has he no
said, Traiu up child in the way bt
should 60 and when he is cid be vii
not depart from it 7" We are vel
aware that there 10 q vast deal Of prao-
tical idfdslity in regard to the truth Of
this proverb in this day, not only among
those who do not profess to believe the
Bible, but among those who claim ts
regulate their lives according to the
rules laid down thsrein--so much q
tha: it has even passed into = commor
saying that, "thc children Of minister
and dsacons are worse than the childrsr
of other people :" and We fear there il
too much truth in ths saying in man,
cases, either from over much indulgence
or severity. At all events, it is toe svi
dent to be doubted that there are thou.
sands Of children who grow up 10 matu.
rity without any regular system Of disci'
pline. There are thousands Of parent,
who have never investigated the science
of family government. If they admins
ter it at all, it 10 by no we'll defined
principles, but in hapha.ard manner,
as . mere matter Of impulse more than
Of duty. And it is . subject Of much