The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1857-05-02

ticle, and to which we wish to invite atten-
ton: and that is, The present urgent demand
for an improved mode Of home education,
Of more efficient parental teaching and disci-
pine, as a prere'ttire Of Lmemperance.
If We mistake not, this primary and essen
t;al part of youthful education is both espe-
cially needed and especially neglected at the
present time One cannot fail to be convinc-
ed of this, who is much abroad in our own
State, and has noticed that multtudcs of
Boys, in nearly all our villages, are continu
ally at school in the streets, cultivating tastes
and practising lessons, which, if followed,
will, in due time, be very likely to bring them
to drunkards or felon's home, in all aims
house or prison. Trained to habits of in
dolcnce and dissipation these youth are furn-
ishing ready and al undant material for inc
briates and everywhere giving stimulus and
profit to the traffic which the Law has forbid
den. Something ought ard must be done to
give to them better kind of education; and
whatever is hereafter to be done. in behalf of
Temperance. more than has already been ac-
complished, must, we believe, be undertaken
in this direction.
First then among the essential moral agcn-
cies to be applied for the prevention Of In
temperance, We need and must have more
and better parental teaching and discipline.
Teaching by rrecept and example, not in the
Science CT Letters or Mathematics, but in the
more nccdful and difficult science of moral
rcctitude and self control: teaching that shall
90 hand in hand with discipline in the exer-
else Of these cardinal virtues and essential e.
emcnts of all right and reliable character.
There must be discipline too, and especially
of youthful appetites. that which will dimin-
i>h moi little from the present demand for
the Confectionery. art. that will give no IL
ecnsc to tn" acquisition of artificial tastes.
which. however innocent in their tendency
they sometimes appear, too often gain
strength and grow impcrious by indulgence
until Ike the horse lecch'> daughters they
are continually crying, Give. give, and seldom
fail to conduct their miserable victims through
all he grades of Sc f i, diligence and dissipa-
ton ON the downhll road to ruin.
There must be also more training to hah-
its Of industry. In this particular we think
there is i'll al communities especial dclinqucn-
CIV at the present time. Many a bright and
active boy is among us to-day who is being
spoiled for himself. spoiled for society, and
lost to every noble purpose for which God
ma . him capable. and clivcrcd over to in
dolcnc,, ntemperance AID pcrtlition through
II elect of his parents to furnish him some
thing to do; to train him to work: not mere
" now and then. as accident may rcs"n,
something easy to do. but to work with his
intellect or his hands. regularly. and ever!
d v. We are aware how difficult it may b(
many parents. and especially for those re-
siding in OR villages, to procure constant
and suitable Employment for this purpose
Blu they should remember how much the flu
ture character and welfare CT their children
Deepen upon their own efforts and 81 cceS>
in isr" pcct; how strong the probahilit,.
that an idle and undisciplined childhood a'
youth will he followed by vicious and in
temperate manhood, aid that by premature
and di>honored cid age Train up chill,
in the way that he should go, and when he j
old he will not depart from it" This ancicn
wisdom is the wisdom needed for our times
and needed as a safeguard against no evi
more than against that which we are now con
>iderinS.
But work. in the ordinary sense Of tina
. term. should not be the whole employment
- of children They must have recreation. an
if they cannot find it at home. at the fanil
fircsidc. they will seek it abroad. in tn
streets, at Places of public resort. and wit
!. associates, often, of worse thar doubtful cha
acter. 1t is therefore no unimportant pa
" of parental duty. to furnish, as circumstance
will permit. resources and facilities for the
. children $ amusement and recreation, at home
to study also to create and cultivate fast,
" that wi find their sweetest enjoyment in Il
y flial an paternal intercourse of the dome
- tic circle That youth is comparatively sa
- from all vicious habits, and especially fro
- the social vice of Intemperance, whose ate
- tions are so linked the society and plea
u urcs of his fathers 6reside, that his feet.
&c the going down of the sun, turn instructive
IN thitherward. When parents will more &c
NJ orally consider these things and do them. al
q not till then, shall We have such cooper
'. ton of the moral forces of the communi
~ u with the prohibitory Law, as will make
:" ANYTHING more than temporary check to Il
Y evils of Intemperancc.
4" The YOrNG MENS CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATE
H.1