Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-09-09
Our Social Circle S.,
A Word to Parents.

With me this is subject of weighty i'm
portance. Am [ alone interested in this
mighty work? No. Parents, behold your
children Can you, in Imagination, draw
picture eff their lives, and view the end with
satisfaction and pleasure? Can you, appa-
rently unmoved, thus look on and see the de-
cline of your nations honor and such de-
generation in human nature? And why all
this? for say you both privately and in pub
lie, we intend to give our sons and daughters
good education; we do everything in our
power for their happiness; they have far
better chance than we, their parents, did,
Truly enough, some do. But is this all, and
will this constitute happiness? IF SO, I have
that yet to learn. And are our schools con-
Quoted in manner that will prove the most
beneficial, and be sure to crown your efforts
with success, and final renown? Some say,
what more can we do, andis not that enough ?
Others will say, enough, Or not enough, it is
all we shall do; we might work our fingers
off to the quick, yet there would always be
enough to tickle the fancy of child, by
writing, or public lectures, upon things,
which, politely speaking, are none of their
business You will often find an "N. B."
in their handbills-" children admitted at
half price,"
Yet, "glory to Him in the highest" who
hath given us freedom of thought, and liber-
ty of speech and although many pretend,
and perhaps some think, it out of place in a
ladys character to be heard to speak in pub
lie, that he has given her a talent on an
equal with men, for welding the pen in ro-
nance Or logic. would say to those, that
many times, if they would work half as hard
to secure teacher for their children, which
was in every way qualified to instruct them
intellectually, physically and morally. as they
do to get "dollar teacher" there is not
one in every ten of their children, but what
would riva any Of our most noted writer's, ora.
tors or statesmen. I do not mean simply what
istermed by some common school education,
confined within the limits of some certain
books, with no practical illustrations, no ex-
perience in real life, Or even college educa-
ton, making that your profession. mean
something more in connection with this, some
thing that will come to the heart, something
that will reach the deepest recesses, and stir
up the purest and most tender feelings of
every sensitive mans soul to vibrate with in
terest and emotion.
For example, we'll take the wild beast Of
the forest will he or she under circumstan.
ces, however peculiar, entrust their offspring
in the care of others? Did you ever think
of this, and can any one tell the reason?
am sort of "matter and fact person." thus
my curiosity leads me to enquire into the
cause of this but As the world has had SO
much to do with supposltion, we reason from
that many tin es, and some may say we do il
this case. Yet most sublime fact is We
know, there never an "event without &
cause;" make this the event, what is thu
cause? 1t is naturato suppose their instinct
tells them they would not be SO tenderly
cared for by others, as by those of which
they are part. And has it come to this, il
instinct in the advance of reason? W,
must say it is, or else people don't care; AND