Litchfield enquirer., 1858-06-10

made spiteful and angry by the interference of
children with their INDECENT habits, their love of
freedom and sclfiadulgence, and their vain pur-
suits. ! mean that the number is increasing of
those who receive the choicest earthly blesss-
lngs God can confer with ingratitude and viii
full complainings. That is precisely what /
mean and do not hesitate to say that it is
all a very shabby aud sinful thing, and that it
is high time that those who are guilty were
ashamed of it, A woman who, by cool and
calculating choice, is no mother, and who con-
graduates herself that she has no "young
ones tied to her apron strings, is either very I'M
fortunately organized or she is sneak. A man
who can tip up bis feet, over against his lonely
wife, and thank his stars that be has no "squaE
ling brats'' around to bother him, is brute
1t is time that some one protest, and [ hereby
do protest, against one Of the great sins aud.
sharEes of. the .age,--a sin which deadens the
conscience, beastializcs the affections, and ruins
the health of the mistaken creatures who prac-
tice it,-which cuts the channel from one end
Of the land to the other of a border Ganges
than that which bubbles along its heathenish
banks with the expiring breath of infancy.
There is growing up cowardly disposition to
shirk trouble and responsibility in this matter
" don't feel competent to bring up family of
children" Who does? 1t is a part of your
education to acquire competence for this work.
i" But don't feel like assuming such RESPONSE
biIity." That responsibility is precisely what
you need to keep you in the path you ought to
walk in But 1 can't afford it," Are two
pairs Of hands between you, and not sufficient
patience, courage and enterprise to do the du-
ties of life "But l am afraid that l should
lose my children. They are Fable to so many
accidents that it would be very strange if l
should be able to raise family without losing
one or two" The sweetest and truest eouplet
that the Queens laureate ever wrote tells the
story upon this point -
'Tis better to have loved and lost,
Than never to have loved at ALL
Ask the father and the mother, weeping over
the coffin of their frst-born and. only child,
whether they regret that the child was born.
Ask them the same question in after years, when
that little life has come to be a thread Of gold
running through all their experiences. If they
give an affirmative answer, will be silent. No,
my married friends-you who shrink from ac-
cepting the choicest privilege bestowed upon
you-you arc all wrong; and if you live, you
will arrive at a period where you will see that
there are rewards and punishmeuts attached to
this thing What is to sustain you when lin Old
age-the charms Of youth all past. desire extin-
guished, and the grasshopper a burden-you sit
ut your lonely board, aud think of the stran-
gers who are to enjoy the fruit OF your most
frqitless1ife Who are, to feed the deadening
affections Of your heart and keep life bright
and desirable to its close, but the little ones
whom you rear to manhood and womanhootl
What is to reward you for the tolls of life il
You do not feel that you-your thoughts your
blood, your nAuence-are to be continued into
the future? Do you like the Idea OF having
hirelings, or those who are anxious to get rid OF
you, about your dying bed Is it not worth
Something to have family of children whom
you have reared, lingering about your grave,
with tears on their cheeks and blessings on
their lips-tears for great loss, and blessings
on the hallowed influence which has trained
them in the path Of duty, and directed them
to life's noblest ends
This is a subject which has not been talked
much about publicly and l have little doubt
that there will be sneers and jests over what
have written. Lips will curl, and noses will be
elevated, but it is very serious thing with me,
and it ought to he with you. love the family
life esteem Christian family-the more nr-
merous the better-the most beautiful subject
of contemplation the earth affords. A father,
| thoroughly chastened and warmed in all his af-
fections aud mother OVERLOOKING with love
for the dear children God has given her devot-
ed to their welfare, and guididg them by her
tender counsels, sitting at their board with the
sprightly forms and bright eyes Of childhood
around the table, Or all kneeling at the family
altar, form sight more nearly allied to heav-
Ell than any other which the world presents
Do you suppose such father would be what
he is but for his children Do yon believe
such mother would be the blessed being she
u.s. but for the development which she receives
in her maternal Office ? No, you know that
both have been chastened, elevated, purified.
made strong, aud essentially glorifed, by re-
latien as sanctifying as it is sacred.
SO say, in closing, that you can never rea-
lie the very choicest and richest blessings that
Heaven intends for you, in your relations as
husband and wife, without children. Whom
God deprives of these, be has other thought
for, and have nothing to say to them but
to the multitude, | say, give welcome to each
new conner whom G cd has lighted with spark
OF his own divinity, to grow in glory till it
shall outshine the star beneath which it enter.
ed existence, such greeting as you would give
an angel. Cothe him in white, bear him to
the baptismal front, rejoice over him as ties.
timonial that God remembers you, and cele-
brate the day when he was given to your arms
in such a manner that he shall know that it is
blessed thing to be born. Sing to him pleas
ant songs, and scatter roses upon his CRADLE
"Of such is the kingdom of heaven" and in
such the Saviour has given to you those tc
whose pure, simple and innocent likness he
would have you conform yonr heart. You are
to rear your boy to manhood. and educate hin
, to be q child, and protect your helpless years.
1t is an even thing, and beautiful exhibition
Of that wonderful machinery by which all ari
made to bear eqnal burden in evolving thu
noblest life Of the race, TMoTHY TTcoAB.