The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1859-06-29

poaI'uS tbe aSlDatlon oi ChlIufen with
care, and not exciting it by too vivid i'm
pressions ; but this point merits my in.
| slsting upon it IN particular manner. 1t
, demands great attention Oh the mothers
part. y violent shock may have serious
consequences in the after life of a child
whose character is feeble, aud mind very
easily shaken. We should not, at such
times, set abruptly to work to reassure
him, and sccustorn him to the circun.
stances and objects which move him, or
create in him vague terror. One sci.
dom feels inclined to treat with precautiOn
the ilI'grounded fears Of children. /, is,
however, fears Of this kiad which are
most closely allied to the secrets of the
human organization, and which are the
most difficult TO eradicate and, if we do
not treat them with geutlenesS and tact.
we run the risk OF seeing them continue
long time under the most varied forms.
loo great precautions cannot be taken to
tam'iarIze children, little 10y little, with
the objects and ideas winch move aud
inghten them. Herein the conduct de
mands tact and skiII. That which is cs
seutIal Is, not 10 make too much Of them,
but 20 lead the chlld's mind into an or
dinary channel, hy simple and unatfcc
ted conversation. With still stronger
reason should we avoid Tightening II child
on purpose. 1t is a lejcstabIo system to
try 10 cure him Of fear by force, hv obi
gIng him, for example, to remaiu alone,
ard IN the dark, notwithstanding the
terror hc may experience from it, 1t is a
disposition which we must certainly Il,
tempt to conquer, bu, without having re.
couisc 10 any violent mUtuS. Prudence
requires rs TO await Patiently from ad
vance in ycars what cannot be obtained
by reasoning, and still less by force. An
ihority in this case would be poweress 49,
the sentiment o. fear being only aggrava
ted and strengthened Toy fear Itself The
best way l.. no. TO expose children L. lear,
wh'ie showing no siguS of trying to save
them from it fo5 they must not be al
lowed to see that we pay any attention
10 their little lerorS.
With s,ll greater reason must we carer
fully abstain from all demonstration Of
tear on "Gr own part in the presence. Of
children. This precauton is iudi>penSa
blc, but II demands certain trmurss
and command over ones self, particularly
on the part OF women who feel vivldiv
sudden emotions, who break out into
cries AT tie least surprise, or who are
frightened at storms, the noiso OF thunder
&c. cannot too strongly recommend
to them To coustraIu thcmSr,ve, before
children, who are themselves disposed, 'ur
the most part, to hc moved by all phcn.
oiucna at al extraordinary, aud who are
Gained 10y seeing I'll" persons who are
around them remrnlng calm and jndit.
fercut.
DREN MUST BE GUIDED.
What system Of education must be i.
dopted for the earliest infancy 1t is bv
reasoning that We must guide them, ap,
pealing to thoir judgment from the first
, Weakening OF intelligence; or, rather, is it
not better to direct them hy the atogerh-
erssimple ide. of authority, which, little
children recognize SO naturally in their
parents, and which they do not think Of
\
conlesting! ! do not hesitate to say
| that, till the age OF six or seven wears,
there is every advantage, as regards phys
ical education as well ms moral, in pre-
serving u disputed authority over chll
dren, and III Appealing to NO motive but
the sentiment Qi Obedience, freed from
all which other moe complicated notions
of duty will add To this nj later period.
DISADVANTAGES or DISCUSSION Win Gull
DREN.
The exercise of authority enables one
to dispense with all pueriIe discussion, IN
which we are never engaged with II being
| capable Of reasoning These discussions
into which it is wrong TO enter with chii
dren who are incapable Of understanding
have no o;her result than to excite their
resistance, increase their self love, and
embitter their character and ii is lead
! lrg them by II painful, long, and circuit
( Gus path, full of contradictions and cavii.
! ling, on their part. and fertile in opposi.
tion and iIl'temper, tc the end they would
naturally arrive "t Of ihemselves without
effort, aud by their own inclination, if
! they were led TO it by Straight course.