Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1859-06-30
MUsEMENTS AT HOME
[From Codey's Lady's Book

manner that shall be beneficial TO
health. manners, and morals, is a de-
sideratum vet to be discovered. Little
children are always active; it is ne
cessity of their nature. This perpctu-
al unrest, of which their attendants so
often complain, is the instinct that
God, for wise purposes. has implanted
in the young of all animals. The
lambs skip and bound; kittens and
puppies seem Wild with the joy of life;
and little children naturally run, leap,
dance, and shout in the exuberance of
that capacity for happiness which the
young human heart feels as instinct
lively as the howcr-buds open to the
sun.
To repress this natural joyousness.
not to direct and train it for good,
seems to be the object of most parents
So the merry little children are often
sent to the hot school-room, there
confined in the close, impure atmos-
phere, and subjected to routine of
instruction which they are utterly
unable to comprehend. But then they
are kept quiet until this painful lesson
is impressed. that to be active is to be
naughty; and then, if they are not
troublesome, their Incidence passes for
goodness.
We are certainly of opinion that
education, or instruction rather, should
commence early. The child should,
from the first, be trained rightly. In
proportion to his faculties, the boy Cor
girl should begin that lesson of men
tai discipline and industry, which is
rarely acquired thoroughly, if not un-
dertakcn in the pliancy OF early child
hood. What we wish is, that, after
the severe studies of A Il c (severc to
a child) have been duly attended to,
and the character invigorated by a
half hour of the self-control required
in excepting STILL" some suitable di
rection should be provided for the
playful activity and genial affections
of the little folks that are 10 become,
in a very few years, young men and
young women. Besides the usual
plays and games that children invent
for themselves, or find on record,
handed down from the memories of
the past, and which boys enjoy most
in the open air, there should be in
door amusements also. We do not
mean to exclude little girls from the
outdoor plays. Children of both
sexes should be kept, while exercising
in the daytime, as much as possible
in the free, pure air Of heaven and in
sight of the cheerful face of nature;
but in the long winter evenings and on
festive occasions, there should be
means of amusemcnts provided for
!: children and youth at home, where
their parents and elders can witness
and moderate the mirth, If too wild,
and enjoy the happiness of promoting
this innocent recreation.
Music is a necessary acquiremcnt.-
1t is a refined, intellectual amusement.
and has the advantage of accompany
ing us through life, as it may be
:, enjoyed at any age. 1t has been well
remarked that this is the only one OF
the fine arts which can not be debased
to express any thing ignoble or wrong.
Unless allied to poetry, music is
always pure and elevating. Teach
children to sing, and select for them
such songs as express the pure, tender,
and loving emotions of the heart and
the sweet piety of soul that seems
natural to early childhood. Let these
songs and hymns be stored up in the
tenacious memory of your little son OIL
daughter, and YOU have placed q
talisman of power to guard them from
evil thoughts, and bring back to their
faded sterile, it may be evil age, the
sacred memories of home. and to theil
hearts the lost hopes of Heaven.
Skill in drawing is another of those
home arts that make the family circle
the place of happiness. This art may
be made delightful amusement il
the most monotonous and SECLUDED
life; and it may be attained withou
the expensive instruction and appara
tus that instrumental music requires
Many young persons, young mel
: particularly, from the most laudabl,
= motives, shun these embellishments o
S life. They wish to acquire means t.
,d assist their friends or families, or t
become independent themselves; anc
:, they heroically determine to spurn tn
al flowers in their paths, and crush al
feelings that may interfere with stead,
es and determined toll. We can assur
ur these heroic youth that their busincs
or study will proceed all the better 70
cs intervals Of an opposite employment
a These intervals every person of sens
" must regulate for himself, or herself
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