The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1860-03-01
Ll4ls o. Parents toward PnplIs.


For he Pg.ter J9nraH.
minds, when first given to Us b,
oef ret tlr, are Ike the rough jagged
rek wh.n cr-t taken from the bosom OF
te Eakth ard placed IN the ba9ds Of the
se4al 5t5r 70 he formed into an Image OF
bsabtv IS long and laborious spplica-
tlsa If c4ise AID hammer. Nor is The
application Of chIset and hammeF all that
) required'tn bring forth the image Of
be.u s. + ON Il shGpeless mass No they
puet be accompanied BY the genius aud
art Of The sculptor or the rock might all
IL eAisiei away and the form of beauty
Hcscr be made. although the rock might
be o.ap i Of the finest quality ofmold
The haalncg and chise, OF the sculptor
qEe to lhe image the same as arc associa.
asitIs to n ind, if they are rghhy di-
- 10 50 as to make right impressions on
sile image, .han the form Of beauty may
r o2aiiy be expected so with our
Iui is l. 1T associations arc of the rigLt
character we can reasonably expect an
improvement In our mental and moral
nature. But If they arc not rightly Ii
rectcd, We can expect nothing more than
r. slJud if y. placed the hammer and
clHssl Of the seal tor in the h,nls Of an
1.as, fl man who was perfectly igro-
rant Of the sculptor ; art Tot having the
true form Of beauty in his mind, nothing
cg4d La expected, lut tLat the image
would be . total failure mass Of rock
as useless as when first taken from the
earth and Tlst as void Of beauty. Yes,
fjr more 1cnrti{ess, because it is now be-
You'd the power Of cultivation to make ii
anything but disgrace to the ono who
possesses i. Asit is princi pie in moral
philosophy, that tie character RECEIVES
caste from those with whom we associate.
and from everything THAI makes an in-
preston on the pind. HoE important II
isthat our associations are Of such a char
acter, tha. the Impressions made by them
shall be soul-gleyacing, and cause a full,
strong and manly development of the
rind-such development that We may
be worthy Of esteem and respect, and the
w1rll may b. better for our having Lived
in it-ves, for our having HUel in Ii; FIR
i the worid has been improved by US,
ten VIC have accomplished the great ob
lee; fm which We were created, and eau
hply be &aid to haze Hoed but if the
world has not been improved by Us, we
caaaot lee SAID to have lived, bat merely
10 have criHed Ii is from the fact that
We are initiative beings that opr associa-
tiJn5 can have such an influence on the
growth and Development Of the mind
Especially is this tic case with children
They are ycrv much the creatures Of cir
cgmstancos. They form their character;
fron those around them, Therefore, those
whose business it is to instruct them
should cherish these virtues which they
wish to foster in their pupils If they
would give them, calm, gentle ard friend
N feelings, they must show chem by thciI
owu example how valuable those feeling
are But if they do not possess the vr
tues which Should bee cherished IN the
minds iutruste0 20 their care, let then
not pretend to hiI The important station
for their attempts win be like the ignQ
rant mans attempts to direct the sculp
tors chisel, ard quite as rQinous in tn
result. Although the teachers inhueuc,
is gseat, yet he IS not the main seul ptor
The parcnt-nQI the teschcr the pa
rent is the potter having absolute powe
oyeg tue clay, and his moldlng and GOV
e,ling Influence must be exclted OF tf
clay will be marrod. 1t is true, til
teacher Of refined manners and broad cuI
t1re can do much to finish and colo
that. which has been nodded when tn
lrome influence is genial, true aud good
Otherwise his task will be that of cleans
ING the stream while the fountain r.
mains impure Fer what is done {
school by the way Of discipline will b
undone at home and the teachers tas
rcndered-morc lab0rious and Of little Us
kY their constant complaints and faul
fudings--apd fear, if it we're not f
che reproaeha3 Of his own coneience,
would be induced to adopt their plan {
discipline, and let the children do as the
pleased | would that parents WuQl
feel their responsibility more than the
do, and strive with more energy to
faithful to their trust. Said woman t
pA:iip, If you have no time to do jps.ic'
yq4 have no time to be king"-If p;
Tcuts have no time to be faithful, the
have no right to be parents, and the
bnt publish their own condemnatio
when rhev SEMI their offspring to schot
wis og,.breaking habits of lndolence, il
sg'eaes aud insuiordinatloD. Childre
fgouA be- accustomed to obedience
~ asa VI certain aud jus retributio
81 sgRi 4g1 = lcschcr will have n