The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1861-06-13

you that he has felt your good will, or
you efrown and his detected, gloomy
countenance tells you thatlhe has felt
yoursill will. How otherwise can we
explain this than thathi spiritreceiued
the peculiar life of years ndsappropri-
ated it? Now, continue to smile aud
keep his little nature glowing with good
will, and soon good will will be his
chief characteristic ; or, continue to
frown and keep his spirits sunken and
sullen, and soon his life will be set to
that disposition. But the mother is
the first ministerto bis wants she sup
plies him with nutriment from her own
warm bosom, and his spirit imbibeslife
from her gushingly affeetionate soul;
whatever sympathy or filial devotion
he may have during his life will depend
very much upon the measure of this
effusion. wcai1eS lssG .s8ra0 81
The young mind is tendril it has
no habits and no practical choice, but
Iinstinctively fastens to whatever stan
dard is in its way, and ascends it re-
gardless of whether it, be well-ground
or superficial, sound or defect, straight
or crooked, high or low. Of these, /
say, it has no choice but for the one it
first reaches, which it ascends as fast
as vitality is impaired, modling itself
to the character of. the principle upon
which it climbs. Should that principle
be well.grounded, sound, straight and
high, ascent is hopeful, and what en-
couragement we offer will be god
send but if otherwise, the prospect is
frightfully disasterous and the assis-
tance we render will be so much of
fangs and death. No one can expect
long to remain high on superficial or
defective principle, to live correct life
on a crooked one, nor to go high on
one that is low. The only rational
consideration of a truly correct and
high life is 5y principle that will an-
swer to all its demands; and it is idle
and foolish 10 think otherwise. The
wise parent knows too, that when a
wrong principle is assumed it must be
abandoned,-the child's devotion bro
: ken, and that the operation is attended
with painful affections. fT r. .E
t Who has not beheld the vine torn
from its standard, weak and willing
) its clasps broken, its leaves logged, and
now more liable to death than life, and
< felt moved, and has not thought of in.
4 dividuals torn from long cherished
3 principles and habits. A broken faith
: is damage to the mind, though it be
7 from wrong OIL. right and must be done
1t is rendered less effective because the
a spirit is weakened /; and we may faster
S it to new and right principles, but il
fails to attack vigorously, unless by
}. morbid enthusiasm. No one will fai
I to see the Importance of first attaching
] to right principles. But parents do no
i always know to judge correctly, a
! their lives show !; and they are not an
r swerable for what they cannot help 5
t though we do not speak of perfection
: the difficulty is not in a want o
e knowledge, it is, in ,inattention, ant
S want of application of what they d.
It know. Every one knows that to b
: happy is to be good, and whoever ha
o seen difference of individuals know
d the essentials of a good character
e When an individual is moral, sympa
e thetic and devotional with proportion
It ate degree of intelligence he is goo
II and happy man, and has the best poss
= BILE security against evils. Thoug1
t. few have the characteristics we'll ms
is tured and blended, all who have fel
is thought, and reflected under the Unfit
IS ence of christianity know what the
y are and the means employed in the
e. development; to be moral, we hay
d spiritual cleanliness to be sympatheti
b. we are qualified to partake of the fee
p ings of others and assume them like a
Of interest of our own; to be intellectual
lr we have store of practical truths
er. and to be devotional, we have a fill
c. attachment to God-we sense his pre-
ID ence in everything, especially our trr
g interest. ,.,g.S - "
he s But where and by whom shall the.
ly sentiments beinstilled in the juveni
81 mind ? At home by the parents, .
IN as to have them first and innermost
es life. AS the twig carries the hea
H. through the tree and determines j
st health and perpetuity, so it become
yh us to watch that no evils be admitte
ch at this tender age and for very oh,
is Gus reasons home is the place whe
to the work should be done. Indeed,
II - Al n !