The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1861-09-23
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but when given ndiscrminately it results in
no good. What kind of opinion will children
be likely to form Of their parents principles
and motives when they see nothing but sell
| fish yielding to passion, and hear from morn
ing to night the same unvarying scold,
scold away! If such parents would cherish
divine grace in their hearts it would enable
them to triumph over the little vexations of
domestic life A Christian family should
dwell together in love, happy in each others
enjoyment Children should be encouraged
to siog music will contribute greatly to the
harmony and cheerfulness Of the household.
Let them sing as the birds sing, spontaneous
ly and as the natural expression of their JOY;
even if the tune is not Old Hundred or
Near or Dundee, so that it is not some
thing foolish or profane, it will do them good
and add to the fund Of family amusement.
There is great want Of suitable religious
reading in many families. There are perhaps
to be found some old, dusty volumes, filled
with sermons or essays, Or speculative theol-
ogy, which the younger members Of the fam.
lily caauot read with pleasure ; no book of
sorl-stirring anecdotes, and familiar coun-
sells, illustrated from common life meets their
eyes, and they begin to think religious read
ing has no attractions but the reason IS
they have not the right kind of books to in
terest them, and the result is they either re-
sort to novel reading, or else seek their pleas
ures in evil company. When the colporteur
calls upon the head Of the family, and offers
lis precious stores Of entertainment aud in
struction, he meets with the cold reply, We
have books enough already If they were only
read Aye, but Why are they not read
Books of Interest will be read with eagerness
by the young if placed in their way. A taste
ior reading should be cultivated in early life,
and then the practice Of it will constitute one
of the chief pleasures Of after LIE, while its
influence for good will be incalculabIe. 1t IS
a question Of serious import whether tho thou
sands Of young men that now frequent the
haunts of intemperance might not have been
saved from their folly il they had been taught
to spend their evenings and their hours OF
leisure in the reading Of entertaining and IL
stcuctive books.
Home should be the most desirable place
on earth. It should be pervaded with con-
stant atmosphere Of love, and then it will be
powerful in its influence. Lee the parent
show by every word and act, in all his inter-
course with his children, that he loves them,
reproving and correcting and Furnishing even
in love, instead of harsh words and bitter
feeling using every gentle means to make
religion appear desirable, and laborlng to
bring about their early conversion. 1t is sad
to see how direct effort fer yhe conversion Of
children is neglected. No wonder that so
many grow up irrelisious; parents do not do
their duty toward them. They act as though
they thought their children too young to ob-
tain religion, and neglect all vigorous effort,
not showing BY any aifectionato word or act
that they are anxious fox their souls, leaving
them to be brought in by some powerful re-
vival, or loud call of Providence and in the
meantime sin is strengthening its fearful power
over them. Christian parent arc you striv-
ing in prayers and tears, and burning words
of entreaty to save your child? If not, on
you may tall the responsibility when III years
of manhood he becomes the hardened victim
of sin, and in the other world an inmate Of
perdition. Religion in early life might have
made him happy and useful member Of So
ciety, and an heir Of Immortality. 0, for
that piety that glows and smiles in the family
circle till old aud young look upon it as their
10y, their treasure, and their safeguard How
mi ght we then be spared the spectacle OF such
Youthful multitudes thronging the downward
way! L. M. w.