The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1862-07-18
1S. 1869.

rents SHOULD know that it is much easier to
coatrol children when they are happy, than
" hen they are miserable. Men arc only
enlarged editions of childhood, and not al
ways improved editions at that If you
want to influence man for his good, OF se-
cure from him favor, you do not make
your application when the wind is from
the east and his business affairs all confused
and going wrong. You call on him on a
genial day, when his surroundings are pleas
ant, and, if possible, soon after he bias en-
joyed a good dinner i know families of
children that are always exposed to an east
wind, and houses in which there is provis-
ion enough, but never an enjoyable meal.
There are other residences so located that
the south wind always blows softly around
them, and so arranged that every room
from basement to attic is flooded with a
mellow and golden light. Surely no ar
guments are needed TO show in which class
of houses it is least difficult to maintain a
wholesome family discipline. Common hu-
manity requires that children should be
governed tenderly, and without any need
less sacrifice of their enjoyments. 1t is a
pleasant thing to see noble animal like
Rarey's Cruiser traioed and controlled so as
to be led about by a single straw, and that
without any resort to The savage beatiugs
that were once regarded as indispensable in
the management of horses.
Your boy dear reader, is of more value
than all the horses in the world, and has a
right to every indulgence and all the hap
piness not inconsistent with its best inte-
rests. The families in which smiles and
loving words are abuudar' and where harsh
and bitter words are seldom heard, are the
81 hat, a-l-
is great wisdom in the apostolic injunction:
Fathers provoke not your children to an
ger lest they be discouraged" When the
children are embittcred by the selfshness
or tyranny of parents, thay become discou-
ragged, and grow hardened and reckless.
Let them once feel that their parents are
Indifferent to their happiness, and a COM
manding motive to life of goodness is lost
to them for ever. Oh, that all parents were
wise-thst they understood this In this
matter the mother bears a double RESPONSE
biity. "She il is who stamps the coin of
character, and makes the being who would
be savage but for her gentle cares, a Chris
tian man."
The injustice and downright meanness of
any needless interference with the happi-
ness of children appears when we remem-
Der how much they affected by little
things. When a man is cut off from out
ward sources of enjoyment, he has internal
resources upon which he can draw and be
happy. With children the case is d d.ffereni.
The world in which they live is small, aud
chiefly external to themselves. The horizon
that bounds their vision IS so narrow that a
mans hand suffices to darken all their skies.
We are too apt to forget it., but the suffer-
ings and enioyments of childhood are not
only real, but intense. Your charmiug
little girl has been promised an excur-
sion to the country, or a visit to some
friends For days and weeks her heart has
been full, and brimming over with joyful
anticipations. For the time being her jour
ney leads her right through the land of
BeuIah under suu-bright akies, and where
tho snngs of the birds never cease But
something occurs. and she is told that she
must forget the anticipated pleasure. The
matter seems to you of so little consequence
that you hardly make an effort to soothe
her feelings, or reconcile her TO the disap-
pointnent. Oh if you bad not wandered
from the blessed days of your own child
hood, you would know how to sympathize
with her in her troubles that are as real as
any that youaare required to bear. Or your
generous, warm hearted boy has been led
into some act of disobedience, and you call
him up for rebuke and punishment. You
are excited-angry, perhaps-and at your
FIRST reproof his eyes are blinded with tears,
and his emotions so choke him that he is
unable to make any reply to your upbraid-
ing words.
You suppose him to be in a passion, or
obstinate, and after correcting him, order
him Immediately out of your presence. But
in truth be is grieved not angry; his tears
are wrung from manly and loving heart.
The iron has entered bis soul because be is
treated with Injustice. His own father
misun derstands him, and will not allow
him opportunity to make explanations.
He could make it all right it you would
allow him to throw bimself into your arms,
and tell you how sorry be is for his fault,
and how anxious be is to be good boy and
deserve your confidence and love. You
may have suffered many times during your
life from the trash judgments and the
sneers of selfish men," The treacbery of
professed friends may have cut you to the
very quick of the SOUL but none of these
are deeper or more painful than those you
have Inflicted in the heart of your noble
boy by your bundering folly. There is a
sacred eloquence in the tears of children,
and l never see them but my heart grows
soft at the sight. They come not from the
animal, but from what is spiritual and di-
vine in human nature. The beaten hound
will whine or howl, but he does not weep.
You may lay hold on a swine, and plunge
a knife in its throat, and there is struggle
and an outcry, but no tears. 81 would not |
enter on my list of friends " the man who
does not appreciate and sympathize with
the sorrows of children.
l close this article, already too long, by
reminding parents that the time is short in
which they can do anything to promote
the happiness of their children. If you are
taken from them, you desire to have place
in their pleasant and grateful remembrance
Or, if you live and are required to lay
your children in the grave, it will soothe
your heart to remember that you did what
you could to render their journey through |
life bright and beautiful. l shall never for
get an incident that once occurred as I sat |