Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-04-09

that to bring up children to be upright, true,
generous and religious, needs so much discip-
line, so much restraint and correction, and so
many rules and regulations that it is all that
the parents can carry out, and all the chill
dren can bear. There is only certain
amount of the vital force for parents or chill
dren to use in this business of education, and
ore must choose what it shall be used for.
The Aunt Zeruah faction choose to use it for
keeping the house and furniture, and the chill
dren's education proceeded accordingly.
The rules of right and wrong of which they
heard most frequently, were all of this sort !:
Naughty children were those who went up
the front stairs, or sat on the best sofa, fin
gered any of the best books in the library, or
got out one of the best tea cups, or drank out
of the cut glass goblets.
Why did they ever want to do it? 1fthere
ever is forbidden fruit in an Eden, will not
your young Adams and Ewes risk soul and
body to find out how it tastes? Little Tom,
the oldest boy, had the courage ssand enter
prise and perseverance of a Captain Parry or
a DIR. Kane, and he used them all in voyages
of discovery to forbidden grounds. He stole
Aunt Zeruah's keys unlocked her cupboards
and closets, saw, handled and tasted every
thing for himself, and gloried in his sins.
"Don't you know, Ton, said the nurse to
him once, " if you are so noisy and rude,
you'll disturb your dear ma? She's sick and
she may die, if you're not careful"
"Will she die?" said Tom gravely.
"Why, she may"
"Then," said Tom, turning on his heel
sthen I'll go up the front stairs"
As soon as ever the little rebel was old
enough he was sent away to boarding school,
and then there was never found time when
it was convenient to have him come home
again. He could not come in the spring, for
then they were house cleaning nor in the
autumn, because they were house cleaning;
and so he spent his vacations at school, unless
by good luck, companion who was so fortu-
nate as to have home invited him there.
His associations, associates, habits, principles
were as little known to his mother as if she
had sent him to Chine. Aunt Zeruah used
to congratulate herself on the rest there was
at home, now he was gone, and say she was
only living in hopes of the time when Charlie
and Jim, would be big enough to send away
too and meanwhile Charlie and Jim, turned
out of the charmed circle which should hold
growing boys TO the fathers and mothers
sides, detesting the dingy, lonely playroom,
used to run the city streets, and hang round
the railroad depots and docks. Parents may
depend that, if they do not make home an
attractive resort for their boys, Satan will.
There are places enough, kept warm and light
and bright and merry, where boys can go
whose mothers parlors are to fine for them
to sit in. There are enough to be found to
clap them on the back, and tell them stories
that their mothers must not hear, and laugh
when they compass with their little piping
voices the dreadful litanies of sin and shame.
In middle life poor Sophia, who as girl was
al HrnIs f,.I af r,.fr. IaI
sharpened into hard-visaged, angular wo-
man careful and troubled about many things
and forgetful that one thing is needful.
One of the boys had run away to sea
believe he has never been heard of As
to Tom, the oldest he ran a career wild and
hard enough for a time, first at school and
then in college, and then came time when
he came home in the full might of six feet
two, and almost broke his mothers heart,
with his assertions of his home rights and
privileges Mothers who throw away the key
of their children's hearts in childhood some
times have a sad retribution. As the children
never were considered when they were little
and helpless, so they do not consider when
they are strong and powerful Tom spread
wide desolation among the household goods,
lounging on the sofas, splitting tobacco juice
on the carpet, scattering books and engrav-
ings hither and thither, and throwing all the
family traditions into wild disorder, as he
would never have done had not all his childish
remembrance of them been embittered by
the association of restraint and privation.
He actually seemed to hate any appearance
of luxury or taste or order-he was perfect
Philistine.
As for my friend Bill, from being the pleas
ATTEST and most genial of fellows, he became
morose misanthrOpic man. Dr. Franklin
has a significant proverb, "Silks and satins
put out the kitchen fire." Silks and satins-
meaning by them the Injuries of housekeep-
ing-often put out not only the parlor fire,
but that more sacred flame, the fire of do
nestle love. 1t is the greatest possible mis-
cry to a man and to his children to be home
less; and many man has a splendid house
but no home.