The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1864-12-30
where there Are No Children. {"

We find, somstines, among the "wants, y
in the newspapers, persons who seem desir-
Gus OF place where children form no part
of the Observation-Disclosures kind of folk,
who regard youth as an annoyance and
sprightliness as nm evil not to be tolerated in
.'wcll regulated families" and among other
cultivated people.
If their wish could be gratifed IN this re
spect, however. they would soon feel "want"
such rs is known to monastics and to dwell.
ers in caverns. What u melancholy specta-
Gle community would present, every men,
ber grown to maturity, their faces all beard
cd or soured with "conservatism !" veritable
Ilerods, every one u whole commonwealth
gone to seed and only awaiting the gardener
Death to gather them in and close up the
world forever. As we'll might they ask to
be placed beyond tho range Of the fora and
the fauna of the natural world, AZ beyond
the sight and hearing ot children the bios.
SONS and the beauty of the human world.
A household without children is like q
neglected garden with only last years stalks
therein, looking grim and iorbidding. The
stately oak, which lifts it's branches storm.
tried and old above the hills, never becomes
so genteel or exclusive as to refuse shelter
beneath its outstretched arms to the tender
saplitg and the little forget.me.nots that
peer out in the sunny spots here and there
prophetic of coming strength and perpetual
beauty. Man is affaotional by nature. and
if not stunted in his moral growth, will sec
something to foster and admire ut almost ev-
cry turn. IF he loves not children. he must
needs love something else-even himself !;
and that too, when the loveable qualities in
him aro but imperfectly developed. Such
persons should tako up lodgings with the
''man in the moon," or seek for happiness
in the frigid zones, where the sunshine is but
long twilight and where flowers and the
vernal beauty OF Spring are scarcely known.
Nature produces nothing full grown at the
outset-except mushrooms and other fungi
and must all set out with infancy ut the
stnrt, and trust to time fer full development.
Minerva, 1t is true, forms an exception to
this principle. but slie stands solitary and
alone and in this respect.-if We except our
first parents who appear also to have had an
uncomInonly good physical outfit to begin
the world with, and, from what We read,
must have been much more happy in their
early days than their latter lifs. The pre-
else date Of their expulsion from Ellen Is still
q matter of some doubt, but that the prattls
Of children was heard there. is unquestiona-
BILE, and so 1t was all the more paradise
To he sure. Adams first born did not turn
out very well, and there have been Gains al.
so in several families since his day. but then
bad children IRE exceptional; the rule is
quite the contrary, and they certainly ought
not to be obnoxious to the most fastidious Of
boarders. have never seen tho person yet
who could not look with some relish upon
the hearty pastime OF children, and their
cheerful presence ought to give US keener
relish for our meals also.
In olden times children never dropped in
to unwelcome arms, nor were they looked
upon as intruders by royalty itself. What
delight the birth Of Isaac brought to his p,.
rents; and they straightway expressed their
Joy in the improved orthography OF their
names. And the gift Of children has not
only produced photographic changes but has
also changed the entire nature Of many an.
other man and woman. What joy. too. the
birth OF Rachel's sons brought 10 Israel, al
belt no had been seven times blessed IN that
way by tender eyed Losh. not to mention
Dan and Naptali, Cad and Asher. 7''.A
! But sh what changes time produces! !!
Two thousand years ago no man thought Of
advertising his dislikeuf childhood and limo
ccnc,. Even ut the beginning Of the. Chris
tian era 1t was said. "Sudsr little children
and forbid them not, 70 come unto me for
such is the kingdom Of Heaven" a-.'' y