Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1868-08-20
Helping Children Tell Lies.

There are few children who will not ;el
lies-the testimony of their parents to the
contrary Notwithstanding But, of two
facts am reasonably sure. First, that
children falscVoods are ailen as much the
parents faults as their own; and secondly,
that children do not lie as much as grown
up people DO.
Lics arc instruments Of attack or of dc
fcnsc, and so may be classed as offensive
or defensive. Childrens lies are almost
always dctcRsirc, and fer the most part
are employed in defending themselves
against parents, nurses, elder brothers and
sisters, and schoolmasters. in multitudes of
instances mere attempts TO hide themselves
from sharp censurc ar sharper whipping.
Take a case from life Master Harry is
sent TO mill one day in winter, but with
strict injunct:ons not 10 stop and skate
But the pond was so inviting, the boys
there were so merry, they so persuasively
coaxed him, that it was not in his social
little heart 10 refuse. OF course he skates
longer than he intcded. On reaching
home he is questioned: why have you
been so long, Harry
"Oh-the grist was not ground, and /
had to wait" ''Did you go on to the
pond?' NO. sir, didn't"
Here is pretty tapgle of lics The old
gentleman runs his hand into the bag
finds the meal stone cold. He rides {
to the mill 10 inquire about matters. and
finds the grist had been ground the day
before; he rides home and calls up the ur-
chin, who knew that grist now was TO
be ground that would bc hot enough.
Here was disobedience first, Their lie:
and next, upon cross questioning, a secon-
Diary lie, explanatory and defensory of the
first. OF course punishment was earned
and deserved. But the boy did not lie be
cause he liked to, or because he was in
ditieIcnt-to the truth. He was suborned
by fear. He shrank from punishment and
tried TO hide behind a lie. The refuge
proved treacherous as it ought TO have
done
But. now. is there no lesson to parents
in this thing? Shall the hastily place their
children between such unequal motives as
conscience and fear? The lower instincts.
In children, are relatively far stronger than
moral sentiment. Conscience is weak and
unpracticed, while fear is powerful, and at
times literally irresistible.
The fear of pain, the fear Of shame. the
lear of ridicule, drive children into false
hoods. Those who govern them might.
at least, remember how it was in their own
cases, and so manage as to help conscience
against fear, rather than by threats al d
sternness make the temptation irresistible.
Children are very delicate instruments.
Their minds ale un6eveloped, upgovcIn-
cd and acutely sensitive. Men play upor
them as if they were tough as drums, and
like drums, made. for beating. They are
10 be helped more than blamed. One in
sympathy with their little souls will lead
them along safely amid temptations to
ialschood, where rude and impetuous
---s-.~ uiai PIs"So them headloug into
wrong. ..,.f
The one clement of real manhood. above
ali others, is TRUTH. A child should not
be left to learn how to be true, how 10 re-
sist temptations, how TO give Judgment in
favor right and virtue Here is the place
where help isneeded-patience, sympathy,
counsel, encouragement.-H ". Beech
c..