The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1868-07-10
UeIDine ChlIdren to Lie.

Under this head Mr.. Beecher, in the
last Ledger, discourses as follows: Tah !
That lying is bound up in the hearts
of children it would not become me TO
deny. But certainly 1t is eften united.
Indeed, there are few who will not tell
llies-the testimony Of their parents to
the contrary notwithstanding. 5ar.5
But, of two facts / am reasonably
sure. First, that children's falseheods
are often as-much the parents faults as
their own; and secondly, that children
do not lie as much as grown up people
do, and seem to be So only from skill
and long practice gs.sias955t 7.i'gLa I
Lies are instruments of attack or de-
tense, and so may be classed as offen-
Isive or defensive. CBildren's lies are
lalmost always defepsiye, and for the
Imost part are employed in defending
themselves against parents, nurses, ell
1 der brothers and sisters, and school
masters. Being weak and helpless,
concealment is in their case, as in the
animal kingdom, almost the only means
of defence. Children's lies areiD mul-
Ititudes of instances mere attempts to
hide themselves from sharp censure or
sharper whipping. - III s+aL.,t
/ Take a case from life. Master Harry
lis sent to mill one day in winter, but
with strico injunctions not to stop and
skate. But the pond was so inviting,
the boys there were SO merry. they so
persuasiyely coaxed him, that it was
not in his social little heart to refuse.
Of course he skates longer than he in
TENDED. On reaching home is cues
tioned: "Why have you been SO long,
Harry" rcsf aoHu,ta gtf
"Oh--the grist was not groundy and
4 had to wait. ',--r- rnosl guotig.n7
"Did you 60 onto the pond y
tNo, sir, ! Ididnt", ~ ,,..,..,g,.5 g +, III
j Here is pretty tangle Of lies The
old gentleman runs his hand into the
bag aud finds the meal stone cold. He
rides over to the mil to inquire about
matters aud finds that the gFist has
been ground the dag before ;rhe rides
'thome and calls up the aTchin, who
knew that a grist now was to be ground
that would be-hot enough !, Here was
) fdisobedie16e first, then allie; and next,
4 upon cryss-qdestioniug, secondary le,
explanatory and defensorY Of the first.
Of course punishment was earned and
deserved. But the boy did not lie be-
couse he liked to, or because he was
: indifferent to truth. He was Suborned
by fear. He shIank from punishment,
and tried to hide behind ale. The ref
luge proved treacherons, as it ought to
have done. p h1s, soqH h9912a hsd' LsrI /
N But, now, is there no lesson 20 par
ents In this thiug9 Shall they hastily
place their children between such ua-
4eddal motives as Cohseienee7 snds Fear
The lower instincts, IN children, are rel
atiEely far stronger. than moral senti-
ment Conscience is weak and Ii1-
practiced, while Fear is powerful, and
at times, literally irresistible; e;.ope oU,, ID, 5
\ The fear Of pain the fearIof shame,
the fear Of rridicples drive childFensiuto
1falsehoods. Those Who govern them
1 night at least remember how il Rss
lin their own cases, and so manage as
Ito help. Conscience against Fear rather
Ebythan threats and sterness make the
Temptation Irresistible, 1ns .9ll9!,azil9o i,
Children are very delicate ipstra-
lmenJs., Their minds are lundeyelopod,
ungoYerned, and acutely sensitive Men
i play upon them as if.they were tough
as drums, and Gslike drums, made for
4 beating. They are to be helped mote
ltksR blamed, o1e ipisympathgl with
their little souls get them along safely
4 amid temptations to falsehood, where a
ftfude inpetdous nature viii plunge
them ,headlopg intoiwFoRgy lou sso5
/ 81 The one element 0freat.aInanhoOd,
4 above all others, IS Truth "A child
should not be left to learn how to be
TRUE, how to resist Temptations, how to
5lgiYe Judgment in favor If right aadgir-
tue. Here is the place where help is
Inesded-patienee, sympathy counsel
encouragement 81 Instsadoof these the
one motive, too 1oftep, is the W WbiP!a &