Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-03-05
TERMS OF ADVERTISING:
TCOMMUNICATED.
CHILDREN-BY J. b. JOHNSON.


CHILDREN-BY J. b. JOHNSON.
IF il affords the mind of man delight to con-
temnIate the favorable growth of those works
which his ingenuity inyents, and his industry
brings TO mathematical and mechanical pertec-
tiop how much more infinite must be his CRATE
fnl Measure when he views the child, whlch
Cod entrusted to his care, led, free from all the
gross sins of life, up to the full measure of viz
tuous manhood and if it gives man renown
TO be distinguished among his felow-men for
the value Of his good qualities, how much
greater glory mustit yield him, when he, in
obedience to heavens laws rear hiss child to
worth, honor and religion? A good child IS
never-ceasing flow of JOY and sunshine to Its
parents heart; and, however indifferent a pa
rent nav be to the proper moral culture OF bis
otsnrine he can never tail to see the wide diff
ference between good and bad child; for
there is an instructive something that prompts
him to ask: How am [ to tutor my child in
order to render him joy to my thoughts, use
ful to himself, and an example OF good to his
race? The Bible, in this, as in all instances,
having reference to the natural relations OF man
to the world, declares the answer, and points
the way by indicating the duty OF rearing chill
dren to be a practical one. Its instructions on
the subject, are as plain as they are practical; A;
and so positive are It's commands to parents IN
regard to the government Of tEelr children,
that they are mandatory, and do not admit
even the tenderness of infantile years. to be Of
tered as a barrier against an early and decisive
inAiction of corporeal punishment when re-
fractory dispositions demand it for it is en-
Joined. "Chasten thy son, while there is hope,
and let not thy soul spare for his crying If
Scripture is stern and immutabe in the char
acter of its laws and instructions, it is at the
same time profuse in its promises OF rewards OF
pleasure and ease, if its laws and instructions
are obeyed. and in no duty OF lite, is this TACT
more clearly exemplifed than in that OF the
moral training of children for it is vouchsafed
to parent, ''lrain up child in the way be
should 20, and when he is DID, he aolM not de-
part from it" The language OF this ProVerb
is as firm as it is bountiful IN Its assurance OF
success; and, in all probability, no parent who
has strictly obeyed it, has ever been disappoInt-
ed In the possession of child whose habits
and worth, have failed to be an ornament OF
grace to him under all the varied changes OF
chance and time.
As the child is to be the future man, and as
the man is to exert influence tor good or evil,
it is certainly important to have the child
taught, as nearly as possible, to be the perfect
man, and not to leave at every step, as ne
stumbles over life's path, the vile impress OF
some odious habit; or to bring, as ne rushes into
the sinfulness of the world, shame upon his
parent, and crimes reward upon his base acts.
The duty of making him good man, rests en-
tirely with his parent, and so incumbent is this
Office, that no excuse which he can offer, will
avail to palliate the wrong to the child, II he
neglects his responsibility to it. This duty
does not consist in providing the child with all
the comforts that its physical nature may de-
mand, for that is purely animal but IN the
higher and nobier effort to establish fixed and
positive rules to meet the wants Of the moral
obligations of parent, and to erect parental
command that will, from the earliest dawn OF
the child intellect, make it know that its will
must, in every instance, and under all clrcum-
stances, be subservient and obedient to that OF
its parent This is the golden rule in the NOR
al education of children; and on no other plan,
can parent claim success in the proper tutel-
age of his child; for it is written: Correct
thy son, and he shall give thee rest, yea, he
shall give delight unto thy soul. Hence the
parent who conducts his offspring to Virtuous
maturity, is greater than he who oVercomes
the trials of commerce. and accumulates great
riches for he has returned to him, all profit
and no loss, all pleasure and no pain.
He bestows upon his child not the winged
possessions of tickle opulence, that may prove
a snare to his passions, and curse, to his SOUL
but the priceless safe guard OF early teaching,
and the heart-whispers of the echoes OF Vlr,
tue.taught childhood. The dear scenes OF
the hearthstone's pious schooling, and the SOU
thoughts of a fond freside's implanted prlncl-
pies, will be lar more to him than the secondary
Importance of wealth, and will cluster around
him when his spirits nights are dark, and
bring with their cherished remembrance the
precious words of parent devout prayer Tor
his welfare. This will be all the wealth that ne
will need, and requires no cunning LOCKS to
keep it; for the child whose mind has been
imbued with good Aabits and correct morals,
can never be Door, and can never be led to des-
plse either his parent or his teaching. Ine
worlds sin may endeavor to allure him, ano
folly with its arti6ce, and vice with Its devices
may essay to entice him to wrongtulness, ou'
he will be found to be proof against them ALL
and the instructions OF his parent will be as
chain about his feet. His powers of resistance
to evil will increase with his years of approach
ing manhood, and lead him from temptation
bis course will be pleasant and we'll defined
and the vice marks, which he had been taught
to shun, will always tell him of his way tol
like faithful guide, the memory OF his tram
ingwi lever Iinger about him, and breathe kindly
10 his ear, the sweet reward ct virtue, ana TIT
qulet recompense OF truth