Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1868-11-27
PLEASANT HOMES.

Parents, strive to make your homes pea
SAINT and attractive IF you woUla hsve
your children grow up pure, healthy and
beautiful, attempt not to destroy their love
for beautiful things, and for healthy Fecrca-
ton. Do not labor with such cold rigid,
self deBying economy to hoard up money to
bestow upon them at your death, father de-
qote portion Of your surplus income to
embellishing and beautifying your dwellings
and to furnish your girls and boys with the
means Of home enjoyment Introduce into
your family circle innocent amusements, aud
above all, yourselves join and assist the
young in their recreations and plans for 50.
cid diversion. Teach them that most
beautiful and soul inspiring accomplishment
music; allow them to mingle in the graceful
and th-giying dance, to romp, laugh
aud be merry
Many parents viii crush with iuwn
every attempt at biIariiy on the palt o.
their children, they will banish all amuse-
ment and gayety from the family circle, and
cause a shade of gloom to settle over their
homes What is the course Of the children
Of such parents To escape from the op-
pressive atmosphere Of home becomes the
governing motive of all their actions
When away from the immediate care Of
their parents they viii secretly 90 to places
which they have been forbidden to visit, aud
minglo with children with whom they have
been told not to associate; then they viii I'M
mediately become more hardened, and
plunge deeper and deeper into the sea of
forbidden pleasures, and resort to falsehood
to shield themselves from detection; sud
after they have taken this step their down
ward course is straight and rapid. They
frequent drinking shops, smoke and swear,
associate with fast young rhen, soon become
fast themselves, and at last cause the
hoary heads of their parents to boE In sor-
row.
Are not such parents in measure, re-
sponsible for the sins of their children p
The young will have enjoyment, and if they
cannot find it at home they win seek it
elsewhere in doubtful places and in
doubtful company. They are tull Of vital
ity and gayety; they have an ungoveTnable
desire for amusement and social intercourse,
and that desire muss be gratifed legili-
mstely it may be, or iliegitimately. Attempt
to suppress it and you will ruin your chill
dren; direct it 10 the proper channel, and
you will cause them to grow up happy and
| contented into the best and noblest of men
and women.
One halfof the depraved aud abandoned
men and women of this country have been
made what they are by their parents.
Through ignorance and superstition they
have been driven from their homes, which
to them should be the most attractive places
on earth, to seek the street ''by the forbid
den paths, for that recreation which is es-
sential to their very existence.
You who have children to train up think
Of this Devote portion of yoar time aud
mouey to gratifying their love for social
amusement. Ifyou do not get rich quite
as fast, if you, perchance, do net die ail-
| lionaire, what matters it You viii be
compensated hundred fold for the pseu-
mary loss by the Joy and pleasure you will
experience by seeing your children greg up
noble aud yirtuous. honored and respected
/ by those around them -DUNNELL