Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1868-08-28
CHILDREN.
by MRS. E. D. PECK.

Children arc tender buds-"thcir
sweetest leaves yet unfoldcd"-shisld-
cd and wrapped by tho calyx of q
mothcr's lovo; if thcso buds do NOT
properly expand, and open to perfec .
ton, they will never yield tho goldos {
fruit in tho autumn of life.
Their minds havo been compared TO
soft clay, that at first can bo easily
Wrought upon, and moulded to any
form, or fashion, but as the years in
crease they become hard and cannot
be rcmouldcd.
Upon thoir fresh minds arc cngrav-
cd those pure preccpts that will
lead them holnoward; or thcro will
DC engraved, in incn'accablc characters,
dark stains that will blur tho soul, and
make it unfit to reflect tho image Of
God.
Children arc busy rs boos, collecting
ideas; these bocomo fixed in tho mind.
Tho most trivial occurrence oftimcs
conduco to bias their minds for good
or OWL: thoy mover forget first i'm
prcssions; thoy aro deep and lasting,
and arc imbuod like the dow, as
rain is by tho fowors.
Studies should bo given thom as
thoy arc ablo to digest them; innocent
hcalthful plays should be interspcrsed
and mingled with these.
I have thought that tho most suo-
ccssful educators of children, wcro
those who dismissed their pupils carly
from tho closo confinement of tho
school room, and took long rambles
with them through tho fields and
woods; and who pointed to tho most
insignificant objects before them, and
explained all their intricate mystoris.
Why, even the littlo pcbblo that wo
spurn from our feet, as we walk along
the path, can furnish Ms food for much
thought. It has been in existence
ever since God spoke tho earth into
being. Volumes might DO written
! about its formation, ero man walked
tho earth. If it could SEQ and speak
| it
"Might tell us
How the world looked whom it was fresh and
green:
New worlds have risen, we have lost old ua-
tions;
And countless beings have into duet been tum-
bled;
Whilst scarce fragment of itself hast crum-
bled."
1t might tell of Davids, who have
slung it with sufficient forco to slay
Goliahs-of cities that have flourish
cd, and then crumblod into ruin. Yea.
how many volumes Of history might
| bo writtou Of tho wonders that it
could reveal.
Even tho flowers, that children
gather with SO much delight and then
earelcssly throw away, a Linnpus could
spend a life time in examining into
their species, and analyzing them.
Let us as parents DO over on tho alcrts
in instillng knowledge into the minds
| Of our children.
Little children have been called tho
poetry of life; and their laughter
may bo tho music.
Precious little childrenl their inno-
cent prattlc beguilcs us of our dull caros;
they teach us patience and forbcarance.
"Unlcss wo become as littlo children,
we shall not enter tho kingdom of
Heaven -" for Of such is tho king
dom of Heaven"
Then let us instead Of warping
their tendor minds and moulding
them. into the cold unfeeling beings
that we ourselves arc, strive rathor to
learn from them how to smile, even
amidst our tears. Let US learn to have
the samo trusting, confding love for
Heavenly Father that they have for
us; and learn to hiss the hand that
chastisos us.--Riehmond Christian I'D.
vocate.