The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-12-15


vate one mind and one heart in regard to
family government, If difference of SEN
timent or feeling should arise, the children
should never know it. There cannot be sue
cess without concert. When misconduct Is
concealed from the father by the mother,
and when the extent of her deception con-
-sists in threatening the child with making
known his offences to the father, the ruin of
that child is almost certain.
8. Children should never be fattered.-
This may be done directly or indirectly di-
rectly by excessive commentator bestowed
on them personally, and Indirectly by re-
hearsing their good deeds and smart sayings
to others in their presence.
The same disastrous influence is exerted
by paying great Difference to their opinions,
and by allowing them too much freedom in
v-spS tslhc,F opiS5Ss,Ssspe pecIall Ss''ET
presence Of strangers.
4. Parents should also concur in restrain
ing and rightly directing a disposition in
their children to tell news. News-telling is
sadly liable to degenerate into tattling, and
this, in its turn, leads to SANDER, and, in the
end, to lying.
5. Parents should not relax too soon. In
deed the day should never come when the
son or daughter feels entirely independent
of parental authority, or wholly regardless
of parental influence. In the days of the
Patriarchs this authority and this influence
continued through life. Judicious manage
ment in childhood will render this easy and
agreeable in more advanced years.
6. All who have undertaken to discuss the
subject, have treated of parental obligation
as divided into three heads, viz: Support,
Instruction, and Discipline. That it is the
duty of parents to provide their offspring
with comfortable food, raiment and shelter,
requires no proof. Nature herself prompts
to this so strongly that the brute feels, ac-
knOwledges and yields to its influence. 1t
has been truthfully said, that there is but
one animal in creation that refuses to pro-
vide for its own progeny, and that is the un-
happy and degraded Slave of Intoxicating
liquors. His ears alone are deaf to the
voice, and his heart alone insensible to the
influence of nature herself.
1t is difficult to determine what should be
the expensiveness of the support furnished.
This much is obvious, the parent should wise
ly consider his circumstances-his position in
life-his pecuniary resources and act accord
ingly,--carefully guarding himself and
children against the influence of the old and
mischievous maxim that, ''we must do as
other people do
The child's real and not his imaginary
wants are to be consulted. The general rule
seems to be, that the mode of life adopted by
the parent should be that which he is re-
quired to provide for the child.
If parent possessing great wealth should
bring up his children in ignorance and mean
ness, we should say he vas utterly unfaith
full to the trust committed to him. On the
other hand, when parent of moderate estate
and slender income, educates his children as
if they were to possess large fortunes, rears
them in idleness and extravaganza, he vio-
lates his duty, and prepares them, not for
happiness, but for life of discomfort, imbe
ciGty and misery. This is great and in
creasing evil, and bids fair to scatter the
seeds of sorrow broadcast through the land.
The poor are sadly inclined to initiate the
rich, and thereby seek to secure their admi-
ration. But in this they never succeed by
such means. They rather awaken disgust,
and really ALLEVIATE those whom they seek to
conciliate. Sensible people, whether rich or
poor, restrict their admiration to those who
live themselves and teach their children to
live in strict accordance with the rank which
God has assigned to them, and the pecuniary
resources with which he has been pleased to
entrust them. W. 5. W. E.