The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-01-19
(From the Baltimore Episcopal Mothodlst.] ]
CI1ILDlsEN,S BOOKS.

ISCf. i. Ac StG lWILuus.C HIS oJuIc
telling hints in Hearth and Home on tho
quality of children's books, which may
be pro6tably considered when the next
lot is selected for the Sabbath. school
library. 1t may bc thought the last par.
agraph is little over muscular, but
the advice is sound ::
On Sunday night your child docs not
want to go to bed. lie cries when com.
pclled to go, and looks under the bed
for some Of the religious hcbgcblins that
come out of thcSuuday-school library.
Religious books are just as bad as any
other books. "A child is just as afraid
Of Floras, Pononas, sylphs, oreads, and
farics, Us Of g,>ts. The poor little dar
ling in the blue sack goes home with a
book thinking she has heaven under her
arm, aud before she gets through read
ing the story Of love aud adventure
feels SO strange that she thinks she
must be getting lots Of religion.
In the choice of our childreu's books
let us not mistake slops for simplicity,
nor insult our cllildrens tastes by dis
QUESTIONS about "iootsytootsics," or keep
Informing them of the historical fact
which they learned great while ago,
that "Nlary had little lamb" or as
scmblc tho youngsters in coroncr's jury
to clear up the mystery as to "who
killed cock robin" If child has no
common sense at seven years Of age it
never will have.
Have at least ono book in your library
in which all the good children did not
die. My early impression from Sun
iay.school books was that religion was
very unhealthy. 1t seemed terrible
distcmpcr, that killed every boy and
girl that it touched If found myself
some day better than common, correct
cd the mistake for fear should die
although. it was the general opinion
that was not in much danger from
ovcr-sanctity. But I do believe that
children may have religion and yet live
through it. a strong mustard plaster
aud teaspoon full Of ipccac will d.
marvcls. Timothy lived to grow up
and VIC are crcdibly informed that little
Samuel woke. Indeed, the best boys |
over saw occasionally upset things and
got boistcrous and had the idgcts. Tho
goodic-g goodie kind Of children mako
namby-p -pamby men. ] should not be
surprised to find that colt which doc;
not frisk becomes horse that will moi
draw. 1T is not religion that makes {
boy sit by the stove while his brothers
arc out snow-bullins, but the "dumps.' >
The boy who has no fire in his nature
may, after be has grown up, have ami
nation enough TO grease a wagon.wlicc
but he will not own the wagon mol
have money enough to buy the grease
The best boy ever knew, before llt
went to heaven, could strike ball til
it scared out Of sight, and in the race
far as you conld see, you would find biz
red tippct comming out ahead. 1.ool
out for the boy who never has the fin
gers OF a good laugh tickle him undc
the diaphragm. The most solcmn-look
ing mule on our place had kicked tt
pieces five dash boards.
There arc parents who notice that thci
daughter is looking pale and sick, mt
therefore think she must bo destined
to marry missionary and go TO Borneo
although the only Recommendation sh,
has for that position is that she vii
never be any temptation to the canni
balls, who, while very fond of cold mis-
sionary, are avcrsc to diseased meat
or finding their son looking cadavcrous
thiLk be is going to die or become min
istcr, considering that there is great pow
or of consccraton in the liver complaint
and thinking him doubly set apart who
wlilc Prcsbytcry are laying .hci
hands on his head, has dyspepsia layin:
its hand OH his stomach.
| Oh for religious literature tha
shall take for it's model Of excellence
boy that loves God, aud can digest hi
dinner in two hours after he eats
| If tho church could trade off thrc
thousand hogshcads ofrcligious cant 70
thrco thousand hogshcads Of fresh al
and stout health, auc should be tho gain
crs, but tho follow with whom we trad
cd would be cheated merciiessly ant
forever.
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