Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-03-12
Communicated
Childhood.


"Suffer little children TO come unto me, for
Of such Is the kingdom Of Heaven"
Softly the influence Of these blessed
words fan upon the spirits Of the tired
and weary nortals who have outlived
the number of their own childish days,
and given the innocent thoughts Of that
happy period TO graver pursuits, and
perhaps less holy antieipatiOns Beau
tiful childhood Yes, truly beautiful in
all It's lovely character for who can fail
to feel its besuty2 Not one-no, not
even the hardest heart can repel the in
nOcent pleading Of a sweet childish face.
upturned to theirs in confidence and
hope. never dreaming Of defeat, or
clouded BY one shadow Of distrust.
Still, how many pass those beautiful
blossoms by with only passing thought,
or if noticed, only from some selfish
motive, feeling il viii please. Precious
lessons might we learn from every little
heart, if we would only tune our own
hearts to accord with the harmony Of
theirs. Better weep over the graves OF
early disappointments in every other
way, than lose the pleasure of this pure
enjoyment. Many times the thought
naturally occurs: how is it that even
mothers can leave their precious little
ones to the Indifferent care Of meniais-
Willing away their time in idle gossip
or chasing the gilded pomp Of empty
fashion; forgetful of the price they are
paying for trivial possession, 20 earn
estly sought at any cost-but SO soon
wearied Of when won without compen-
sating for the trouble, and leaving nought
but feelings of disappointment and re-
gret, and the possessor with only the
ashes of heart to offer at the shrine oil
domestic duty and maternal love. Oh,
sorrowfully draw the vail Of charity, and
let it droop pityingly over all such
weak and faulty characters; for surely
they forget the importance Of their
mission, and the saeredness Of their
trust, for theirs is a weighty RESPONSE
bility indeed; beautiful, too-far more
so than any occupation they could en-
gage in-for they are the ones TO build
MP the characters of their little ones and
train them to feel and understand the
duty and obligations, not only Of infant
years, but those that belong to ripeI
ages. and lead them to the eventual hap
piness that is promised TO all who live
for pure and noble purposes They arr
the architects, in great measure, O
the structure they succeed with--Or le
perish for a willingness to fulfill thei
solemn duty 1t may seem trivia
matter to such mothers 10 leave thei
children without q prayer or the swee
solace Of a goodnight kiss, but the tim
will come when, perhaps, even her
below they viii weep over their neglect
even as the angel Of record must wee
10 blot their names from the book Of life
and sigh over the lost jewels for th
crown of the just Children plead 70
love from all-but how sweetly is it rs
seived from loving mother Il softeni
purifes and irradiates their youthful
career. and fingers IKE 3 halo Of peac
and sacred protection in the long pi
rrimaee 10 the grave; and the chasi
memory Of that sainted form aud fac
lives again amid the storms Of life an
its darkening vieissitudes, and comes
them soaly. Ike the influence from
better world. and sO0thes them agair