Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1870-04-14
Training Children.


Mrs.. Lett is time to pass to the
discussion OF our regular topic for the
afternoon; The best modes OF forming
habits of virtue aud piety in our child
rem. I am glad to see SO large q
number OF mothers present who have
grown children. In the Multitude OF
councillors there wanteth not wisdom.
Mrs. Bwt-(A strict relIgionist, but
her oldest boy is one OF our Busydale
profigates) Il used to think know.
ed just how to make boys grow up IN.
to good men. There's Sammy, my
oldest, when he was little shaver, l
alters made him get his Sunday school
lesson every Saturday afternoon, and
60 to meetin' mornin' and afternoon,
besides Sunday-school he knowed his
catechism by heart from "What is the
chief end Ut man. to the end Of the
book, and all the ten commandments,
and made him go to prayer-meetm'
with me reg'ler, tho he didn't want to
go; but Solomon says, Train up a
child'in the way he should 60" and l
tried to tram INN, but he don't 90 in
that way now, can't help feelin' as
tho I'd made some awful mistake
somewhercs. never see hlm-and |
don't get to see him often nowadays
but never do see him but I don't
talk to him about the concerns of his
soul, and ask him if he ever thinks
about bis latter end.
-Aunt Betsey-Mebbe that's the reas-
son you don't see no more of him.
Folks don't want to be forced to 60
to heaven. Et you talk to him bout
his dog or his horse, or praise the set
Of his coat or the cut of his whiskers,
mebbe he'd give you chance now
and then to talk about his soul. Now
I've got brother that IS a wicked
worldly man, and ever since growed
up and thought about things, Eve
made up my mind that it was religion
too much that allied him. Why's long
ago as l kin remember, mother wa.
alters talkin' to him bout the gospe
ministry, and goin' missionary to the
heather, and how he enjoyed his mind
Hang me, Bess,' said he one day, Eel
lever set my foot in meetin' house
when get to be man: it is nothin'
but psalm singin'. prayer meetin' and
solemn, pious kind O talk from mornin
to night; and l don't want to 90 tc
heaven if that's what we've got to dc
forever and ever" And there John
MES stuck ever since. an / can't hell
thinkin' that if he hadn't been stuffed
with religion all the time, or wha,
mother called religion, he'd been {
better man than what he is.
Mrs. Lee.-Let us hear something OF
the positive side of this question
Aunt Betse> tells us show not to dc
it." What has Mrs. Smith TO say or
the other side?
Mrs. Smith, have three boys that
certainly give me nothing but pleasure
though it's not for me to praise my
own. There's William, my oldest,
who is surgeon in the navy, and John,
who is practicing medicine, and
George, who is farmer, all good boys
and members of the church. We al.
ways had family prayers, to be sure
and went to church regular when they
were little, and we tried to teach them
to be honest aud industrious, and keep
the ten commandments, and follow
Christ's sermon on the Mount. They
always loved their home very much,
and didn't seem to care about going
off with other boys, and now they
seem to enjoy talking with each other
and with their sisters better than asso-
ciating with young company about
town. l don't hardly know what
kept them from being wild like some
other boys l know of, unless they
loved their home so much aid didn't
want TO hurt their fathers feelings and
mine by being bad. We never talked
about religion SO very much, but we
tried to act consistent.
Mrs. Blaks.-I think Mrs. Smith has
hit the nail on the head this time. Elk
ample speaks louder than precept. II
parents make their children happy
homes and show the beauty of piety
and virtue by consistent Christian
lives, by evcnness Of temper, and hcav.
emily sweetness Of disposition, they will
,oin what they cannot command. Love
is the most potent element in training
children, though other influences must
be likewise brought to bear on them.
When my children were small, l asked
an old minister why he thought the
sons Of clergymen so often turned ont
badly. Because" was his reply, "they
place the church DO e the family
when god has placed the family first y
II we wish to insure success in rear.
ing our sons and daughters in the love
OF virtue, we must place our duties to
our families first From Kate Hun
nebee's paper, in Hearth and Home.