The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1871-08-10
{ CONCLUDED NEXT WEEK.) J
[BY REQUEST.
THE CHRISTIAN MOTHER.
RELIGIOUS TRAINING OF chill.
DREN.

Lovers OF their own selves"
'Whst. my son and what, the son of my womb
and what the son Of my vows.''
"Chasten the son while there is hope and let not
thy soul spare for his crying"
II. Tim. 1. Prov. XXI. 2. Prov. xix. q.
The perversity and waywardoess of
the child is not the only, and perhaps
the chief hinderauce to a mother, ID
the exercise of a firm, conscientious dis.
cipline.
To see her child merry and happy is
her hourly delight; its gleeful laugh
is music in her ears in correcting it
she inflicta much more pain upon her
own feelings than upon the child to
"spare her soul" the sound of his pite-
Gus "crying," she will refrain from
thwarting bis faucies, or unreasonable
desires, and neglect the needful meas.
ures Of restraint.
Alas, fond mother! Too surely will
this weak selt-indulgence bring forth
its legitimate fruit; for the child thus
''left to himself, bringeth his mother to
shame"
In nine cases out OF ten his conduct
is bitterness to her that bare him )"
in the natural course of cause and ef.
feet, the neglected child will "consume
the eyes, and grieve the heart" of the
weak, dotlDg parent.
In calling this lsxity of discipline
self.iodulgence, and attributiug it to
seltlove, We speak advisedly.
Let the Christian mother regard her
child not only as part of her own life,
in tho strong natural affection she bears
toward HIM, but as the mother Of Sam
uel expressed herself, the "son IF her
VOWS" as well, Of VOWS which may s.-
quire much selt-donial and pal .ful Ct
fort on her part, but which must be
fulfilled, as sho values the eternal we'll
being Of tho child entrusted to her.
He that ruletb Qet him do it) with diligence
''Do as thou hast satd.
'"The double-mnded man is unstable in all his
ways" Rom. Kits. I.Kings, xvii.l2 James /. g.
In order that discipline may be Of
any avail, it is necessary that it be
firm, steady and uniform; not depend.
ing upon the caprice or circumstances
vi the moment, but. as the child will
soon learn to preceive, upon high and
uuwavering principle.
What can be more injurious to a
child than to be at times severely pun.
ished for acts of disobedience, such as,
on other occasions, aud for reasons
quite beyond his comprehension, are
allowed to pass unnoticed beneath the
parents very eye?
OF course the child, not knowing
when the parent may be in the humor
to enforce a command, will often dis
obey in hope of escaping the threat
ened penalty, and when punishment
follows, it will irritate in proportion As
twas unexpected.
A great deal may be accomplished
in the guidance and moulding of chill
dren. 10 minor matters, by persuasive
tact, without positive commands and
rules.
In many points, in the daily man.
agemcut Of active, needless children,
there is more call for the patient cline
upon line and precept upon precept,' -
Of gentle admonition, than for the d.
rect exercise Of authority.
A wise parent will avoid unnecessary
collision with the will Of child; but
At, the same time, when q direct COM
msnd il given, will never allow it to be
evaded, or disregarded.
1t is wonderful With what iugenui-
ty very young child, even, will At
tempt to break through the parental
authority By watching an opportuui-
ty when the parent is thought to be
off from her guard by playful, coa1iug
arts, to avert displessure =; or BY ventur-
ing only q little way on the path Of
Of disobedience. ..,~. .
II the case Of sieklJ, nervous chill.
dreu, It is Judged ~ many that the ex:
eroise of I firm authority IS harsh and