Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1871-06-29
(oRIGINAL.)
THE UNVVISE PARENT. AND
EVER KIND PROVIDENCE.
BY ISIAH BRONSON.

BY IsIAH BRONSON.
This morning Walter G. received
n note from Mr.. James L. living
upon South Sophia street, desiring him
at dinner. Mind you, he said, 81 am
none of your foolish chaps, to put off my
noon meal until night"
P. S."Bring your friend.'' As Walters
friend, 1 share many agreeable II i'll
structiye hours.
After reading he note, he passed it to
me. The tremulous hand by which it
was penned, indicated the writer to be
aged.
"Forty-three years ago." said Walter,
sEMr. L. located his home two miles
west of the Gennesee. The country was
then all woods; but a few houses were
on the bank of the river. Rochester
was then the smallest sort of a village.
BY industry and economy he amassed a
competence. When the small village
was extended out to his farm, he divided
his land into city lots, sold out, and
moved into town. His wealth allows
him to consult his own pleasure. A
large share of his happiness is derived
by being useful to others. Doing good
to his neighbors. Brought up in the old
fashioned style of the Connecticut far
mer, his early instruction never permit
ted a desire to use the eCeed, nor to in
dulge in liquor. 1t is a pity that people
do not endOw their children with as good
a boon as they inherited from their an
c~esters.
"Mr.L l. was in affiuence when his
children were small, and not needing
their aid, they were never taught to be
useful, nor did they learn the value of
time. The children were their kind
fathers pets; and to contribute to their
pleasure he early Initiated their taste by
candies and pastry, greatly injuring their
hoo1th an6 traininn them tn look for no
joy, no pleasure, above the qualification
of appetite.
ssTaste is the first delight that an infant
enjoys. This is purely animal. No
spark of the immortal has found a place
in the newborn infant. They a the
capacity to think, to reflect, to learn.
Thus a mind is formed in the child.
Thoughts never die. Truth, OF knowl-
edge, which is the same, is immortal. 1t
is the mind, soul, if you please, that lives
when the body is dissipated into gases.
The infant that never breathed, never
had a thought, then it never had Il mind,
nor can it have a soul.
Chow important then that the firstim-
pressions of the child, the first rudiments
of the mind, OF, if you please, the base
or foundation of the soul should be OF
that class of ideas hat will lead N to
seek for happiness, and desire joys that
are as far above the animal, as spirit is
above the brute. Without usefulness,
there is no happiness, neither in this life,
o the next. Although every person is
in their delight, until n has risen above
the plane of animal ~seifishness, their de-
light is repaid by painful regrets.
"In training children Mr.. L dis
carded philosophy, and laid aside com
mon sense, to let his children grow up
without implanting one thought in their
minds above selfishness. Ruled by a de-
-,or11 arnafsfn o-1 ~ Innn fo.1oht
no pleasure above taste, their lives were
as short as they were ignoble. The pa
rents nave outlived all their Children
At the hour appointed, an aged couple
greeted III very cordially. Every thing
about the premises was neat and tidy,
though plain. The house, only of two
stories, was in style thirty years ago:
though a good old-fashioned dinner
Walter said, "Mr. l., L can see nc
reason why you are not perfectly hap
py:"
pleasant to meet friends, or to do {
kindness to the needy. 1t is true that
have sufficient for all my wants. Blu
riches cannot restore to me my children
The house that has no children, canno
be a happy home. Providence has beer
very hard with us. The seven hopeful
children hat you saw when you were
out to my farm, nave all been consigned
to the tomb!"
"When 1 was a lad,0 said Walter, ."
did think that Providence was hard t.
me. But later years makes me believ,
that Providence was my best friend. l
was far more kind to me han l was t.
myself.
81 have heard people who had the dys
pepsia say that Providence had wontonl.
afflicted them with that painful disease
AT that very moment, Providence wa
dealing with him in great kindness. L
his eyes were opened, he would see tina
even dyspepsia, with its attendant pains
was truly a dear, kind visitor. 1t hat
just stepped in (not without an invita-
tom to stand sentry and prevent the vic
tim IAN unfortunate being slave to hi
appetite) from gorging himself until h
should become a mass OF putrid flesh
81 know a dear, kind aunt, who will d
any thing for her friends. When Visite'
by her sisters three small daughters
h will express her love by inducin:
them to eat a hearty dinner, Then
large, thick piece of butter with a littl
bread under it. Then mince pie, wit
plenty of raisins. To finish the meal,
large slice of rich cake will close the eX
ercise.
"Children have less judgment and dis
erection about eating, and require a thou
sand times more care than other animal!
Young, affectionste, thoughtless beings
will receive any thing given them, unit
their stomach rejects the burden. 7
those nieces, 4 visit of three or fou
weeks, is worse than fever. F~ortunatel
they live some distance from auntie, an
see her only occasionally. That dear
kind aunt, has no children. She is, there
fore, saved the grief of losing them.
''Such treatment would kill almost an
child in six months. Only the very mos
hardy child could endure such StutIn
for one year.
eff you would desire to nave childre
bright, healthy, and iong-lived, PERM
them to eat plain, simple food, withor
the condiments which are accompanie
by a sickly atmosphere. But if yo
must continue an unWhOlesOme diet t