The weekly Panola star. [volume] (Panola, Miss.) 1857-1881, 1871-01-07

PFnHAPs therr Is nothing else that 50
much excitgs n mothers anxiety for a
child's future rs % vinlent temper. IL j.
dangerous thing. When We see the lruwn.
ing brow aud crimson cheek and flashing
eyes. the tiny hand clinched, while fierce,
bitter, defiant words leap from the little
mouth-or the child throws his toys away
from him, and himself screaming on the
f%oor-it may well cause anxiety, that will
moi stop short Of persistent, watchiul,
pnyerful effort 1t is pitiable, a terrible
sight
And vet there is a bright side of this tur.
bulent nature. The very passion indicates
a depth AID strength without which no
reliable, forceful character can be built.
The richer the nature, the more material il
holds for goo1-the greater danger Of per
version. Talent, generosity, courage and
deep feeling-the capability Of ardent, self
sacrificing, devoted affection, are almost
always accompanied by quick passions.
The reason Is self-evident. A strong ma,
ture Is strong in all its feelings, all its ten
denotes. 1t is Said, nodoubttruly, that man
cannot hate like woman; he cannot love
as she does. And the very natures, that if
perverted, go widest and farthest astray,
are the ones that once brought land they
can be only by the influence of love-
never by fear) into allegiance to Christ,
rise to the lof(iest planes Of self'abnegation
and loving service, trust and endurance,
He who best knew the human heart, said
They to whom much is forgiven, love
much"
What the river is when the storm swells
it into foaming fury, and it overtlows its
banks-dark, turbid, irresistible-carrylng
devastation wherever it runs its mad
course, such is the soul borne along by
passions wild current. But is the river a
thing of evill Nay, is it not-kept within
its rightful bounds and directed to its
normal ends-a thing of nOblest use and
beauty? Can We dispense with itg
Wait till the tempest has passed and the
winds are lulled and the sun shines out
again. Then see the river as it is. Is
there anything more beautiful? Anything
on which we look longer or with deeper
thrill of pleasure2 See it flowing along,
calm, blue, silvery its tiny ripplcs chasing
one another in the glad sunlight; its clear
depths rejecting the changing sky; the
meadows, on either hand, green from its
refreshing the trees and flowers drinking
life and bloom from its iullness; white
ducks sailing and diving in its waters; the
quiet, brown eyed cows wading along
its edge and quenching their thirst
with the weary, heated horse; the
old way.worn mau and the little child
sharing its benson with the birds of the
wood And then, farther on, as it traces
its winding way past field and forest and
hill, making sweet music ms it goes, grow.
ing deeper and broader, till it bears the
snowy-winged vessel and painting steamer,
with their freight of human life and cost
ly merchandise,
The analogy is complete. No fear of
the horse pondl That is very well in its
way-a good and useful thing But would
you exchange the river for it?
But you must guard the river. The
dyke is indispensable in some places, and
it must be strong and sure. And you
must guard your child. All the time you
have, through childhood and youth, is
none too long to teach him self govern
ment-that without which all outward con.
troll must fail.
Aud as to ways and means first af all,
we need to remember that fire never
quenches. The mother who most steadi
ly, fully, conscienti nusly rules her Owl
spirit, is the one that best governs thu
child. Mere outward force will not do it
: Severe punishment will not do it; buI
rather increases the evil. The old saying
|. about whipping six devils in while trying
to whip one out, is far more true than Gle
CANT.
Much may be done in the way of pre-,
vention. And we cannot begin to early
1t is never wise or kind, needlessly to veS
or try a child. In infancy, what ought
not to be given, can, as a general thing, be
kept out of the way-at least, out of reach
Some object to this, and talk about teach.
ing the child obedience and self.denial.
But my perceptions are rot sufficiently
acute to see the practicability vi giving
moral lessons to babies. 1t is never we'll
at a later day, to refuse a request needless
1Y. There are times enough when it mus
be refused, out of inability or for the
childs good-things enough which he
must see and not have. If we are only
faithful to duties that really exist, we need
: not make them unto ourselves or fear there
will not be a sufficient number. An un
IL doblliDit GtiliilVl Ottlo Il illiu dilh AtilAl
to induce obstinacY, %fretfulness, and decep
, tion. A reasonable and just government
, wins his respect and a cheerful obedience
One very important point is this-any
confidence on the child's part must Away
be met in good faith: however small
or trivial the subject matter may seem, lei
us remember there was a time when sucl
/, things were large to us. The father ant
; mother of readiest sympathy are thost
!, who retain their children's confidence. ant
. with it their affection, and tlus are able Il
exert the longest and deepest influence
: Ridicule and reproach are always and only
!, bad, whatever may be the circumstances O.
! fault.
: But-doing all in our power to avoid &C
. casions of anger, giving our children tn
: example Of a quiet, selfcDntrolled spirit
when outbursts Of temper do come, let u
meet them, not with Indifference, for 81
|. will it grow and strengthen; not will
: severity, but a gentle flrmness. 1t Is bori
! with the child, transmitted, like all ten
: denotes, through a line of ancestry, an,
Z shows itself long before moral or spiritua
truths can be taught. The best mode
have ever known suggested or practiced
. is this: Take the little one on your lar
! hold his hands gently in your own, lool
! kindly, steadily in his eyes. and when yor
. speak let your tone be low and gentle, you
: words affectionate, though serious. YoI
may not perceive any good result the frs
> or second, or perhaps the sixth time Blu
: perserere. By-and-by you will find thes
> outbreaks come less frequently and ar
. sooner over and as your child grows old
err and you can bring religious teaching
! to bear, do so. Then, IL need be, force, &
: certain kind, may come in with benefit
Z But punishment, if needed at all, shout
be Of q mild character; and rather folio,
than occur at the time. Perhaps confint
ment to one room and alone for a give
slime, or deprivation Of some pleasure, |
. the best mode, And one thing Is ofte
! overlooked that should modify our cor
y duct toward our children and that man
! would know to be true if they could full
. recall the experience Of their own chilt
J hood. Many a sensitive child really strul
Z giles with temper more than any one SUI
2 poets, and grieves over II in secret MOI
= true is it in this case. that
"what's done we partly m.y eomp1te,
D But know not tchars ressed."
BY example and influence, paticnc
frmness and g~entleness, faith, hope an
% love, shall the evil be graduallyover com
and strength Of feeling, generous Impulse
d and rightly -directed wfll.force remain
d fortify and adorn the odaracter.-~Hon