Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1871-04-21
Written for Tho Prajrlr Farmer.
GONE PAPERS.
Home Education.
EY FRA NIX.

How much is expressed Ivy these
two words home cducation. How
much is directly attribute! to thei'
influence. How much sorrow ant'
woe-h0w many failures in life thro'
dissipation, amt vanity. the result 81
n vicious ur All Imperfect home train
ing. On the othel baud, how many
there are that turn to. the early home
CXClaim with emotions of gratitude
~ owe all that | am 80 my mother
or fathers influence"
Home education, II correct, Is very
nearly the only training we receive
that is nf great and lasting benefit /;
that obtained 10y other agencies he
ing but 1.-THE of that which com
pletes the character.
These home influences, this home
education of the future men and
women OF the land. will eventually
mould the character md control the
destiny Of the nation. ne. What sad
histories are recorded hy the press OF
the decentralization OF the women of
the country. The increasing fond
ness for display, and for the glare
and tinselry OF fashion, TO the exclu
sion of every attribute that renders
woman a companion and friend, can
lie ascribcd to the erroneous charac-
ter of their home education alone
Had the principles of virtue and q
love for the truly beautiful i'm nature
and art, been instilled into their
youthful minds, and had they been
taught to properly comprehend and
obey the physical, moral and social
laws, this much of evil would have
been unknown. How important
then. that this physical, moral and
mental training I've correct.
How many little ones are daily
seen upon the street, whose careless
department and vicious conduct.
shows plainly that they have no
nome, in its best, truest sense, no
sympathy, no amusements, nothing
TO make them happy, but only
place where food ana shelter may be
he obtained. These things cry aloud
Tor better SYSTEM of home educa-
ton. In strong contrast to this
there arise visions of families whose
Intelligence AMI good breeding shad,
ow forth the love and pains taken
to render their home hours their
happiest ones.
What are the means by which re-
suits SO fraught with Importance arc
to be attained, and when shall we
begin this home culture ? First the
means: Surround the little ones
with an atmosphere of love, habits
OF order, and neatness. with books,
music, Mowers, amusements, gaines,
romps; there are many more things
that can he rendered auxiliary in the
accomp lishraent Of this great object.
When shall we begin? Begin at the
marriage altar to prepare ourselves
To execute the high trust that may
devolve upon us. Educate ourselves
TO he good forbearing, kind, consid>
crate, and invoke good sense and
good nature to become the ruling
gods Of the household. Then when
we must educate others, our wOi ks.
and what We are, will make deeper
impressions than a thousand pre-
cepts. Example more eloquent than
words, Is the means by which we
can first mould the plastic mind OF
childhood and as the mother gazes
with delight upon the face so soon to
team with intelligence, then should
she determine within herself what
the failure of her child shall be: "A
future of happiness or woe. Let her
example ard influence lead its heart
and feet i'm the paths of peacefulness
and JOY. Let no impatient gesture,
no angry word. no careless wOundinp
of the tender feelings, instil habits
OF fretfulness aud repiniGg that time
and pains may never eradicate. It's
through this avenue that nature
opens the way for them to acquire
knowledge. 1t has been remarked
"Show me the child, and I'll show
you the mother" so truthfuIly are
the actions, sentiments, and feelings,
the lessons taught by her example,
mirrowed by the little one. The
fathers example likewise has it's eff
feet, and as his actions and cOnversa-
ton are good or bad. without some
great counteracting influence, lust so
will be the habits Of his child. Chill.
d:eh are acute observers, and the
parents conduct comes in for its full
share OF their mental, unexpressed
comments.
Many OF their faults, their out.
bursts of passion, their unkind man
ners, are but the repetition of what
has been done IN their presence
They follow what they are taught,
and the parents are directly respon~
siOle for all. Their sin may not
have been of omission, neglect to
guard the portals of their homes,
THAT nothing evil enters there. -
AS the infantile hours are merged
into childhood days, the enlarged
opportunities for good or lad impress.
sions increases, and the loving bands
of the home circle, the tender power
of home influences must be strength
ened. There are other examples,
however, besides those of morality,
and an upright, conscientious walk.
Habits of neatness and order are of
incalculable value, in making up the
great whole of life, the ''sum of
human existence" 1t is only nee
essary to inculcate these by precept
and admOnitiOn, but by watchful,
persevering, faithful example. 1t is
useless to tell q child to hang up his
hat, or to fold and lay carefully by
her wrappings, OH their return from
school, If the parents are guilty of
carelessness in these seeming trivial,
yet important matters. If the father
Is careful and neat in his dress and
appearance, and COMFORTS himself
DeUGmingly, ii is scarcely necessary
to observe that the boys will follow
in his foot steps. The daughters,
among their other virtues, are ex-
pected to excel i'm these, and even
though their shoes are coarse, their
dresses of the plainest materials,
they can DO neat, we'll made, and
Kept scrupulously clean. Gaudy
cOlors and incongruous materials |
bespeak a want of refinement and |
delicacy in taste, and no condition |
I'm life implies or makes necessary
a want of these. The parents, there |
fore, are responsible for the habits Of
their children, and there is no es-
cape from the responsibility. III
everything good, anu every thing in
tended to make life happy and beau
tiful be cultivated, and all things
wrong impure and unloyely DO cast
cut and destroyed, the education of
the home will be firm foundation
for the future happiness of oil, that
neither the pleasant gales of PROS
perity, nor the toughest storms of
adversely will ever shake.
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PEAS FOR EARLY FEED. We :