The Portland daily press., 1871-05-30

II we farmers would devote less time 10 our
corn and potatoes; if we stock raisers would
take less paius to improve our stock; il Wa
money makers would make less effort 10 i'm
prove our per cent. than We do to improve
our boys, there would not be so many small.
vulgar fractions of men turned off upon the
world as now.
We all ought TO do Justice to our homes and
the immortal souls in training there. But-uo
of business than he does of those interests.
No mother can do it, who pays more attention
TO fashions and running the streets than she
does to those interests.
We may put this down as fixed fact. If
we don't interest our children, they will find
ways to interest themselves. Love and ear
nest endeavor must reign at home. And the
soft, slken, leading cord is ever the better
one.
doubt the success OF that father, aud
mother, too, for that matter, who never dis
turb neighbors with laughing shouts, or
romps, or rollings and tumblngs on the grass
among their children.
There are fathers and mothers, very many
of them, who never play, indoors nor OUT,
with their little ones. They go along brown
studying, or with brows knit down, giving
their children Just about as much happines,
and cheer as there is on the north side OF an
iceberg on cloudy day in January.
If the boys play in the house they are tear
ing up the carpets. If they jump aud roll,
and kick around in the d0oryard, they are
~;t hat ola thoon or III
grass-plat.
never see such parents but think that Il
tombstone ought to be set up in The house,
and graveyard planted on the lot adon.
ing, square in front OF the main windows OF
the family sittng-room, sc as to preserve tha
soemnity OF home when they are not around.
How much better for both parent aud
children to be interested in home games and
home amusements. 1t will mellow aud SOFT.
en- the man, and what is still better, it will
hang the widest boy to that home by hooks
of steel.
Growing boys demand change, stir, excite
ment; a place to Iun, and roll, aud kick vi,
coltIsh heels on. Encourage this, aud they
will stay where home and love is. Repress II,
and you will find them running off some day
to the company of wild. impure associates,
skylaikng atound nights, TO the ruin often
of both body and soul. You compel them To
be, first, wanderers; ten vagabonds.
l"Oh, yes" says the mechanic. AN very
| fine for those who can afford it. But j, who
have to work from seven till five every day bul
Sunday, and live in earret; what am tn
do?"
"Do? Get out OF there and off into tba
suburbs somewhere, whore you can have
green grass, and flowers, and sunshine around
you. 1t will cost you ten cents day moro
for street car fare, and you will save it back
again in the item of rent alone. Aud if YOU.
home be a shanty, beautiiy that. Ii You and
mother are but united in effort, you can says
thousand fold more in the happiness ant
morality OF your children there, than in the
city stable you now call home
Make home so pleasant al d attractive, and
free and lo7ing, and pue, that 40 impure
place outside will ook more inviting, and NOT
one child in one hundred will seek TO get be-
yond home influence, until, maturtd in body
and mind, the stern warfare of lie reclu luils
him into service for himself.
JEHIAL SLAB.