The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1872-10-31
TRAINING or CHILDREN

The instruction Of children cannot com
mence too early. Every mother is capa-
bic Of teaching her children obedience,
humility, cleanliness, and propriety of
behaviour and it is a delightful circum-
stance that the first instruction should
thus be communicated by so tender a
teacher. 1t is by combining affectionate
gentlencss in granting what is right, with
judicious frmness in refusing what is i'm
proper, that the happiness Of children is
promoted, and that good and orderly hab.
its are established. If the children are
early trained to be docile and obedient,
the future task of guiding them Alright
will be comparatively easy.
The training and education of children
can, however, be only regarded as a
means to the attainment of an end, for
all requirements. all learning, are value
less. if they do not make us better in our
several relations of parents, children, hus
bands, wives, and unless they lead us to
the practice of that divine precept of re-
ligion, "Thou shalt do unto others as
thou wouldst wish others to do Hnto thee. )
Surprising that. you have secured for
your children the benefits Of education,
and that they have been advanced in the
different branches of instruction, as far
as is necessary for the pursuits in life to
which they are destined-s something else
is yet required Of those to whom an off
spring has been giYen-you are still called
upon, as parents, to attend to their re-
ligious and moral training; and to take
care that, after right preceDts have been
impaired, your children may not be cor
rupted by your own evil example.
Ii parent suppose that his vices can
be hidden from his children, he is greatly
mistaken; for children are quick in the
perception Of what is wrong, and in rea-
soning upon it, and initiating it :; and if,
with the words, Thou shalt not steal, -
in your mouth, you nevertheless make
use of anything not your own, or take I'M
due advantage of others, you are prac-
tically destroying the force the precept,
and teaching your children to be dishon-
est:
How can it be expected that your child
rem will have horror Of drunkenness, il
they ever see you drunk, Or il drinking
is talked Of by you Us an object Of graft
fcatioD? If you encourage your children
BY promises 10 confess fault. and after
wards punish them for it, do you not
practically discourage their afterwards
telling you the truth? Or, if you hold
thai nothing is to be said which can in any
way injure your own interests, and say,
Remember MOTTO tell so and SO, can you
expect that your child will not lie, when
ever it suits his own purpose?
If you are violent and Incorporate il
Your demeanor, oyerbearing and inso,ent
will not your children Ee infected by your
example? and are you not crushing ii
the bud the truly estimable and Christian
qualities of gentleness, forbearanee anC
charity?
1t has been we'll said, that drunken
ness expels reason, distempers the body
| iafames the blood. imrairs the memory
is a witch to the senses, devil to tn,
soul. Il thief to the purse. a beggar's com
panion, wifes woe, and children's sor
row and that drunkard is picture o
a beast, q self murderer, one who drink
! to The good health Of others. and destroy
| his own, as well as the happine OF thos'
/ whom he ought to protect, love anC
cherish" You need not be guilty of thi
vice, or the other vices, Ia q gross degree
to Influence your children BY your exam
Die and you must abstain from vice al
together, if you wish to train up sou
children to the proper fulhlment Of thei
duties, so as to secure their welfare here
and their eternal happiness hereafter. :
! Geo5ge Nichols