The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1872-01-12
EVENINGS WIT: THE CHILDREN.

The long summer twilights are
over, when we sat out of doors to
watch the slow creeping of the
shadows from the valleys upward
to the golden hill-tops, and the
children went away to bed in the
gray dusk, too weary with the long
day of sunshine to care for the eve
ming chatlor frolic.
The night comes suddenly now,
and darkens the windows early, so
that the lamps and seacoal in the
CRATE make a pleasant picture to
those who catch glimpses through
the half-closed shutters as they hur-
~ along the streets. Pleasanter
still to those who gather about the
warmth and the radiance, young
and old, in q happy home circle.
What shall they do in these long
evening hours-tbe only time when
the family are all together, and
when there is an opportunity for
that familiar social intercourse be-
tween parent and child, without
which there is no real home-life ?
The peculiar circumstances of each
family must of course dictate its
evening arrangements, but few
general hints may safely be given.
Let family prayer be directly after
the evening meal, before the yonng-
er children are sleepy and the older
ones engaged in other things. And
do not make this exercise a dread
and terror by long, dull, inappro-
pirate prayers. Sing verse of
some familiar hymn, and encourage
little Johnny to join, if he does
mako discords. Let your prayer be
simple service of giving thanks
for the day, asking pardon for sins
and watchful care for the night, and
let your words be s plain that the
youngest can comprehend them.
Never mind about the heather now,
or the ten lost tribes, but be sure
little Johnny feels You prayed for
him. v9u i'm. rres7as,rt ,..
The primary design of the family
is, beyond all question, the training
of the young; therefore, Q father
and mother, do not think it too
much of a. sacrifice to give up at
least part of your evenings to
your children. In days that are
coming you will prize above rubies
every link that helps to bind them
to you, every tie that holds them to
their homo. ~ r
Look oyer their lessons with
them encourage them to talk free
ly with you of any difficulty read
to them, and with them, books OF
travel, and science, and natural his
| tory, thus rousing and developing
in them tastes which shall effectual-
ly counteract their passionate love
! of romance. Join with them in
pleasing and instructive games, and
do not be above participating in
| nonsense and hearty frolies. II
viii take the wrinkles and rheuma-
tism out Of you, brush the cobWebs
from your brain. and help you to
sound sleep and serene awsking.
| Suppose the father leaves part 81
his evening paper unread. 7. does
not matter that you know the latest
I political scandal, or all the con.
temptible gossip which fills the
| It may matter a great deal that your
little SON cares T. 'onfide to you his
daily trials and iumphs.
/ Never believe that if you shut
tyour children from your closet
| sympathies for ten, twelve or four.
teen years, you can hold their con-
fidence, and stand as chosen coun'
fseIIor and guide during the periloul
| years Of their youth.
GIVE the day, If you must, t.
business cares, but let q part OF ths
evening be sacred as the Children
Hour. Emily Huntington Miller
IN TIE AdUance. -
Il 7s