Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-03-06
Chi .re.a.


Heaven lies above usiu our fancy"
says Wordsworth. And who of us that
is not to good to be conscious of his
own vices, has not felt rebuked and
humbled under the clear and open coull-,
tenance of a child ?-who has not felt
his impurities foul upon him in the
presence of sinless child? These
feelings make the best lesson that can
be taught man; and tell him a way,
which all else he has read or heard
never could, how paltry is all the show
OF intellect compared with a pure and
good heart. He that viii humble hin.
self and go to a child for instruction,
will come away wise man.
1t children can maksas wise, they sure
ly can make US better. There is no
one more to be enyied than good ma
tired man watching the workings of
children 8 minds, Or overlooking their
play. Their eagerness, curious about
everything, making out by a quick I'M
agination what they see but part of,
their fanciful combinations and magic
inventions, creating out of ordinary
circumstances and the common things
which surround them, strange events
and little ideal worlds, and these all
working in mystery to from matured
thought, is study enaugh for the most
acute minds, and should teach us, also,
not too officiously to regulate what we
so little understand
The still musing and deep abstrao-
ton In which they sometimes sit, affect
US as playful mockery of older heads,
These little philosophers have no fool
ish system, with all its pride and jargon
confusing their brains, Theirs is the
natural movement of the soul, intense
with new life and busy after truth;
though without a noise
When children are lying about seem
ingly idle and dull, we, who have be-
come case-hardened by time and safety
forgot that they are all sensation, that
their outstreatched bodies are drinking
IN from the common sun and air, that
every sound is taken note of By the ear,
that every floating shadow and passing
form come and touch at the sleepy eve,
and that the little circumstances and
the material world about them make
their bes. school, and will be the III
structors and formers Of their charac-
ters for life.
And it is delightful to l05k on and
see how basily the whole acts, with its
countless parts fitted to each other,
and moving in harmony. There are
none who have stolen softly behind a
child when laboring in the sunny corner
digging liliputian well, or fencing a
six inch barn-yard, and listened to his
solilo1nies and his dialogues with some
imaginary being, without our hearts
being touched by it. Nor have we OBJ
served the flush which crossed his face
when finding himself betrayed, with
out seeing in it the delicacy and pro-
prlety of the after man
\ man may have many vices upon
him, and have walked long in a bad
course, yet if he has a love for children,
and can take pleasure in their talk and
play, there something still left in him
to act upon-something which can love
simplicity and truth. | have seen one
ii whom some low vice had became a
habit, make himself the plaything of a
set Of riotous children with as much de-
light IN his countenance as if nothi9g
but goodness had ever been expressed
in 1t; and have felt as mulch Of kind
ness and sympathy toward him as I
have Of revolving toward another who
has gone through life with all due prop
erty, with cold and supercilious bear
ing toward children, which makes them
shrinking and still.
[ hove known one like the latter at
tempt, with uncouth condescension, to
court an open-hearttd child, who would
draw back with an instructive aversion !;
and | have felt as if there we're a curse
upon him. Better to be driven out
among men than to be dislike to child
ren Selected