The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1874-07-05
Habits and their influence on Success in Life,

There are a few habits which form @
pretty good foundation for success in life
and Insure the friendship of the discerning
and virtuous. First among these we would
place the habit of self. help. This NAV land and
should be formed in a child, before it can
walk and talk. by providing resources for
its amusement, and leaving it, within due
bounds, to depend upon those resources,
Then, as it grows older, it should be taught
and gently compelled to perform in it's
own behalf all that it can do. Few of US
but know young men and young women
perfectly helpless for all the ordinary uses
of life. If they alone were the sufferers it
wouldn't matter much, but they are social
leeches. always demanding service and
never rendering it. Good husbands, good
wives. good parents rarely, if ever, are
foend in this class of people.
Next in Importance to the habit of self
help we would place that of personal
tidiness. We do not care to guess how
many American men and women set down
to breakfast every morning with their
toilets half made, the men without collar
and cravat, the women with unkempt hair,
end the children resembling the parents in
dress as much as.in feature. But you see
there are so many things to do in the
morning-stock to feed, cows to milk, fires
to make, milk to skim, children 10 dress,
breakfast to get-that one can't spend
mnch time fixing themselves up" All very
'A NS ouC ohS toCsp gu ituuu UaFeIOOtGu
in the morning, or without washing face
and hands, because a habit the reverse of
all that has been formed. NV hair is
comhed in the morning for all day before
leave my chamber" said an elegant house
keeper the other day, and she keeps no
girl and we couldn't help thinking the
happiness her husband must have had lust
in the one particular of seeing her every
morning for twenty years with smoothly
combed hair, and neat little collar, opposite
him at the breakfast table, and of the order
and cleanliness in the household of which
that one little item was an index. That
. cleanliness is next to godlipess," should
be early and deeply impressed on every
child, and it sheuld be taught to shrink !
from uucleanliness and untidiness as il |
shriuks from vice.
Another habit of great value is that of
courtesy. 1t child is properly trained to
ASK ior what he wants and make meet ac-
for favors received, to
recognize the rights and respect the feel
hgs of others, he will be able to win friends
40 matter what other faults he NAV have.
This habit he will acquire, or absorb.
'ather, from those around him. Courteous
children are but the reflection of courteous
parents. Genuine courtesy flows out from
he heart and can never be put on as an
outside garment.
Another excellent habit is that of helping
thers. In fact We are in the world for the
xPress purpose of doing that very thing,
nd If we fail in this, it matters little to
ny but ourselves how long we remain
ere. 1t is natural for the loving parent to
o everything for his CHILD and REQUIRE
othing in return, but the sooner the child
J taught to deny himself in order to serve !
theirs, his parents, his brothers andeisters,
he more certainly will whatever is noble
! him be developed. We are all selfish
pough, and there are very few who are not .
improved by having their impulses of .
enevolence stimulated.
The habit OF improving ones time is of
Importance that can hardly be over esti-
Iated. Not that children should work all I
ie time, but that they should spend very Z
w hours in mere idlenees and time kill
g. One occupation should succeed an
her, 80 as to give due variety and exercise
10 mental and bodily powers in harmony.
lie children are apt to make IDLE grown
!ks, and there are too many drones in :
clety for its good, as We all know.
The last habit We will mention is that of t
'rseverance. Life, from beginning to end. \
iuli OF obstacles to be overcome, Of prob o
ms to be solved, of mountains to be tuu-
led and valleys to be FLIED ub, and we .
n hardly begin too soon our endeavors to 5
aster destiny. He that overcomes in c
tie will overcome in much child <
ouiu not be given task beyond his
weIs, bat within that limit he should be
luired to do what rs assigned to him, o'
le stimulus of praise or reward will often V
nf Co. 81.