St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1874-09-11
Keep Near to Your Children.

We think parents lose. much. both of
pleasure to themselves and of influence
over their children. by assuming" i""
great degree of dignity. ENclusivcnc>>
is Il bar To all confidence, and the child
who feels too great awe to give its CON
iidcncc freely to lis parents. will sooI.
learn to deceive. We do not believe in
encouraging children to tell each little
incident ~ conversation with ITS play
mates or friends: this would lead to
gossip. ON, of the lowest of all petty
vices And Il child who is taught To
tatllc. by this means will soon very
naturally. Learn to tell untruthS for
the very purpose of giving yon pleasure.
Having really nothing wonderful to re-
late. he will invent something. This Is
the true source of gossip among grown
Up people. ENUI ncIu5 oururU'fIiN
tclligcnt to lead conversation into the
channels of literature. science. or art.
they naturally (aS politcncSS and Il de
sire to please require that they talk of
Somcthimg) converse about their neigh
horS and their affairs and in case they
know but little of these. they imagine
Il great deaf aud tell it for truth.
I;ut children should he spoken to
freely about their little Joys and Sor-
ROWS : and rs they need Il great deal
of sympathy il their troubles, and of
encouragement III their cidraN"rS, it
should certainly he given them. We
pity the man oI woman who cannot
remember the JOY Il little pctting and Il
little appreciation gave when he ~ she
WAS II child. The hunger of the child
is. heart is almost fearful in its lonely.
unlONrd life. a. many are tatcd to know :;
and kindness can mould them into ANY
shape You desire. aS the warm Summer
sun will soften to Nnur purpose the
hardest wax. Benjamin West said that
his muihcrS Hiss made him Il painter
W hO can calculate the number of chill
drcn whose souls have starved for ~ m
pathN until they grew reckless of every
thing and ceased To ''try. try again"
simply because they had no incentive
to try.
When we grow too old to remember
how We felt when we were young. we
shall no longer he fitted To guide one of
these little ones. Many fathers and
mothers might he far happier if they
would only remember this. \ grown
up person can never he too simple too
J.
with children. Never grow too far above
them, BE to them elder brothers and
| sisters rather than rabbits or queens
Let them see that their little wants are
understood. Little attentions are dear
eel tn the heart than great and costly
presents. Join in your childrcn'> games
listen to their thoughts and cncour-
age their expression. Never laugh at
Il child for telling its simple childiikc
thoughts. Nothing checks opcnncss 50
much lis ridiculr. A child would much
rather be taken alone and scolded heart
| lily. or punished severely than be ridi-
culcd before company. Nothing is so
mortifNin" SO apt to cngcuder bitter
ness and hate as this, and parents and
elder brothers and sisters should avoid
it hy all means.
Invent every possible amusement to
keep your boys happy ut home even
| ingS. Never mind if they do scatter
books and pictures, coats, hats, and
boots Never mind if they do make il
noise around yuu with their whStling
and huTahing, We would stand agiast
| if we could have vision of the Young
men gone to utter destruction for the
very reason that, having cold, disagree
| able. dull, stiff iireSideS ut home, they
sought amusement elsewhere. The in
| llucucc of loving mother or sister is
incalculablc. Like the circle formed
by casting IL stone into the water, it
goes on and on through mans whole
| life. Circumstances and worldly pleas
urcs may weaken the remembrance for
Il time. but each touch upon the chord
OF memory will awaken the old time
music, and her face, her voice, and her
loving words will come up before him
like il revelation. This influence will
last while life continues and who shall
say it is foolish or vain ? Give them
your love-your full, abundant, and
Overlooking love, and it will bring You
rich reward.
The time will come before you think.
when you would give the world to have
your house tumblcd by the dear hands
of those very boys; when your heart
shall long for their noisy steps in the
hall. and their ruddy cheeks laid up to
yours when You would rather have
their Jolly whistle than the music of