The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-09-08
LYING IN SOCIAL LIFE.

LYING IN SOtlAL LIZ l..
Although the commandment against
lying is found almost at the close OF the
Of the decalogue, | incline to pace 1t, IN
the education of children, at the head OF
the list, for lying seems to be with most
children the first intentional offence. 1t
is sometimes Inherited, but oltener taught
by imitation. Children hear their nurse.
ry maids tell downright fasehoods to
shield themselves from blame for various
triaing faults or omissions of duty and
they are, indeed, fortunate in their parents
if they do not also find them guilty of pre-.
varication and intent to deceive. In
hundred different ways mothers deceive
their little children, not thinking for
moment that they are teaching them
lesson in falshood which may bear fruit
to their latest hour, and educating the
children to doubt the one in whom, OF Il
persons, they should put implicit conf
dence.
Riding in the ears few weeks since
heard mother say to an uproarious
child,
Jamie, be still Ii you don't stop
screaming I'll throw you out Of the car
window, certain sure Hush, now o'
you'll sec What I'll do -
The child, boy about two years old,
looked his astonishment at the threat. but
his crys were not much lessoned. Then
the mother mother took him up in her
arms as though she would throw HIM out,
when he screamed with frantic terror and
cluDg to her neck with such appalling Tea
that she was forced to hush him with
kisses, carresses and candy. Alter
while he fell asleep, worn out with his
tumultuous passion. Poor little child.
A little girl of four or five. who hal
watched the whole scene silently but with
the deepest interest, and who, when hi {
mother motioned to throw her little broth
er from the window, had caught her arm
in terror. now said
Mamma, would you have thrown JAIME
out?'
No, indeed, child. replied the mother
Il only wished to frghten him
'Frighten him., iorsooth She sue.
ceeded in it far better then she expected
and at the same time taught her little
girl lesson in falsehood, and aiso in con
tempt for her mother, for the expression
OF the childs mouth betokened the feel
ing of her heart, How | longed to cry
out % her, in Othellos words;
You told lie an odious damnedllc
Upon my soul lie; wicked lie +!
Of course she would have thought mo
an escaped luratic, so | iorbore, but |
could not help my lips wreathing ia scorn
at the woman's perfdy. and did wish to
tell her that if she disciplined her children
in that style she was surely sowing 'th
whirlwind to reap destruction
Lying is besetting vice Of weak char
acters, and therefore the love Of truth
and the hatred of falschood need be most
assiduously cultivated in children ut the
youngest period OF consciousness OF evil.
Truth.telliug aud truth-loving are the
fundamental basis of whatever is excellent
and desirable in character, and ita man
or woman lacks this essential element, Il 4
their other virtues suffer and are ot littr
value If person is truthful we can
forgive many little faults, because th'
salt Of character may possibly redeem
other failiugs besides II person who love
truth will never rest satisfied until he ha'
improved his moral strength and raised it
nearer to the standard OF rcctitnde. Tact
management and policy are all essential
elements in social aud domestic life bu
they are not Inconsistent with pericH'
truthiuness. Daily we come into con-
tact with persons who require to be pro
pcrly managed to bring out the agreeable
traits OF their character and rcpress thor
which are annoying and disagreeablc, bn
it does not necessitate fasehood to accom-
plish this. Many persons have faculi
of telling you disagrceablc truths in q
pleasant manner; a; Of administering anti
do!es to vice OF which the recipients ar
barely conscious; of limiting at fac
which will not bear frank disclosure
And oil candid persons must admit tha
they ore not always justified in telling tn,
whO{e truth Indeed. were We to do so
we should doubtless be called insanr
For there arc very many things tha
should not be spoken, yet We are neyc
guiltless If we utter ialsehoods. and it Il
out duty to strive by example and pr
cept not to lead tender feet astray frou
the paths Of truth
The child who iInbibes with his fir
nutrment a reverence and love for it wi
become y man of honor. Holy writ u
sures us that il were better for US 10 hay
I milestone about our necks and be drowu
/ ded 10 the sea than to offend one of the,
little ones Aud when mother utter
a deliberate ialsehood to her children j
seems 20 me that she has committed nj
objectionable sin and will surely sutfr
Tor it. The lack Of truth breeds iishon
esty, and dishonesty is the crying sin o
our nation. Oh, mothers. be warned il
season and take counsel with your Owi
wisdom, and make compact with your
selves tina; from this time forth you Wi
never deceive child The battle 70
Christianity is to be fought in the famiI
rather than in the church. See to it tina
you are not deserters from the ranks
DAISY EYEBRIGnT.-C0tntry Gent.
Tue BABY AT HoME AND ABROAD
American men and women are uervou.
and naturally have nervous children, O
slender physique and easily excited int
49, IL l.unnna .nk.ah /. ..a..a. I