Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1874-03-21
HOME ENTE;gss;SES.
Il ABB L

HAbiT
The over - Lahil i something of which
we are VERY day conscious. Though So
much has been sand aud wnitrn cuurcrniu..
II, W. mrct >t.!i Zine upon line prccrpt upon
prrccpt. here a little and there ~ great deal
10 keep IN cur mind, the importance of form
iuS IL oar nIni, the imp0rtacr of forming ia
our children aud strengthening in ourselve,
good habits. Ii is 20 diilicnIt 10 break up long
established modes Of action, and ,urn the chan
q nci> ofunes activities in new directions. that
II Is not surprising the mature in lite, who
have suffered from not being started night in
the fist place, should lay Il, they are inclined
Ia, great stress on the Importance of max ng
III all things good beginning.
There are few habits which form pref
~ good foundation iof success in life and IN
sure the friendship OF the discerning aud viz
tuous. First among these we would place
the nabit Of srlihelp, This may and should
be formed in child, before it can walk or
talk, by providing resources for its amu,e-
mrnt and leaving it. within due bounds To do
pend upon those resources. Then rs ii grows
older il should be taught and gently compcll-
ed TO perform III ts own behalf all that 1t can
do. Few of ms but know younr men aud
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 leechcs, always demanding service
at never rendering 1t. Good husbands,
.,p,-! wiver. good parents rarely, if ever, are
found in inIS class of people
Next IN importance 10 the habit of self help
we would place that ofpersoual udinc,s. We
do not care to guess how nany American
A.
morning with their toilets half made the men
without collar and Gravel, the women with
unkenpt hair, and the children resembling
the parents III dress as much is in feature
''Bur YOU see there are so many thing, to 90
in the morEing->tock to feed, cows 10 milk,
fires 10 maze, milk To skim, Children To dress.
breakfas; 10 get-that cant spend much
time fixing themselves up" All very true;
bu, one doesn't 20 round barefDotcd in the
morning, or without washing face and hands,
because a habit the reverse OF ali that has
be N formed My hair is combed in the
morning for all day before leave my cham
b r. sad an elegant housekeepcr the other
day, and she keeps no girl, and We could ut
help thinking the happiness her husband must
have had just in the one particular of seeing
her every mcrning for twenty years with
smoothly combed hair, and neat linen collar,
opposite him nj 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 godliness should
he early and deeply impressed on every child,
anb IL should be taught to shrink from I'M
cleanness and untidiness as ii shrinks from
vice.
Another habit of great value is that of
courtesy. IL a child Is properly trained II
ask for what he wants and make meet &C.
acknowledgements for favo:s received, 10 rccog.
nizc the rights and respect the feelings of
others. he viii be able to win hends no mat
ter what other faults he may have. Tins
habit he will acquire, or absorb, rather from
those around him. Courteous children are
but the reflection of courteous parents. Gen
uine courtesy flows out from the heart and
can never be put on As an outside garment
Another excellent habit is that of helping
others. In fact we are in the world for the
express purpose of dong that very thing, and
# we fail in this, it matters little to any but
ourselves how long we remain here. Ii is
natural for the loving parent to do every
thing for his child and require nothing IN se-
turn, but the sooner the chIld Is taught To deny
himself in order I'd serve otheis, ms parents,
his brothers and sisters, the more certainly
will whatever Is noble III hnn be developed
We are all selfish enough aud there are very
few who are not improved 10y having their
impulses OF benevolencc stimulated
The habit of improving one time is of iInpor-
lance that can hardly be over-esuma,ed. Not
that children should work all the time, but
that they should spend very few hours IN
mere idleness AID time killing. One occupa-
Ilon should succeed another, 20 as to give due
variety and exercise the mental and bodily
powers IA harmony. Idle children are apt IL
maze die grown folks. and there are too ma
my drones al society for lis good, as we all
Anow.
The tat habit we will mention is that of
perseverance. Lie, from beginning to end,
Is full of obstacles 10 be overcome, of prob
lens to be solved, of mDnuIalns 10 be tunnel
ed and valleys 10 br ii,rd zap, and we can
hardly begin 10 >oon our cndcavufs Ia master
destiny. He that overcomeS IN hlrle will
overcome IN much. A child should no, be
given id>a beyond his powers, but WITHIN
that limit he ,huuid be required To do what
Is assigned him. rhc stimulus of praise or
rev ard vii often Be sutiicIrut TO secure the
Performance of IA glvcn labor. though the
pam 81 ceusure may sometimes be necessary
W Iii tue>e habits If self help, personal tIdl-
nes', courtesy, helping others, improving
one time. aud perseverance, 1t matters little
how poor IN purse an individual may he left
ne or she viii possess a buuyant power that
will raise them above advel>iry and pluck
victory from the arms OF drfeat-Ne,c York
Irl6aac