Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-09-08
The Value Of children.


Hanging on the wall Of my study. in full
view as write, is a fine photograph the title
of which it may be interesting TO some Of my
young readers 10 translate for themselves,
COrneiie Mouirdnf ses BVour."
II represents q courtly aud beautiful
woman seated at a slender table. She is most
gorgeously dressed, and positively rcsplend-
ent with rings, bracelets and circlets Of
pearls. Before her stands another female
plainly adorned, holding two noble boys by
the hand. Anybody's attention would be
arrested by the singular contrast in the aI-
parel of these two elderly persons, but more
especially by the manly mien and attitude
of the two lads. There is that in their
cOuntenances which rivets notice. Each
seems the embodiment of hope aud the
realization Of promise. There is apparent
at glance the fact that they have been adj
mirably trained in the past, and are going TO
make their mark IN The future. Silently
enough does that exquisite group stand but
swift Imagination instantly reads the
meaning
1t is a good copy of one Of the paintings
exhibited in the French Academy, done by a
dear friend in Paris, New Hampshire girl,
whose persistent industry and wonderful
gift have wrought out for her a place of
recognized fame among the best artists in
the world.
But the story, not the picture, is what
want for my purpose now. Cornelia, who is
here showing her jewels" was the daughter
Of Scipio Africans, left at the death Of
her husband in care of twelve children, OF
whom she sadly lost all but three. One
married, eventually, and two sons alone re-
manned to her widowhood. The world
al 4 hoo ts. a. Ia
lay at her feet kings sought her in new
marriage She relinquished all for her
children. Aud so carefully did She rear
them that even when all admitted they
were OF the lofticst blood aud Of the happi
est dispositions, it still remained confessed
among the Roman historians that they
owed more Of their excellence to education
than to nature. OF course they bore their
fathers name, and, accordingto the custom
OF those times, were called The Gracchi."
Now the story runs, that one time a proud
lady from Campania came to make her
visit. 1t appears that the two women fell
to talking about ornaments, and rich robes
and costly stones. The guest must have led
the way IN such conversation, for people
generally love most TO speak OF what they
possess; and Cornelia dressed exceedingly
plainly, without knot, fillet or necklace. By
and-by the Campanian lady abruptly asked
her where her Jewels were. The Roman
mother replied She would show them soon,
and listlessly kept up the foolish gossip, to
gain time and not get quite off the subject
She was waiting for the boys 10 come from
school. When she heard their rapid step,
she withdrew a moment, then returned with
her sons, on each side, rs in my picture, and
TRANQUILITY said These are my jewels l'
Years passed on The after life of Tiber-
ius and Caius, these where their names, met
every expectation. They grew up among the
best men of the nation. They died early.
but she had the supreme satisfaction OF
knowing that the tears of a mourning people
fell in the grave with her own. And when
she, too, reached the end of her life, the Ro-
man senators raised a manifcent statute in
her honor. and placed on it the inscription,
" To Cornelia, mother Of the Gracchi.'
Thus 1t came about rs somewhat curl
Gus fact, that parent received the name Of
her offspring as being even worthier than
her own.
just now we happen to hear much about
the troublesomeneSs of children They get
the nickname of " responsibilities" Poor
commonplace thought-but awfully practi-
cal-it is almost impossible TO rent house
or engage board for a family that contains
boys and girls They are rather counted in
the way by many considering themselves
refined people. Some of MS think we would
rather pledge ourselves, if a new picture
were to be outlined, to produce three or four
Campanian ladies to sit for the model, than
one Cornelia.
In my early life, remember, used to think
there was something weird and strange IN
book | never looked into then, called Pri-
deauxs Connexions" They told me it con
tanned the history Of those solemn centuries
between the Old and New Testament.
There was kind of hush in my mind when
| thought of the slow fall OF the prophetic
curtain on the awful words Of Malachi. For
four hundred years now, men We're not GO
ing to hear another word from God When
should the stiffness ever be broken again by
a new revelation
Perhaps this is what, even to this day,
makes the final verse of the Old Testament
so unspeakably suggestive And he shall
turn the hearts of the fathers to the chill
dren, and the hearts Of the children to thcn
fathers, lest come and smitc the earth with
curse" II | understand that utterance as
the grand old former dspensation closes it
means that if God should ever send New
Testament, lie would make it such as to bring
parents and children together as they ought
to be, or lie would curse this wandering
planet worse than lie did at the deluge
So think the time has arrived when some
body should say something in behalf Of chill
dren. They are of inestimable value to the
church, and the state, and the family. A
good honest boy is crown jewel TO any
land. sweet-tempercd girl that will be-
come a Conelia by and by, is worth more
than Nictoria's koh-i-noor. As arrows are
in the hand of a mighty man, so are children
of the youth. Happy is the man that hath
his quiver full of them; they shall not be
ashamed, but they shall speak with the enc
mics in the gate