The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1875-04-22
What Children do for Ms.

we hear great deal about what ma
rents do for their children, and the dttv
and obedience which they owe them in
consequence, but it is useful TO ms at
times to look at the other side of the
question and see what children do for
tnelr parents, and not for their parents
alone but for the world at LARGE.
Take the cases of unmarried men and
women, or of married men and women
who have no children, and we shall see
what an utte rly joyless world this is to
them-how destitute of all the saving in
huences which follow in the train of a
newborn child.
1t is true that they do not ALWAYS
know 1t true that they sometimes com
graduate themselves upon the freedom
which the absence of responsibility
gives them. But what does this free
dom do for them? II thew do NOT use
1T IN caring for those who have none to
care for the it simply incloses them
IN wall of selfshness. It allows them
TO indulge their own whims and faueies
70 their own destruction, and deprive
them at the last of all the consolations
which spring from participation in fam
lily IRE ana a consciousnesss OF duty
well performed.
Children are really all there Ia in life
worth living for. There are many other
things which are pleasant in IL. there are
many things which give zest to it. there
are many things which seem necessary
as RELIEF from the absorbing care which
the rearing of a family of children
brings, nut none present sufficient mo-
tive for continued effort or sacrifice. and
II IL were not for children, therefore.
much OF our stimulus to exertion wonId
be taken away and the most Imperative
work OF the world remain unperformed
Because the father supplies the food
because the mother prepares il in a man.
ner suitable for the growth of their
bodies, we consider all the obligation is
on one side. But to how many hungry
hearts has the love of little child been
nourlshment and consolation and SUD-
Portr How many would have fallen by
lndlherence or through temptation if the
held them.
People who avoid children for the
sake of getting rid of responsibility find
In time that they have missed the i,leas-
ures only, not the cares, and but few
OF the pains. Association with our fell
lows entails certain burdens and obli-
CATIONS upon all of us, and if we have
not voluntarily assumed any of our own
we shall find them thrust upon ms and
be obliged to carry the weight without
tne happiness of a strong Incentive in
the nearest and dearest of earthly Ties
Ohildsess men and women uery often
console themselves with the reflection
that children are as likely to turn ont
III as well; that time and strength and
money are frequently wasted upon
them, and, therefore, might as we'll be
sa say OF put to other use. But physi-
Cal science is beginning to show us that
cause and effect act as directly in the
Prouuctlon OF the human species as in
any other phenomena of nature and
that care and cultivation bestowed upon
naturally good qualities produce as fine
results among men and women as upon
q fruit farm. IN
II this were not the case, however. if
the results redependent upon chance.
men and women ought still to accent
the duty OF rearing children for their
The woman knows nothing of the
possibilities Of her womapbood tbe
man of his manhood, until thew are dis.
covered in the strength of the love. the
efforts the sacrifices mot felt as sueb1
which are exercised and made for little
children. --''Ao
LIS there any pride equal to that which
VIC Ahtner reels IN the growing dauQh-
ter Is there any love equal to that
which the mother knows when little
hands clasp her and a soft cheek laws
It's velvet against her own?
Friends may grow cold, ambition NAV
be disappointed, slanderous tongues
may poison your good name. and
though all are felt more or less. vet
home and the love and condolences of
children are sure and certain refu0e-
harbor from the storm, inexpressibly
comforting aud consolinR to the weary
and abused man, and heartsore and neg
lected woman.
But 1t Is not for their simple faith
and trust alone that we should value
children. They deserve cultivation
they abundantly require care and kind.
ness, attention and the forbearapce
which 1t is necessary toward their i'm
maturity and want of Judgment Our
leisure, at least more of it, should be
given TO them. We should take pains
to ind out what they think that we NAV
guide them Alright and teach them to
avoid the shoals and quicksands upon
which we perhaps have been stranded.
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