Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-07-16
In Love with his Father.

We have had occai ion, of late, 10 watch
the training Of a lad who is in love with
his father. Not that he admires him, sim
ply and respects and obeys him, but he is
in love with him. And the boy Is not
ashamed 10 show tender love for his faith
er. And better still, the father is tender
hearted enough and "foolish" enough 10
return the lads manifestations of his love.
He is a city official, and toerably we'll
worn with the cares of life, but he walks
the street hand in hand with his son.
Words OF affection, aud looks of affection,
are often exchanged between them. II
takes but moment in their company 10
detect that they love one another. Not a
plan, not hope, not desire of that lads
life but is laid before that father for his
counsel aud his wisdom and his advice;
and the son has no source of pleasure or OF
amusement, no habits, companionship or
views,'with which his father is not intimate
ly acquainted, and in which he does not
enter, sympathize and assist.
That the picture is rare one, and per-
haps not one 10 win the response Of all par
enis, is why we refer TO II. To us il seems
exceedingly advisable that parents and
children should grow in love as they in
crease in years. The coddling and fond
ling Of parents may he, and often is, ex-
cessiye. The petting and spelling of chill
dren by an oyer-indulgence of personal at
tention, is a prevalent weakness. But
when the child opens into youth and into
blushing madenhood, and glowing man
hood--then we withdraw the special alten-
tions, and leave the hungering, thirsting
young spirit to feed upon itself; drive it TO
thrust back and keep down its rising
springs of confiding affection, and teach it
to be suspicious, silent and seclusive.
1t is all a mistake. A child grows noble
aud strong who is allowed TO be in constant
sympathetic contact with his father and
mother. The father and The mother keep
their strength and youth by living a sec
ond boyhood and grlhood with their chill
dren. Nothing hurts boy more than to
be pushed out of tender and loving home
circle at an early age. He must love some
where and the chances are that If he be
not loved, and allowed to love, at home, he
will not love too wisely away from it. 1t
is natural thing for youth and age to love
Oue auOlneT. 1et US not oppose nature.
Encourage rather than repress the mani
festation Of love in your homes. Win and
deserve the confidence of your children.
Do not have child of yours so outside of
your home sanctuary to speak to strangers
about his dearest and most precious inter-
ests, because he fears that Indifference, u
not rejection, will meet his desire to un-
bosom himself in The parental ear, and nes-
tie himself in the paternal heart.
No possible influence from outside, not
the Sunday-school even, not the church,
can take the place of boys own father, or
ol girls own mother, at the age when the
boy and girl are approaching manhood and
womanhood. Too often they are deserted
of their parents at just this age. There are
few sights more beautiful than to see par
ents standing by their children, in their
growing years, in warm tender affection,
accompanied and exhibited by outward
manifestations Of the same.-ISunddy School
Times.