Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-10-19
NO. 248..
Miseella
WHAT CHILDREN DO FOR Us.

We hear a great deal about what par
ents do for their children, and how much
children owe them therefor in love and
| obedience. But it is sometimes we'll to
look at the other side of the question, see
what children do for their parents and tor
the world in general. Ii we consider the
life of those who have no children, we find
| that it is ioyless-a life that is bereft of all
the wholesome influences which follow
the birth OF child. 1t is true they some
times do not realize it, and even congrat-
ulate themselves on their freedom from
care and responsibility. But what happi.
ness can this freedom give them? II they
40 not take advantage of it to care for the
friendless. their selfishness will build
wall around them. 1t will then be posi-
bic for them to satisfy all their desires to
their own injury. and will also deprive
them of all the comforts arising from In
terest in family life, and from the con-
sciousness of fulfilled duty. Children first
give to life its real value. There are ma
ny things which make life pleasant, many
which bestow on it the same pleasure and
variety, or which are necessary to relieve
the all-absorbng care Of family; but
there is nothing SO worthy of our continued
exertion. If it were not for children the
principal inducement to useful activity of
our lite would be wanting. and q good
share of our work would be left undoue
We often think the obligation Is all on one
| side, because the father procures the food
| and the mother prepares it for the table.
But to how many hungry hearts has the
love Of child been consolation and help
How many are there who would have
been contented in selfish Indifference, or
in all possible designations, If the wants OF
a little child had not prevented! People
who have no desire for children, because
of the responsibility, will find out later to
| their sorrow. that children are the best
friends and relishes of life; and that by
being free from the responsibility, parents
have not lost all the cares and troubles OF
this world. Marriage puts on us certain
burdens and duties; and il we arc not
willing to bear our share of them they will
be forced upon us in behalf of others, and
we will be obliged to carry them, without
the happiness which comes from the
thought that we bear them for those who
are nearest and dearest to US. People
without children frequently console them.
selves with the thought that children turn
ou: bad nearly as often as good; that
time, strength and money are often
wasted on them and that it might better
be laid up or used in some other way. The
fact is that this, more than any other cause
in nature, brings into existence class Of
men who are easily Influenced either by
good or bad people. The troubles and
| labor spent on the education Of children
have produced just as good results as they
would If spent in cultivating good farm or
garden produce. But even If this werc
not the case, and we had not the slightest
assurance that well-bred children were IN.
creasing in number to our joy, then men
aad women should, for their own sakes,
take on themselves the duty of bringing
up children. Men or women know little
Of the fullness and richness of their own
minds, until they are brought to o full
consciousness of it by the exertionx and
| sacrifices (Which. in their love, are not
considered AS such) made in bringing up
| children. Is it not with feeling OF satis-
| faction that father looks on his WE'LL
brought up little daughter? When tender
! little hands press those of the mother and
warm soft cheeks rest on her bosom, are
not husbands conscious OF a love which
equals that for the motsers
HORSE CAR THEOLOGY "What religion
am |. ELI ?' said Il driver on a Chicago ear,
"Well, I'm O kind o. limited Universalist."
Limited Universalist," responded his
querist in amaze, ''if you're Universalist
at all you must believe that every one'll
be saved Il know, know" replied
the man of brakes. " most every one'll be
saved, but of course there's got to be ex-
ceptons, like there is to every general
rule. 1t stands to reason tain likely's All
all marciIul Father d SAKE them dray-men
as always crosses dowr grade of a sud-
dent, or the woman that talks on the cross
ing with her panier turned 10 US till the
cars gone by, and then halls it and scolds
the driver, or The man who stops the car
in the middle of block and then gets of
again because he's made a mistake. No,
sir praps of course they'll stop the celes-
tial car for them cattle, but ef they do you
bet they'll have to hang on by the brake
iron. No seats for them, guess. Carp"