The free citizen. (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1875-04-24
What Children do for us


We hear great deal about what pa-
rents do for their children, aud the duty
and obedience which they owe them in
times to look at the other side of the
their 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 huvo no children, and wo shall see
what IN utterly joyless world this is to
them-how destitute of all The saving in
f1uences which follow in the train os n
new born child
1t is true that they do not always
know it; true that they Bometimes con
Rratulate themselves upon The freedom
which the absence of responsibility
gives them. But what docs this free
dom do for them? If they do not use
it i'll caring for those who have none to
care Tor them it simply incloees them
III wall OF eelfishness. Itallows them
to indulge their own whims and fancies
to their own destructiou, and deprive
them Mt the last of all the consolaticns
which spring from participation in fam
lily life and consciousnesss of duty
we'll performed.
Children are really all there is in lifo
worth living for. There are many other
things which are pleasant III it, there arc
many things which give zest to it, there
are many things which seem necessary
as relief from the absorbing care which
the rearing of family of children
brings. but none present sufficient mo-
tive for continued effort or sacrifice: and
If it were not for children, therefore.
much of our stimulus to exertion would
be taken away and the most imperative
work of the world remain rnperformed.
Because the father supplies the food.
because the mother prepares it in man
ner suitable for the growth of tlssir
bodies, we consider all the obligation is
on one side. But to how many hungry
hearts has the love Of little child been
nourishment and consolation and sup
port2 How many would have fallen by
indifference or through temptation if the
necessities Of little child had not with.
held them.
People who avoid children for the
sake of getting rid of responsibility find
in time that they have missed the pleas
ures only, not the cares, ami but IL few
OF the pains. Association with our fell
lows entails certain burdens and ohl-
cations upon all of us, AID if we have
not Voluntarily assumed any of our own
we shall lind them thrust upon lls and
be obliged to carry the weight without
the happiness OF strong incentive in
the nearest and dearest of earthly ties.
Chlldiess men and women uery often
console themselves with the reflection
that children are rs likely to turn ont
i'll as well that time and strength and
fro< f1-
them, and, therefore, might as we'll lie
saved or put to other use. But physi.
cal science is beginning to show us that
cause and effect act MS directly in the
production 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 rs upon
fruit farm.
If this were not the case, however, if
the results were dependent upon chance,
men and women onght still to accept
the duty of rearing children for their
own sakes.
Tho woman knows nothing of The
possibilities of her womanhood. the
man OF his manhood, until they are dis.
covered in the strength of the love, the
efforts the sacrifices (not felt us such)
which are exercised and made for little
children.
Is there any pride equal t., that which
the father feels in the growing dangl-
ter? rs there any love equal to that
which the mother knows when little
hands clasp her and soft cheek lars
lts velvet against her own?
Friends may grow cold, ambition may
be disappointed, slanderous tongues
may poison your good name, and
though all are felt more or less, vet
home and the love and confidence of
children are sure and certain refuge,
harbor from the storm, inexpressibly
comforting and consoling to the weary
and abused man, and heartsore and neg
looted woman.
But it is not for their simple faith
aud trust alone that we should value
children. They deserve cultivation !:
they abundantly require care and kind.
ness, attention and the forbearance
which it is necessary toward their i'm
maturity and want of Judgment. Our
leisure, ut least more of it, should be
given to them. We should take pains
to find 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.
Hearth and Home.
"A large. heayy-set man who raaidod