Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1875-01-22
Only the Children.

III Just keepon TINS OLD wrapper to'ua,
and devote myself to sewing. There'l
be nobody here but the children" Blu
presently she learned most unexpect
ed lesson for she Glanced to overheal
the children talking together in the next
room, and soon discovered that she was
herself the subject of their conversation
The two little girls had quick eyes fol-
the details of dress, and always missed
from their mothers costume the nice care
which they saw one of their aunties give
to her everyday dress and their broth
er who was just little older, lamented
with them that the old wrapper was
still considered good enough to wear
about home" They were very appre-
ciative of their mothers loving heart,
but they could not help saying, If
mother only would look as nice as Aunt
Katie" Now Aunt Katie's dress was
always suited to her work whether in the
kitchen, sewing room, or parlor, and its
charm to the children lay in its neat and
tasteful arrangement. Her calico dress
was carefully fitted, and was always
adorned with clean collar or rufie, and
a tidy apron. These simple things, to-
gether with her neatly arranged hair,
gave her "nice look. 1t was reve-
lation to the mother, that her children
were observing her so closely, and were
really afflicted by her want of care. Be
ing wise mother she took the lesson to
heart, and banished the sold wrapper"
and sought not only to be loving moth
er, but to make herself look lovely to the
dear home eyes, that of all eyes in the
world she should care most to please
This little incident is suggestive. We
are apt on various occasions to excuse to
ourselves careless or hasty words with
the consideration, cts only the chill
dren." But bright, active children are
all alive to that which passes before
their eyes, and within the range of their
ears and if we are ever to " be on our
best behavior" or TO wear our company
manners" it is surely in the presence of
these quick observers, and keenest crit
les. We were once favored with the in
innate confidence of an active boy of
ten years, and learned through him of
the dangers to which such as he are ex-
posed. In the country store or black
smith shop, or wherever idle men-truly
Satan 5 deputies-are accustomed to con-
gregate, this child caught bits of indie
cent gossip, and snatches of shameless,
vulgar talk that might have utterly cor
rupted his innocent young heart. "Only
a child, to be sure, but susceptible as a
sensitive plant to the words of grown up
men. Language is weak to characterize
the unclean men who carelessly, or with
malicious purpose, pollute the moral at
mosphere about them with their obseen-
ity. Many fathers and mothers seem
utterly oblivious to this danger, while it
their children about like a
great sea with rising tide. Unclean
tongues speak in their presence; news
papers that claim to be the right arm of
social progress, seek their richest har-
vest by freighting their columns with
the sickening details of sickening scan
dial; pictured uncleanness, not unfre-
quently bearing the imprint Of men who
call themselves physicians, <inds its way
into the hands of children and youths.
Fathers and mothers, you cannot guard
your children too carefully from these
abettors of sin. Keep yourloving watch
upon them that their hearts may be saw.
ed even the surface scars of evil.
"Only the children are they, but
they are the seeding men and women,
the final hope of the world.