The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1875-04-15
What Children do for us.

We hear n great deal about what pa
rents do for their children, and the dot,
and obedience which they owe them il
consequence, but it is useful to us a
times to look at the other sido of tn,
question and Fee what children do fOl
their parents, and not for their purent,
alone but for the world at large.
Take the cases of unmarried men an,
women, or OF married men and womei
who have no children, and vo shall sct
what an utterly ioyless world this is t.
them-how destitute Of all the savingin
fluences which follow in the train OF I
newborn child.
1t ~ true that they do not always
know it true that they sometimes con.
gratulnte themselves upon the freedom
which the absence OF responsibility
gives them. But what does this free
dom do for them ? II they do not use
1t in caring for those who have mono to
care for them il simply incloses them
IN n wall OF selflshness. II allows them
10 indulge their own whims and rancies
10 their own destruction, and deprive
them Mt the last Of all tho consultations
when spring from participation in fam,
ily life and u co|nsciousnesss OF duty
we'll performed.
Children are really all there is in life
worth living for. There are many other
things which are pleasent in it, there ARE
many things which give zest to it, there
are many things which seem necessary
MS a relieffrom the absorbing care which
the rearing OF u family of children
brings. but none present sufficient mo
tive for continued effort or sacrifice. and
II 1t were not for children, therefore,
much OF our stimulus to exertion would
be taken away and the most imperative
work OF the world remain unperformed.
Because the father supplies the food,
because the mother prepares it in n man.
ner suitable for the growth of theil
bodies, We consider all the obligation is
on n slide. But to how many hungr,
hearts has the love of IL little child beer
nourishment and consolation and SUP
port2 How many would have fallen b,
indifference or through temptation if tn,
necessities of II little child had not with
held them.
People who avoid children for TIN,
sake OF getting rid of responsibility fine
III time that they have missed tho pleas
nres only, not the cares, and but "A few
OF the pains. Association with our fel.
lows entails certain burdens and obi
CATIONS upon I'LL Of MS, and if we have
mo- voluntarily assumed my of our W
we shall find them thrust upon rs and
be Obliged to carry tho weight without
the happiness of n strong incentive in
the nearest and dearest of earthly ties.
Child!ess men and women uery often
console themselves with the reflection
That children are as likely to turn ont
III rs well that time and strength and
money arc frequently wasted upon
them, and, therefore, might IA we'll be
saved or put to other use. But physi
cal science is beginning to show us that
cause md effect act as directly in the
production of the human species IA in
my other phenomena of nature and
thnt care and cultivation bestowed upon
naturally good qualities produce az fine
results among men and women as upop
n fruit farm.
Ii this were not the case, however, if
the results weredependent upon chance.
men and women ought still to accent
the duty OF rearing children for their
own sakes.
mo woman knows nothing of the
possibilities OF her womapbood. the
man OF his manhood, until they are dis.
covered in the strength of the love fine
Efforts the sacrifices mot felt as such)
winch are exercised and made for little
children.
IL there any pride equal to that which
the father feels in tho growing daugh.
tor? is there any love equal to that
which tho mother knows when little
hands clasp her and n 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 confidence of
children nre Il sure and certain refuge,
a harbor from the storm, inexpresslbly
comforting and consoling 10 the weary
and abused man, and heartsoro and neg.
lected woman.
PUT 1t 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
winch 1t IL necessary toward their i'm.
maturity and want of Judgment. Our
leisure, ut least more of it, should be
gwen to them. We should take pains
to find out what they think that we may
guide them Alright and teach them to
ayoid tho shoals and quicksands upon
which we perhaps have been stranded.
Hearth and Home.