The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1877-02-15

1
which humanity is liable to fall.
To accomplish this mighty work I
can see but one certain method, and
that is the potent example Of parents.
Precept may accompany example with
grand effect, but alone it will little ben
eft either child or adult. It is a waste
of time and common sense for pro-
fame father to say that his son shall not
swear 1t is the height Of folly to tell
our children to be honest, and then tell
in the family circle how gloriously we
cheated neighbor in a horse trade.
The fact is we too often underrate
the astuteness of children. They are
keener than we suppose. I Yenture to
say that the child of five or six can
read the unspoken thought and detect
| hypocrisy in the mind Of it's parent ca
sier than the man of fifty,
This is one of the provisions of ma
ture, and wise one too. How could
little child learn to speak without first
receiving ideas and then learning to
couple them with words How often
do we see the infant which cannot
speak, in deep trouble through an angry
look from it's mother; and in later
years how keenly they watch our faces
to know how far to go in mischief be-
fore meeting a rebuke. often think
that if parents and teachers could real
ize their positions while under the scru-
tiny Of so many sharp eyes, and feel
that every thought, word and act is
weighed in the balance with almost un.
erring judgment, their conduct would
be different.
We find another principle in youth
which makes morality in parents absO-
Ilutely obligatory. It is an inherent de-
sire to initiate and copy adults. They
want to be men and women. This is
the prospective Mecca toward which
their footsteps all tend. They wish to
do what men and women do whether it
is right or wrong Their reasons are
often of necessity vague and illogical !;
most generally eliminating in the idea
THAT what father and mother does is
right
What a weight of responsibility then
rests upon parents. They are the mod
els after which the character of their
offspring is to be moulded, and upon
this character depends the happiness or
misery, the usefulness or WOrthl essness
Of the rising generation. How essen
tial that their conversation should be
pure, their acts honorable, and their
reputation above suspicion. Their
dealing with the children should be
scruptlously honest. Every promise,
however trifing, vigorously kept, even
to threats of punishment, when the
conditions laid down have been viola
ted. Superstition and prejudice should
be rooted out of the family circle.
1t may be urged that all parents can
not conform to such rigid discipline.
True; they may be suffering from the
sins of their forefathers and vitiated by
the lax morals taught them in child
hood, but this does not relieve them
from present obligation; however de-
graded they may be, there is always a
chance to reform. Should failure be
their lot repeatedly, let the children
know that father ard mother are try
| ing to do right, their little hearts will
sympathize, and it will lead them to
higher purposes. One of the most i'm
portant habits to teach a child, is before
committing an act to stop and think
"Is it right?"
Venture another idea, and that is
that they should regularly attend
church; for two reasons; first, to avoid
notwithstanding, and that bane of
youth, vicious companions. Second, to
firmly fix in their minds that sin will
be punished and virtue rewarded; that, |
should they deceive parents, or escape
punishment in earthly courts, they
must come before an unerring Judge |
to answer for every hidden sin. Again
I say, be your own judge as to what
church you go to; but 60, and take the
little ones with you. This course will
help to build around them strong and
durable Notifications against immoral
I'll