The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-11-02

Mrs. &. G. Walker, of Middlcbury.
What measures should be taken with
children TO establish them in habits of
temperance? To this great question.
Inspiration responds, "rrain up child
in the way he should go, and when he
is old he will not depart from it," This
training, in relation to temperance, in
wolves, to Il large extent, appropriate
instruction. There is much to teach
children OH this great subject. and
much, too, that they are capable of un-
dcrstanding. They should, of course,
be carly and thoroughly instructed as
to the diversified and terrible evils of
intcmperance. This melancholy pic
turc cannot bc too fully and faithfully
presented before the young. They
should be taught that the major portion
of the evils that afllict society has its
origin in intcmperancc. These evils
should be opened out before the young
mind in detail, and as extensively and
Us clearly as possible. Children should
be made to understand, for example,
that intcmperance Injuries, prostrates
and destroys the physical system, that
it is fruitful source of disease, while
at the same time it aggravates almost
every disease to which humanity is sub
ject, and if persisted in, is sure to end
in premature death.
Let children understand, also, the sad
influence of intcmperance on the intel
lcct as well as the body-that it be-
numbs all the glorious faculties of tho
human mind, and has the power l.,
draw down many an imperial intellect
to condition of a dcbased and degraded
idiocy. But train children, further.
and especially, to understand that these
evils, dreadful as they are, are yet but
trifling when compared to the influence
OF lntemperancc upon mans moral ma
ture. Let them see that it DESTROYS the
soul-that it burns out all the beautiful
affections, and cruslcs out all elevated
and noble principles and tends to re-
duce man to tiend incarnate, so that
he is in a condition for any and every
evil work-to rush madly upon the
transgression of every law of God and
man, being ever ready to lie, gamble.
protanc the sacred name, quarrel, riot.
plunge into all wicked debauchery.
murder his dearest friends and kindred.
and in general to make himself the
worst creature in all Gods vast uni
verse.
In their training let children see this
dreadful picture in all its hideous de-
fOrmity and horror; also let there be
unfOlded TO them some of the sad con-
comitants of these cvils-such as brok-
en- hearts. crushed hopes, wives worse
than widows. children worse than or
phans, squalid poverty, degraded beg
gary, murdered reputation, the jail, the
pcnitentlarV. the scallold. Yes. in
struct them faithfully ana well. IL
cover before their eyes this pit OF de-
structlon, and let them look down and
take warming. Nor, in juvenile instruc-
tioii ana framing, relating to this great
subject. should the opposite picture of
perfectly temperate life be hidden
from the eyes of children. Let them
DC SHOWN tliat the fruits OF temperance
are precisely the reverse OF those of ill-
temperance; that lls results are health.
strength, sprightliness, comfort and
beauty OF the physical man; that 1t Is
sound BODY; aids to a clear understand
ing and good Judgment, steady view,
retehilvc memory ana n healthy III
telIectual discipline;
Let the children be taught, further,
that temperance Is one OF the great NOR
al virtucs-is, IN iact, enumerated by
tne INSPIRED apostle as one OF the fruits
Oh the spirit against winch, he adds
"there Is no law. impress 1t upon the
young mind that 1t Is indispensable to
good AMI sound character-that there
can be no true moral goodness without
righteousness and lovely principles and
affections may live and flourish, and
the child may grow up to possess no.
BILE character. and to wicld an influence
in his generation that shall be as genial
and healthful as it will be pure and
widely spread.
And, as q feature of this picture, YOU
NAV tell the child of excellent reputa-
ton, of extended and growing knowl-
edge. of JOYOUS DAYS and wears, of a
fiourishing manhood. of long life, of a
green old age, adorned and cheered
with "the cav remembrance of a life
well spent''-all of which excellent
things are likely to accompany the COL
den and beautiful virtue of temperance.
Then, in the course of this training.
let the appctites of children be properly
watched and guarded. Let them be
early and forever prevented from ac-
ouirino taste for ANYTHING that intoxi-
Gates: for it is happy provision that
the vitiatcd appctitc for strong drink is
unnatural. and if possessed must be ac-
quired. Let such an ACQUISITION on the
part of child be prevented as you
would prevent his destruction. Let the
childrcn be kept pure-their tastes and
appctites preserved simple, tuiai arrt
healthy. Let them not even ''look up
on the wine when it is red, when it Civ
eth its color IN the cup, when II moveth
itself Alright and remind them that
sat last il biteth like serpent and
stingeth like an adder" Yet further
to assist them in the training of chill
dren of temperance, let them be associ-
ated together for tins purpose: Chi,
dren have an carly liking to be leagued
together with one another for some OBJ