The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1879-01-21
Children Then and Now.

MI HANY parents In middle life or past,
IVl are given to contrasting the condi-
ton Of children to-day and what 1t was
when they were yoting, greatly to the
disadvantage of the "good old tines In
point of privileges, but rather to their
credit as respects the quality Of the chill
dren themselves. See how the children
are dressed, they say, = what school
advantages they have-what books and
periodicals are provided for them, com
pared with the dearth of such matter
even thirty years ago, O,-and how all the
discipline and suppression of the old
times has been relaxed or done away
with.
1t Is all true. The contrast is very
striking. We are living In an era of
better times for children in many ways.
But is it a matter for serious head wag-
ging or suggestive shoulder-shrugsa aIone2
We think not.T One Of the most in
structive Incidents illustrating this
change came under our observation q
few years ago, in connection with sue
cessful professional man. He had work
ed himself fairly haggard, after the
Americas fashion, and from humble
benining in life had secured a compe-
tence. His home was supplied with
every comfort and luxury needed for
the thorough enjoyment Of his large
family of handsome and happy children,
and their sweet faced mother. They
were dressed with strict regard to health,
but with an elegance that often caused
remarks, as the. fathers care worn face
and careless habits were noticed. The
home table was always lavishly supplied.
The best books, the brightest magazines,
the newest toys and other ministers of
childish happiness, were furnished with
sut stinct.
How much more you do for your
children than for YOURSELF" said we to
she father one DAY.
4" Yes, he said, and do you want to
know the reason2 When 1 WAS boy,
on the old hillside farm, was worked
IKE slave. L was scantily fed on coarse
food that could not relish. WAS poor
ly clad, though my father was well-to-
DO farmer, and meant to do right by his
children. He was not consciously un-
kind; but he saved money for US at the
expense of our bodies and souls. / never
knew but one happy day till was six
teen years old, and ran away-and that
was the day my mother let me go fish
ing, and got such q berating from my
father for her haFdihood in doing the
kindness, that / hated him from that
hour until 1 was free, and old enough to
know that he meant we'll. But as /
lived that hard life said to myself-and
here the eyes of the stern-yisaged law
yer flied with MOISTURE g that if ever
. became q man and had children of
my own, nothing should be too good for
them-they should have the good times
that hungered for and missed.''
Children are individuals. How often
that is forgotten by parents or teachers
who seek to mold them in mass, like so
much clay. They have rights, even
more than obligations. They are not to
blame for being here. Having Civ
en- themselves children, parents are
under natural and solemn obligation
to give themselves to their children, for
guidance, sympathy, compani9nship
and love, as truly as for necessary care.
All this is entirely compatible with firm
ness in family government, and con-
sistent with that training in selfhelp-
fulness and knowledge of useful work
which is now too much neglected in so
many homes. Fs8 s9t ah,le