The Russellville Democrat., 1879-09-04
Communicated.

MR. EbuoR: Seeing a number of
 letters in yonr valuable paper from dii-
 ferent portions of the State, some writ
 ing on one subject, some another, but
 none touching the subject which 1 cons
 slider the most important Of all, that is
 the subject Of early education. Educa-
 ton should begin at the mothers knee.
 It is true the child Is too small then to
 learn to read, write, &c.,, but 1t is not
 too small to be educated. The mother
 Is the one, and in fact the only one that can make good impressions on the mind
 of the child SO early In life. See how
 quick the child can be taught that fire
 will burn. So it is with other things. Teach it that all evil is fire that will
 burn. Teach it to shun the company of
 all bad children. Teach it to use none
 but the best language, use none other
 yourselves. Profane or vulgar lan-
 guage used by the father in presence of
 the child will make bad impressions oa
 the mind that will take years to erace. o, that parents could be awakened to the great necessity of traing their chill children alright while their hearts are young and tender and susceptible of holy and divine impressions.
 Now a few words to the Chil !reu, as
 I am nearer their age, l would say there are two more schools for you to go through. First, the Sunday school; second, the literary or day school. But the Sunday school is the school you should first go to. Then let me say to you all, go to this great school and embrace every opportunity that presents itself to you for improv- ing the mind aad cultivating the tal- ents which God has given you or placed within your reach, for by so doing you will elevate yourself in soci- ety, in the school and in the church. This will fit you for usefulness in this life, for entering upon that voyage over the great sea of Time.
 Then go to Sunday school when you can, for that is the place to lay deep and sure foundation on which you can erect tabernacle to the honor and glory of God. Sunday school is the handinaid that paves the. way to the church that will finally fit vol for heaven and eternal joys. Then go to Sunday school and there learn the first principles that will enable you to pass on successfully through the journey of lite. Here you will find every moral precept set forth, and many examples laid down as rule and guide of your "faith" and practice. Here you will find your duty to your parents, your brothers and sisters, yourselves, your neighbor and your God.
 Now few words on literary schools and l shall close. What 1 shall say will be about neglect of study while in | the school room. It seems to be kind | of second nature, so to speak, for the ..I, Il 1. .., {. t. precious time of life. How often do we | hear the boy or girl say, don: care whether 1 learn now or not, 1 have | many days yet in which to complete my | education. Not only have we heaid | shame how often have we been guilty | of the same saying. I for one have had | the opportunity of being first-class | scholar had 1 not been one of those | don't-care boys. Though young yet, | am old enough to look back upon my | past life with shamed face and sor- rowful heart that 1 did not improve | that time, though my sorrowing is in vain; those days are forever past and | gone with me. O, that l could recall | the days when l sat in the old rusty | school rooms in the Cove and Rus | only winking at the girls and | the boys, caring for nothing | but to be man grown that l might 1 But those days cannot be re- called; a life once lived cannot be lived | again.
 There is only one voyage from the cradle to the grave, and as we glide swiftly on borne by the resistless wave | of time we often sail by opportunities | without seeing or improving them. It | is not for want of opportunities that so | many of us are pueducated, but it is | because we fail to improve those oppor- tunities as they present themselves, by | having that despisable saying, l don't care. J. O. LEARN.
 Cove, Arks., Sept. l, 1879.