The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1879-04-10

TRUE COURAGE AND SELF.CON.
troll.
WITH some real courage and self
control are natural; almost, if not
quite. instructive. They do not appear
to know what fear is. Still, every
parent knows the great difference that |
is seen in the same family. One child
rushes into all kinds of danger appa- |
rently without any fear, yet will be |
greatly excited, and manifest no SELF
control; while another shrinks from
danger, but, if it comes, will be far
more self possessed than the fearless
one, making no cutlery, and openly
manifesting no agitation. This last
characteristic isperhaps less frequently
shown in young children than the bold,
courageous, almost aggressive bearing.
We doubt If true courage can be as
successfully cultivated as self-control.
A man is expected to be courageous,
and, if he fails, sinks greatly in the
worlds estimation, Women, unless of
a morbidly sensitive temperament,
have moro self-control than men. If
it is not natural, few reach mature age
without seeing that the necessity for
self possession is important and neces-
sary.. 1t usually comes through expe-
rience and often-repeated failures or
great suffering. Perhaps it would be
wiser to call It endurance rather than
self. control; yet are they not nearly
akin? To endure is to exercise self
command under suffering or trial.
And our object is to impress upon our
readers, especially mothers, the value
of these two most important traits of
character. Few understand or more
than half comprehend the treasure
they possess if they are gifted with
either of these admirable qualities; but
If the two are found in one person they
give their possessor power which can
only be sufficiently estimated when
brought into full action by some un-
foreseen circumstance which calls for
their prompt and effective exhibition.
A vast amountof property is destroyed,
or it may be life itself put in jeopardy,
for the lack of this most desirable COM
bination. Those who are naturally
thus endowed should guard this valu-
able possession with unceasing care;
and mothers, seeing that any of their
children are deficient in either quail
fication, should spare no effort to cul-
tivate it carefully in those committed
to their care.
For the lack of affair portion of cour-
age and self-possession quite as many
lives are lost as through the threatened
calamity. Not holding themselves
under control they lose all power of
acting reasonably, and often rush
blindly into the danger they seek to
avoid.
When we say that with some cour-
age and self-contrcl are found from
earliest childhood, we don't mean that
this development, while child is very
young, is apparent in any remarkable
degree; but all know that in largefam-
lilies, or in q village where many chill
dren are thrown together, they soon,
and perhaps without any words, recog-
nize their leader; and in times Of
trouble or danger, look instinctively to
that one. It may be that he-or She
as keenly realizes the danger as any Of
the party, but in spite of fear they do
not lose self-possession or the power to
face whatever has made the others wild
with fear.
We have no doubt that in many
children this trait has been buried OF
destroyed by injudicious parents, or
worse. by INSCRIPTIONS servants. L
parents are naturally timid themselves
and have allowed this weakness Il
master them until incapable of excr
cising the slightest self-control, j
would be singular if their children die
not grow up weak and irresolute-una
BILE to keep calm or act judiciously a
the very moment when their own COM
fort and safety and the comfort and
safety of those depending on them are
in jeopardy. If parents could realize
how the young are nodded and gov
erned by their own conduct they woult
labor hard to secure at least the sem
blance of self-government when il
their children's presence.
We have known ladies scream, OF
become almost convulsed, if bug OF
worm was found on or near them; OF
lose half the pleasure of a summer in
the country through such weakness be-
cause of the busy insect life all about
them; afraid to touch q rose lest 8
tiny, neat little worm or a rose-bue
should have sought food and shelter
among the leaves.
When mothers betray such weakness
it is not necessary to see their children
to understand that it will be their tend
ency to be equally foolish. Now and
then one more sensible may be found
in q family where the children arr
brought up to see such weakness dali,
manifested by the mothers. Or. OF
reaching the years of maturity, tn,
germs of self-control or true presence
of mind, that have been chOked anC
dwarfed by the mothers weakness, bu
fortunately, perhaps, kept alive by the
fathers teachings or their own in
herent strength, may develop all the
nerve and self-control necessary tx
make noble character.
We have been led into this train o.
thought by an account of the courage
and self-possession of a lady in New
Orleans under circumstance of thu
most startling character, when {
moments wavering or weakness man
ifested would have cost her hel
life. She was a woman of wealth
with rich surroundings and costly
adornments. She was that .evenin{
alone, with only one servant in tn
house, and, laying aside some ar
ticles of jewelry and replacing then
in their appropriate cases in he
bureau, she CHANGED to raise he
eyes to mirror opposite. From