The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-09-11
LITTLE THIEGs.

There are many things considered as little
that arc nevertheless Of vast importance
Many a time a parent treats as An unimpor-
tant within of the child, that which Is fraught
with consequences eternal to It's welfare, as
well in this world as in the world to come.
Children learn most readily from precept and
by observation. Words oftsntimes uttered
in the hearing Of a little one, or an act done
in its presence, leave impressions that ARC
never eifsced, and that bear fruit, it may be,
for good or for evil, in years to come. Words
spoken, sentiments expressed, not only Al
feet the hearts of those who utter them, but
the hearts OF those who hear as well. We
SOW the seeds Of loyo and of hate in the
hearts OF others by the words We speak quite
A. much, II not more, as by the acts we
commit. Whom we are angry and give
vent to the hasty words that arise to our
lips, wo not only excite the wrath Of him
70 whom they are addressed, bat we fan tho
Games OF passion that blaze in our own hearts.
We cannot be too guarded in what we say in
tho presence OF children. Men, alas too
many OF them, think 1t little thing to tell
smutty anecdotes; to crack improper jokes;
to repeat scandals in the presence Of boys.
They seem to be needless or careless OF the
fact that they are debasiDg the hearts Of the
boys; filling them with impurities; putting
thoughts there that should mover have place
in the heart of a boy. They cause boys to
use words to zach other that they ought
never to utter. they.are sowing those seeds
that will grow harvest OF sin and shame and
death. Yet, even fathers in their
thoughtlGsnc's do this, and 10 doing it do a
mischief they little dream Of. Oftsntimes the
blush is brought to the cheek and the heart
made to tngle with shame a. the words
heard from the lips Of little children, yet no
child ever gave utterance TO foul word it
had not hoard from some grown person.
There is another thing, too, many people
think is a snail affair. The bulk OF news.
papers of the day seem to vie with each
other in celebrating the murders thoy give
accounts Of in hunting up and embellshng
police court reports; divorce suits, scandals,
and sensation stories and all manner of vile
things. They strive, each ono seemingly, to
have more OF this kind of hlth than all the
eshers, and they study to out do each other in
their glazing headlines. Boys and girls, from
ono limit OF the country to the other thus are
daily treated to intellectual filth and mental
putridity Thus their young heart, arc made
familiar with tho wickodneu Of tho world
and contaminated with its deadly influence.
1t 10 this daily publication and reading by
the people of filth; otths deeds of darkness
and indecent conduct Of depraved mon and
women, that is sapping the
strongholds Of truth and puri-
ty and undermining the citadel
of public and private virtue. This daily
dlshing up and spreading out as repsst
before the young minds and hearts of the
land, the vicious deeds Of the vile of earth;
this uncovering daily of the dens Of infamy
and tho inner life Of tine lowest stratum of
humanity Is constantly sending recruits 20
the army OF murdereri, of drunkards, Of
gamblers and of mpmiaa. Yet the people,
it is laneAtsble fact, almost the whole peo-
pie, treat this prostitution Of the press rs a
little thing, indeed by their demand for
such reading encourage it, Who will say this
is in truth a.little thing Who will deny
that thi, is a monstrous evil Who will
that it is constantly nfu,ing mora
poison in the hearts Of the publc1 Another
thing parents and guardians cannot be too
particular in, and that il the employment of
teachers for their children and wards. The
tirst question with too many is will he teach
,heNp'" The teacher may be u scotfing ipfdel;
no may swear fonrfnl round oath,; he may
b dram drinksr, but what matters it if no
loes blaspheme, IL the children do learn to
'wesr from him, if they are made 10 think
thinking no enormity from hi, example if he
teaches chsaph? Children reason that if the
sther or the teacher swcars or drink. LIQUOR
hat it.cannot be very wrong, and they pat
FERN after the example set them. Are these
little things? Is not the parent responsible
10 tho child for the example, in deeds no set.
t. for the words no utter, in its hearing, to
cave thei r impre,s on heart aad mind? This
being SO, should We not all be more careful
Of those things we are too accustomed TO
consider as little things? Drop by drop tho
a'Iing water wears away the stone, and word
~ word is tho heart of the child alled with
he beauties Of purity and virtue and the
roma of truth, or with the foul weeds OF sin
lad wickednen and EVIL.