The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-02-13
OUR BOI:s IND GIRLS.

Written For The True Northerner.
/ love children, and love to see them joyous
and happy. take pleasure in doing everything
! can to make life pleasure TO them. be-
lieye in giving them all the privileges their
youth and activity demand would not throw
around them one single restraint not actually
needed to keep them within the bounds OF good
manners and sound morals. Irealize also that
upon the boys and girls Of to-day; and that as
they are educated ard disciplined, they Will in
turn educate and discipline others.
Itir, therefore, duty incumbent upon every
person who comes in contact with children to
impress upon them the importance OF right
living. But don't do this by fault finding, by
sermonizing, by constantly picking at them,-
do 1t first by example. One good example Is
worth dozen sermons to child, to anybody.
What good do you suppose it will do boy
for you ito tell him it is wrong for him TO use
proiane or obscene language if he hears Won
use Il?
What good to tell him 1t Is an injurious, dis
agreeable, nasty habit to smoke or chew tobac
co, if he sees the juice oozing from the corners
of Eour mouth. dropping from your mustsche,
or running down your beard and DER your
beard or hanging thereto in iclcles, or il he
sees you with huge pipe or cigar in your
mouth putting aud spitting away as though You
had but one object in life, and that to poison
the whole atmosphere with the fumes that rem
ders it possible to distinguish you from those
other innumerab!e nuisances, that boards of
health ought to abate but don't and shut out
from the face Of the earth the beautiful sun,
thick as that which encrcles your own head?
What good to talk to him OF the dangers and
miseries that he will find in the wine cup or
beer mug II he sees you tamperiDg with them?
And he will see you il you do it. spite OF frost
ed windows, screens, side doors, or the "you
stay out here while step in here moment to
see n man, see 4 demon, rather.
What good to tell him it is wrong to lie, steal
and cheat when he hears you brag how you
have practiced the art upon some unsophist
Gated, unsuspecting victim?
What good to tell him that there is wrong in
anything that he sees you indulging in? No
good whatever, but evil; for it leads him 70 do
the same a. you do-say one thing and do an
other. You lead him to form the babit OF in
sincerity, to form . two-sided character.
Mothers, Sisters, Daughters, What good to
tell q little girl that it 10 wrong to get angry
and say naughty words" when she has seen
you throw your work or book angrily upon the
floor, toss your head defantly, has heard you
mutter to yourself in angry tones, and slam the
door after you In high dudgeon, because some
one has said something you don't like or has
asked You to do something that is particularly
disagreeable to you?
What good to tell her it is wrong TO be self
isb, iretful or peevish, when you yourself set
contrary example!
What good to teach her. by precept obedi-
ence, love and respect for parents, kindness
and courtesy for superiors, when you are rude
and unkind yourself?
What good to tell her it - not what che
seems but what she really as that makes her
valuable to tho world, to her friends and to
herself, when you devote so much time 10 dress
and show Of the superficial?
What good to talk any or all OF these things
to the young when you don't act them out ?
When we make our lives harmonize with our
teachings, then, and not till then, willtchdren
listen to, and profit by, what we cay to them.
Do not let US foster the idea that, because they
are children, they do not notice these things
for II our lives will bear the criticisms OF child
rem we need have no fears from those OF the
world.
w. =. STOCKING.
Dowagiac, Feb. 9Th, 1880.