Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1880-06-12
The Duty Of Parents Towards Children

Do YOU ask me what are the rights of
children? They are MANY; but first. it
is their RIGHT to insist that thev are not
responsible for BEING. and that. there
fore. thev are entitled to the benefits of
the wisest experience of those who are
responsible. At least. 1 insist on that
in their behalf. How shall the children
learn that which is good to know unless
it be taught by those who have them
selves the KNOWLEDGE to impartp
father who has learned the WAYS of evil.
owes it to his son to warn him of the
dancers which he ia liable TO meet and
to show him the way to avoid them.
The mother of daughters is specially
charged with a like solicitude for them.
That is a fair and reasonable division of
the Immediate parental responsibilities.
though would hold no mother guilt
less Of her sons going, nor ac-
quit any father of accountability for his
daughters veal. Delicacy makes neces-
sary the administration of certain grave
ly important offices which specially con-
Germ the mother and the daughter, or
the father and the son. Even on this
point both the mother and the father,
as we generally find them, are open to
serious censure. 1t is no uncommon
experience OF the physician to ind well
grown g1rls cruelty ignorant OF them
selves 10 tnaC e4tenI tnelr motners
are Diame"ortny. IL IS prudlsh ana
mlstaRen view OF her auty TO her girls
that ieads the mother to Keep them IN
ignorance OF tnose organic burdens
' wnicn she KNOWS M tney muse oe caled
upon 10 pear. Inc pnySlcal ana mental
uecaaehce OF tnousands OF promising
uoys ~ chargeaole 10 tne negiect' IN
uilelence vi ialse lueas ot tneif 1atners.
1.;th aHieeui ,.as plopel paIen.ai Watchluiness
oh;d.eo MiIn aeaeienee II 1I W .ne Physical care Oh
INV Mo,,id oI - ,;lro Gi.e eheepoion ~ epo a+ a..
.1a wouio tiAo w sec palenCs use Ihe
-. nany eIn'le neeans a' 'nel. cohiinaho L,
SL g. WI 1ne oonnaence I!eI VI IheI cnlloreh.
aolnenow :" s: NY nveler symPaenles seem
+. o..se41 t'a'e II tn5 oiiecIlon .! Ihe coys.
80 - - no' ~ .la. iack appreclaeion OF tng
VI. o,ls'is w WHICH Silis are 1orh' puC Cnat 1
am ,,ai nappy .I III I1e AnowieogH S vi :nelr naG-
&c -, "i ."s.no;no som.GS W ns'' Is ~ say,
o.o VI "nlHt'.ioA VI eooie'y Is such 'na'
guls are kept comparatlVe!y apart from
e,eose ue. slh,seeI eyis py Whleh poys are
oloen uepaucheu-as so.uhhehhess' ieWu-
ness, Vulgar conipanionshlPs anu the
SoHi 7.e oone'i.l.a'ions iu ~ " Wn.cn an ouI-
sio.e nie ai.noS' inevieaoiy suoJecCs Iheih.
II snould oe the 1ather s pr1de that his
son trusts him and is willing to make OF
hlm companion, even II he can't al,
ways 1nbend from the graver mood
which his years and his sense OF life 8
responsiveness impose on him. He
must sometimes feel the father s anxious
care Tor that very boy into whose heart
ne would cheertully pour all the sun
shine OF his own. Ii he opens his nature
the lad is sure to enter. and the larger
nature enfolds the smaller with brood
ing fondness and sympathy in its
struggles that must blend them both in
one for all good acts.
l know a father and son between
whom there seems to be no false re-
serve. The hardest necessities have
not, so far as [ can discern, yet con-
quered the fathers youthful buoyancy.
True, there is in his face an habitual
look that has sometimes saddened me.
but l know it is only the shadow out of