The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1881-06-17
FIaShe. of Home society FoibIe..
The Beam I'm Parents Eyes.


I ]
Dear friend Maud Muller:
Your courageous attack upon society mis-
demeanors is highly appreciated by I sister
spirit. Indeed, il is necessary that some
one should arouse the humdrum members
OF society, and gently, yes eharitably re-
press the too exuberant nonsensical spirit
Of the age. In this great work would
modestly aid you. You have written for
the present, in beautifully glowing language;
l with simple penned words will work for
the future. The sweet little children max
ing our homes happy with their aItlessness,
let them not become infected by the raging
disease. zone preventive is worth dozen
cures"
In acknowledging the truth Of existing
evils in society, in laying open the faults OF
our dear young people, LET us look 10 the
root Of the evil, and We will find the beam
in our own eye. Why do we complain OF
lack of animation, lack OF music poetry,
in fact lack of sentiment in our Hickman
society? Ii We want il, If we thirst for it,
Is 1t not in our power to obtain it? All, the
fault is far deeper rooted than we think
IL is in the first training of our children,
in planting the seed of culture that we have
made Il mistake, if We deplore a failing
harvest Jean Paul says: "a child's mind
Is like soft tablet of wax. the first impress
sions are lasting for life. Do we think OF
this, when we try TO raise our children with
the anticipation of JOY and comfort for our
old age? Are we always aware that our
example at home, our every day intercourse
with the dear little ones, is the guide for
their physical and moral footsteps Home
influence Is the great secret OF good or evil
fruit planted to ripen for the benefit of so
ciety. Have We the patience, that amount
of cheerful patience, required for training
our ct ildren? If not, let us try to acquire
it, for the care OF young lives Is the most
sacred task God has trusted to US.
The proyerb saws: "Idleness is the be-
ginning OF all evil" As soon as the young
mind becomes tractable, give it employment
in cheerful as well as useful manner. Let
us teach children early to appreciate the
value of time, even II it is only filled with
play. Many vagabond Is the result OF an
idle boy, and many gossiping woman of a
lazy girl. We take measureless pains with
making our children appear as pretty and
attractive a. our pride can possibly prompt
Gs to do. We stitch till we are almost sick,
TO dress them according TO fashion-and
here is mother fashion, who ought to be
feared as our greatest enemy; for in obey
ing her orders, we forget the care OF their
souls. oh, there is no telling how much
harm is done in dressing our children like
at the present age Their sweet simplicity,
which I'm itself should be their greatest
ornament, is destroyed by anxious care for
dress The time which is spent in sewing
and dressing might he, and should be, so
much better employed in improving their
minds and cultivatinc those accomplish
ments, the task of which we complain OF
to-day.
1t is a disease of the present age, and a
very contagious one, because those who are
not able to appear in public as their neigh
bors, try to vie with them, when they can
not, and home happiness is destroyed by
foolish vanity. Look at our churches, do
not almost the greatest number OF church
goers GO ito see and he seen"-and have We
not heard many lady say; 81 would like
to 60 to church, If had not TO dress fne?'
Is this the true Christian spirit, and are we
not LAYING the foundation OF this evil spirit
in our children
Another great mistake we make in rais-
ing children Is that we are not careful
enough how we talk before them. We
praise their little smaTtnesSes within their
hearing and make them vain; we reprove
and punish them in the presence OF Others
and harden their finer feelings. We criti-
-;-e the habits and manners of our fellow
citizens often with iittlo charity enough,
and our expressions being a gospel to our
little ones, how can we blame them, when
they grow up with little charity as we
have shown. We are careful how we act
and speak before our servants, oh how much
more so should we be before our children.
1t is true, there is no code for the indi-
vidual how to raise children. We all are
creatures of circumstances, and every one
in his or her turn has TO do the best his
opportunity will allow; but one thing we
all can do, we can practice simplicity, truth
fulness and charity. A simple, truthful
and charitable mind is sure to become re-
fined, and only refinement OF heart and soul
is the representative of true sentiment.
Let us cultivate it and the love for music,
poetry, true cheerful religion, and the sense
for all that is beautiful will adorn our
homes and society.