The Red Cloud chief., 1881-05-19
The Training Of Children.

Journal
The Training VI Children.
One obstacle, 2 very general one, in
the way OF proper home training. is the
mothers wan of time. Especially is
tins the case in households where the
mother performs, or helps TO perform.
the manual labors of the kitchen. asong
with her other duties Of mother and
wife. With her the days are 80 filed
with are aud herself so weary, the
little mes are too frequently iookej
upon as a vexation and annoyance.
something in the way. Z hiRdrance 10 a
certain amount OF work accomplished
between each rising and setting Of the
sun. But 20 aualyZe the sentiment
how u~uthinking and unwise' Time for
cooking and the eating, washing and
the ironing. scrubDay and the sweep
ing-time crowded in somehow to clothe
the childs BODY and nourish il with
food; but the mind, the soul, the i'm
mortal uart-thI. must 90 neglected
and unthought OF, uncared for and IN
kept.
Sometimes this incessant hurry and
stress and strain of work-and conse-
qJicnt WEAKNESS on the mother part
is productive Of most disastrous results.
She becomes nervous. irritable, unrea-
sonable and unfit to govern ct all. She
tolls ali day without rest or respite in q
close warm room, sewing and cooking.
washing dishes. %scrubbing floors: and
Is the day draws TO a close, her limbs
are weary. her back aching, her tenn
pies throbbng. Trifes seem OF great
moment and notes appear as mountains.
The floor i clean, the house set in or
der. the finished garment is folded and
laid awav; hut the woman is faxed,
e~nervated, uns.rung. The little ones
come trOOping home from school. eyes
sparkling, checks aglow. the outdoor
air IL their garments, its sunshine in
their heart Who but an ovcr-worked
and Over-weaTy mother could see auyht
but a picture OF beauty; feel aught but
the joy and blesSeduess OF motherhood,
and Il longing u gather the flock into
Outstretched loving arms? But. alas
they have brought not only the out
door air but the outdoor mud; and
blows fall. Unconsidered and inconsid-
erate-tIe memory of which shall lin
ger a. a bitter memory till the golden
heads are frosted or laid under the sod.
Poor mother. They shall ~perchance
echo sadly enough sometime in her
heart too. But let u have charity. Ii
was not the mother who dealt the blows.
but the worn and fretted Bridget whom
she ~personates.
Nor must the mother forget the i'm
portance of cXample-the effect Of her
wi words and acts upon the expand
ing and easily-bent minds. Let her
deal fairly and honestly ALWAYS with
these little ones, even i'll seemingly in
significant things. She must not tell
them that the medicine is good, or that
il VIII not hurt To pick out the thorn.
or make them promises which she does
not intend 20 fulfill. Children reason.
or at least perceive, more than We are
ant 10 give them credit for; and il is a
dull child. indeed. that does 10 soon
discover the difference between equivo-
cation and truth. OF the two. example
goes much farther than precept: and
that mother who attempts to inculcate
lessons of truth and charity and self
restraint. while her own life is full of
temper and Observation-Disclosures and pre-
v~arica,ion, or who expects TO train her
child in WAYS of virtue aud honor with
out keeping her own life white and
clean. will very likely find her policy
defective. and her hopes fall unfUlilled
TO the ground.
And lastly-or rather first. last and
all the way between-let the mother
bear in mind that the objec; and aim of
all government Is, Dr. should be, TO pre-
pare for self-Covernment. Her author
ity Will last. 1t most, but a few brief
years, in which she has much to do TO
prepare the child to govern himself.
merged as quickly as possible into res
Soning control: and this again into n
government where the responsibility of
its acts is thrown TO a greater or less
extent upon the child. The mother
must show him good and evil, set be-
fore him the benefits 10 be derived
from one course Of action, the evils or
disadvantages resulting from another.
and let him occasionally choose for him.
self. OF course judgment must be e1-
ercised in reference TO what the choice
Is between, and nothing OF siea; mo-
ment left to the option of the very
young. or one entirely unaccus.omed
to this form of control. If he choose
wrong. as he is at first pretty certain
To do. the mother must not hold her.
self aloof. or reproach angrily. or par
ade too ex~aSperatingly the Il told Won
So but with CenileueSS point out his
error and its consequence. In short.
the mother. instead of an arbitrary and
despotic ruler. must be ever the consci-
entious doer. the wise and patient
counselor, the sympathizing friend.
Such q mother is sure to lay the foun-
dation of a useful and honorable man.
hood and womanhood for her boys and
girls. aS wen as 10 win for herself a
tender and lasting place in their hearts.
= Hinitred, IA Country Gen.lemGn.