The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1881-11-25

mind, ] n almost lndelllDle cnhfaetefa.
81 think I may say writes tocke,
THAT Of all the men we meet with, nine
parts OF ten efe what they are, good or
evil, useful or not, by their education.
1t is that which makes the great DIFF
ference in mankind. Little or almost
insensible impressions on Our tender
infancies have very important con
sequences, and there it is, as in the foun.
tains of rivers, where a gentle applica-
ton of the hand turns the flexible wa.
tiers into channels, that make them take
quite contrary courses anti, by this lit.
tie direction given them at first in the
source, they receive different tenden.
cies, and arrive at last at very remote
and distant places. Imagine the minds
OF children easily turned this way OF
that, pc water ITSELF"
From the intimate and almost indis-
soluble combinations, which we ate led
to form in infsncSapd oafly youth, may
be traced many of our speculative err
rors, many of nj most powerful prin-
ciples of action, many perversions OF
our moral judgment. and many Of those
prejudices which mislead us in the con-
duct of life. By means of judicious
education, this susceptibility of the in.
FAINT MUD might be rendered subSer-
Went, not only 10 moral improvement,
but to the enlargement and multiplied
ton of our capacities of enjoyment.
Our daily experience shows us how sus-
ceptible the tender mind is of deep i'm
preston; and what permanent effects
are produced on the character and hap
piness Of individuals, by the casual as
sociations formed in childhood, among
he various ideas, feelings, and affec-
tions with which they were habitually
occupied.
By far the greater part Of the opin-
ions on which we act in life are not the
result of our own Investigations, but
are adopted implicitly in infancy and
youth upon the authority of others.
When q child hears either a speculative
~absurdity or an principle of
action, recommended and enforced daily
by the same voice which first conveyed
to it those simple and sublime lessons
Of morality and religion which are con-
genial to its nature, is to be wondered
that, in future life, it should find it SO
difficult to eradicate prejudices which
have twined their roots with all the es.
sential principles of the human mind ?
The fault, however, we suspect, rests
chiefly with the parents; because they
may, ina great measure, forestall the
effects of such examples, by enlisting,
in the service of virtue and religion,
the powerful aid of early associations,
at a period of life when children are
not liable to be contaminated by the
principles or conduct of others. We
hazard the assertion that there exists
more or less Of vacillation in the prin-
ciples and conduct Of most parents.
We may add, that a want of frmness
frequently ch~aracterizes the conduct of
many who sincerely intend and desire
to be Christians themselves, and to give
their children o virtuous and religious
education.
In womon, especially, this indepen-
dence Of mind and conduct is more
rare than in men for the female char
acter is flexible and plant, and easily
affected by the moral atmosphere in
which it exists. Before the character
of q woman is formed and matured, she
often finds it exceedingly difficult to
establish, in her mind, a just sense Of
the relative value and Importance Of
the many objects which are considered
as the chief desiderata or even as in.
d~ispensable, by those who surround her,
and indecision in thinking and acting
is the consequence OF q natural defer
ence to the opinion of the world.
Those who have strong affections,
lively imaginations, and great anima-
tion or energy Of character, are perhaps
the most liable to this vicarious state of
mind. They are more easily dazzled
and drawn away by the feelings and
opinions Of those with whom they
associate, from whom they re-
ceive kindness, or who contribute to
their pleasure by their talents and
pursuits. Young mothers, who live much
in the world, are liable to be brought
into contact with a variety Of circles
and coteries, in which, according to
the respective tastes and habits Of those
who f~ormthem, intellectual attainments,
worldly advantages or external appear
ances, are alternately treated as the
great and leading offsets of existence.
1t is difficult to avoid all infection from
the reigning mania, whatever it may
chance to be. 1t is not easy to settle
for ourselves the real value Of what we
see priced by all around, nor ever to
give a due and legitimate attention to
objects worthy u regard, but which
must all be sought in subordination,
and with r~Aferanceto hipher and better