The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-10-04

dozen children"
But l haven't" replied Mrs.
Worth.
Now. just suppose you had per-
sisted Mrs. Smith. Il have eight.
How could / mend for and look af-
ter so many, like you do for two =?
Could you?"
Il don't know" thoughtfully an
swered Mrs. Worth, but know
this-no woman has any moral
right to any more children than she
can properly care for"
WHAT" almost screamed Mrs.
Smith.
"It's as true as gospel" firmly an
swered Mrs. Worth. The lord never
requires of any of Us more than we
can do"
"Well, sometimes think he does, :"
dolefuIy answered the other woman
eve see families of ten and twelve
everywhere"
so we do" assented Mrs. Worth,
"but if we think very carefully we
are compelled to believe that the
Lord often bears the blame of hu-
manitv's blunGers. If We deliber-
ately put our hands into the fire
and burn them, we have no right to
say that the Lord burnt our hands,
though He did make the law that
fire consumes almost anything that
is touched. God governs the uni
verse by law-and we can, to GER
tain extent, put ourselves within. or
without the reach of any particular
lew. Can we not?"
Il see men as trees walking, un-
consciously quoted Mrs. Smith.
Mrs. Worth smiled gladly, think
ing to herself that she had moment
arily touched her neighbor's little
used intellect.
Suppose, though continued
Mrs. Smith, falling back into her
old strain, Laura should grow up
and bring discredit upon your train
ing"
'Well." answered Mrs. Worth, a
shade of tenderness mixed with anx-
iety crossing her fine features, Il
cannot think she will | have faith
to believe she will not. But if she
should, | will faithfully strive to do
my part; / believe that if every pa
rent did so, not one child in a hun
dred would 90 astray. ! must not
think of anything but my own duty
hers is another matter. | dare
not neglect mine simply because |
am afraid she will hers. Two
wrongs do no not make a right. So,
then, if do have bad child, | will
at least have a clear conscience"
rs there any use OF educating her
so much?" inquired Mrs. Smith,
flying off on tangent. DO you ex-
ptct her TO teach ?"
Il don't know" answered Mrs.
Worth. II hope not; teachers usu-
ally have such hard lives. But |
want her educated, simply because |
believe it is the duty of every parent
to educate his or her child, and the
right of every child 10 abtain an ed
ucation."
Suppose parents cannot afford
it."
"Thcn they must be very shiftles5
parents; in fact, such parents cannot
afford to have children at all. No
man has any right to marry who
sees no prospect of supporting fam
lily; do you think he has ?"
No, / cannot say that | do. But
what is the use of an education, un-
less one makes living by lt?"
Mrs. Smith, such a question
should not be considered for a mo-
ment-except, perhaps, in technical
training. But it is justas much my
duty to cultivate my child's mind
as her muscles. The Lord gave her
an intellect just as surely as he did
a right arm. What would you think
of me if l never permitted her to
use her right arm ? Do YOU see the
analogy? Now, there are many cases
in which control of our brains is of
more use to us than control of our
bodies"
81 see; | never thought of that
before. But, Mrs Worth if you ed
ucate Laura so highly; il you keep
her at school until she is is, won't
she become too fine for every day
work? Won't she despise plain
housekeeping? Besides, when will
she find time to learn it p
"She won't despise every day
work, or anything useful, unless my
home training is in fault. In fact,
the more learned she becomes, the
more hope will have for her; it is
only the half educated who put on
such airs. As to time in which to
Learnt don't worry about that. An
intelligent person can always learn
faster than dull one. | venture to
say that, in less than six months af
ter she graduates, Laura will be an
accomplished housekeeper. Next,
| venture to seeh her mistress of some
accomplishment by which she will
always be able to earn a living"
Have you 10 fear of her health ?
So many young girls have died,
within the last few yeers, of over
study"
Not a great deal. | think many
of the deaths said to be from over
study were, in reality, from other
causes. | admit that every modern
school or college for young ladies
requires a great deal of hard work
but, then, instructors reasonably ex-
pect that when girl is actually in
pursuit of an education, she will
make it her chief business. But
here, you see a studious girl who