Nebraska advertiser., 1882-01-19
A Talk About Children.

Lord saith the psalmist. " AS arrows
in The hand of the mighty. Happy Is
the man that hath his quiyer full Of
them"
Public opinion has changed on this,
as on many other subjects, since King
David's day, and a large family is now
by no means universally accounted a
blessing.
In truth, people generally seem dis
posed to regard as nusances all children
not their own. Boarding-house keep
ers will none of them; persons with
apartments TO let "prefer adults; serv-
wants resent the presence of more than
one in families seeking " help;' news
papers keep in standing type ADVERTISE
ments styling them :" membranes,
and the question "What shall we do
with our chldrenp" seems in danger of
taking rank with the Chinese as one Of
the social problems of the day.
Napoleon |. declared the chief want
Of his country to be mothers, meaning,
il need hardly be said, that France
lacked nothing so much as citizens
trained by good women-mothers who
knew their duty and did it. Nor can
such training begin too early
An eminent divine was once asked by
a mother when she should begin the ed
ucation of her four-year-old boy. "Mad-
am" was his answer, elf you have not
already begun, you have lost those four
years. From the first smile which
beams upon an infant cheeks your OPP
portunity begins"
Nor are such influences less powerful
physically than mentally and morally.
High medical authorities affirm that the
foundation of the health or ill-health of
most adults Is laid in the nursery. Late
hours, irregular meals, improper food,
and other carelessness on the part of
those who have charge of them in child
hood. are the primary causes of many
of the nervous diseases so frequent
among American men, and especially
among American women. For this
mothers are chiefly responsible. Much,
it is true, depends on the material it.
self. Not even the most expert work.
man can fashion Sevres vase from
common clay. Yet his it is to choose
the form into which he will mold his
lump OF clay And none the less is he
bound to do his best, that some unfor-
seen chance may possibly mar the work
to which he has given his utmost care.
How many women live in history of
whom the world would have known
| nothing but for their children! Those
who worthily wear the crown of mother
hood are ever those who prize it most,
and none save such as have wept in its
darkness know how black shadow a
childs coffin may cast over u house
hold. f ft .at u. a...,.,..
Children have their rights, which old
er persons are unhappily prone TO ig-
more, and chief among these is the right
to be children. Men and women in
miniature, copying the airs and graces
of their elders; flirting and gossipping,
dancing at parties when they should be
sound asleep in their cribs; is this what
the fashionable world has to offer us in
exchange for the natural, light-hearted,
healthy boys and girls OF half century
ago? ....r
Hot-house fruits and vegetables may
be most costly, and ripen earliest, but
do they not lack the rich, full flavor of
their congeners grown in the open air,
with the sunshine glowing in their
cheeks and the freshness of earth's
dews in their juices.
Therefore, do not dress the little folks
in garments too costly for the wearer tc
play in. nor impose unnecessary re.
strictions upon them.
Try to make their childhood as hap
py rs possible--a season of which they
may tell their children in days to come
when perhaps the grass will be growing
over your grave.
Let Yourself down to their level nov
and then; it will do you no harm, anC
: give them pleasant memories of yol
hereafter. The father who never romp,
with his boy will find it difficult to Sc
cure the confidence of his grown-up son
the mother who has no sympathy fol
the baby crying over u broken doll may
live to see her daughter turn to other
for comfort. i,.hw
Those who would win the coniidenc,
of their children must begin the worl
in their babyhood; never deceivins
Them, and remembering always tina
example is more powerful than pre-
hcept.n 1t Is useless 10 tell child no
to do a thing which he sees you dc
y daily, and every parent is more or les
. the model on which the character of tn,
child is formed. .tp-ot
The claim of parental infallibility il
also dangerous one to assert. 1t may
be little moltifying, yet it is better Il
acknowledge -'' Mother didn't knew
Father was mistaken to insis
, you are right when your child know
you are wrong. si. flftIv
Humanity is fallible, and it is to b,
doubted il the most conscientiou
mother does her whole. duty,toward he
children. True, have known com
, fplacent old lady fold her soft hands anC
econtentedly affirm that she had Away
, done her duty by hers, and that if the,
bturned out badly she should hold her