The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-12-01
Don't Let the Children Whine!

A whining, fault-finding person, who
can love ? Yet how often we meet
them! We know them by the vinegar
ish look of their faces before they open
their mouths-and that is usually soon
enough, for they have to tell us that the
cars are dusty and the omnibus iolts.
the lecture-room is i'll ventilated the
streets are muddy and the sidewalks
are slippery, the groceries bad and the
dry goods shoddy. This class of per-
sons never praises unreservedly. In
their eyes there is some fault in the
most perfect production of art and ma
ture, and it would be contrary to their
duty and inclination to overlook the
flaw and notice the beauty. Their at
tention is called to a gorgeous lilly and
a modest pansy; the first fades too
quickly, the last grows too low to be
worth cultivation. They are presented
with = book they have long wanted.
and the binding is too easily soiled. or
if expensive. they bemoan their friend $
extravaganza, and wish that two books
with cheap binding had been given
them instead. The minister preached
most excellent, soul-inspiring sermons;
but they inform us with an ominous
shake of the head that his father died
a drunKard!
There is nothing upon earth that will
work transformation in such persons
unless it is divine grace, and even that
sometimes failS-not that it lacks
power to sweeten the sOureSt temper,
but because it seems impossible for
their contracted natures to take in sufli :
Gent quantities of the quoting ele-
ment to change into praise their fault
hnding propensity.
As all things fail to reform a chronic
grumbler, is it not best to take the dis
ease in its infancy and prevent its as
suming chronic form? How natural
1t is for child to whine over its play
things, and complain of the 'old
things" when their chair horses get I'M
harnessed and their block houses tum-
bic down! How easy and natural is
the growth from this to the youth and
maiden who grumble that their home
comforts are not luXuries, and whine
because they are under authority At
this stage the parents notice the faults,
but hesitate to correct, fearing to lose
the little love their children seem to en-
terrain for them.
Then when the young folks are grown
and take the responsibilities of life, how
natural that the mother should con-
Stantly assume n whining tone to her
husband and children! And the father.
who always grumbled at his own mother
and father, how easy it is for him to
make his home hot-bed of strife. He
will do it, too, unless his wife possesses
the rare tact of speaking pleasant when
he scolds, and by constant example and
precept teaches her children to do the
same.
The parents of to-day who allow their
children to indulge in this fault, argue
that it is natural trait with children,
and they will outgrow it in time. But
1t is one Of natures laws to bring forth
plants according to the seed that is
sown; if weeds are not uprooted. then
remain UeedS, and do not develop into
radishes or corn. Then how much
faster the weeds grow, and how easy it
is Tor them to overtop and hide the
radishes! The corn, naturally growing
taller, shows its head above theirs. But
what contrast there is in the harvest
OF old age between patch of unculti-
waited, unweeded corn, and another
piece on the same soil which has re-
ceived proper care! Therefore, let no
one think that faults will grow into
virtues, but during infancy and child
mood give care to the little hearts and
lives, that in their old age the parents
may receive grateful thanks instead OF
fault-hnding whines, and when their
harvest is garnered, there may be no
dares to Destroy Country Gentleman.