The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1884-02-16
Don't Let the Children whinel

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 jolts,
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 uureservedly. 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
haw and notice the beauty. Their at
tention Is called to . gorgeous lilly and
. 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
Il expensive, they bemoan their friends
oxtrnvagance. and wish that two books
with chesp 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
: drunkardi
There Is nothing upon earth that will
work . transformation in such persons
unless il il 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 suffi-
Gent quantities of the quieting ele-
ment to change into praise their fault
finding propensity.
As all things fail to reform a chronic
grumbler, is II not best to take the dis
ease in its infancy and prevent its as
summing chronic formP How natural
it is for child to whine over its play
things. and complain of the s.old
things" when their chair horses get un-
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 Injuries. 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 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
viii 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
It is one of natures laws to bring forth
plants according to the seed that is
sown; if weeds are not uprooted. they
remain sceeds, and do not develop into
radishes or corn. Then how much
faster the weeds grow, and how easy it
is for them to overtop and hide the
rsRlishesi The corn, naturally growing
taller, shows its head above theirs. But
what 9 contrast there is in the harvest
of old age between patch of unculti-
waited, uuweeded corn, and another
piece on the same soil which has re-
ceived proper care! Therefore, let no
one think that faults viii grow into
virtues, but during infancy and child
hood give care to the little hearts and
lives, that in their old age the parents
may receive grateful thanks instead of
fault-fnding whines, and when their
harvest is garnered. there may be no
tsrss to destroy. Country Gentlemon.