The Hartford herald., 1885-10-21
NO. ~.
Over-1nduIgenee.
IRrnnEIn.n Mnnrn.in. l

There are many children whose early
lives, even from infancy, are full of
hardship and deprivstion-but all are
not affected alike by adverse eircum-
stances-because the effect of such un-
fortunate conditions are much exagger-
ated or modified by the natural dispo-
sition of the children, and still more by
the position and nature of those who
have the care Of them in their youth.
Some grow up and come into mature,
active life bitter, morose and appar-
emily finding a malicious pleasure in
forcing the young, who are 80 unfortu-
nate as TO come under their control, to
pass through the same rough and pain
ful experiences that tortured and
wrecked their own youth-well pleased
il the thorns are even sharper than
those strewn along their own child
hoods pathway. With such spirits we
have nothing to do at present.
But there is another class whose
whole life is a glory to mankind, who
grow stronger and more saint-like
with every trouble and hardship that
they are called to pass through.
"Their hearts,
Like tempered steel, bend to the blast:
Hearts which suffering only leaves
Stronger when the storm is past"
They never disturb Others by telling
their troubles or speak with bitterness
Of those who might have alleviated the
burdens Of their childhood, even il
pOwerless to remove them altogether.
Instead of mourning over former
troubles and harclships, or the heart
lessness of those who added to those
burdens, they are thankful, as life grows
brighter, and truly rejoice il an oppor-
tunity offers to return good for evil,
blessing for eursing. Or il through no
evil intent to Others, but through the
poverty and sickness of parents and
friends, their youth was cold and bar
ren, they rejoice with exceeding great
joy, If, when they arrive ct maturity,
they can shelter and protect those who
were unable to help them in their
youth.
But with abundant goodness of heart
the remembrance Of the hardship and
trials Of their childhood too often make
such spirits Over-indulgent to the young
who are under their influence and pro-
lection. There is great danger in their
anxiety to shield their musings from
anything that resembles their own
youth, that their mistaken tenderness
may weaken the characters of their
children and make them ungrateful,
self-indulgent and altogether useless.
1t is mistaken kindness for parents
to attempt to shield their children
from every duty or hardship, because
their own youth was dark and very
dreary. Many would take all care and
every duty from their children if they
could save them from all disagreeable
labor or duty, because they remember
their own early life with pain. They
forget that such sharp experiences are
often blessings in disguise-sent to
and build up the young into
all nobleness, ready for every good
word and work. This love blinds them
to the fact that by over-indulgenee
they are teaching their children to be-
come their tyrants, making them ex,
acting, troublesome and intensely dis
to all about them, robbing
them of the sweet, bright, CHEEKY spirit
that is the erowning charm of childhood
and youth.
Too often those who have been
developed and purified,
$50 as by fire." through the hardships
and sore trials of their early life, and
who know that this, which was not
then joyous, has laid the foundations of
a power in their own characters, to
and build up many who but
for their strength would have fallen by
the way. are, as age advarces, tempted
to defraud the young of that same pow
er by mistaken kindness and over
This is not true love.
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