Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1885-11-11
Training of ChiidfA

Whatever may be the disposition of
q man to severity, yet the fond endear-
ments, Weddings, and caresses OF his
children, whom he considers as part of
himself, will eve prevent him from
acting the part of q t~yrant, unless he
has a soul callous to all feeling. and
deaf to all the calls of humanity. | be-
lieve it will be found upon inquiry that
one-half of the errors which children
commit, and our daughters III particu.
lar, owe their existence to the folly and
ambition of their parents, who. under
the ambitious idea that their children
should dress as we'll as their neigh
bors'. feather them up in all the empty
parade of of fashion, and thereby SOW
IN their little hearts those seeds of
pride, which spring up all the rest of
thelr lives and etiectually check all the
beniticent shoots of reason. To know
how properly to deny or comply with
the requests of a child seems to be one
the incest and most essential points of
a parent to deny him what is necessary
and suitable to his own constitution
and circumstances is cruel and unjust;
to grant him more is madness and folly.
But here will arise the question. Who
is to be the Judge of what is necessary,
the parent or the child? / fear the
child too often determines that point,
and the parent gives up what he should
invariably support and maintain-his
own opinion. When once, through our
weakness and affection for our children,
We thus suffer them to triumph over
Us, we then take q lasting farewell of
all order and subordlnation, and we
must not complain should they then
oppose us IN every step we take, de-
spite Il authority, look upon us with
indifference and contempt, and at last
accuse us of being silly dotards and
the authors OF their ruin. l am aware
that this kind of doctrine will draw a
trown on many a pretty face, but as l
write not to tiatter the folly of any one,
nor to insult the empire Of beauty, l
shall address a few words to the little
female painting hearts. Remember, my
little ones, that there is nothing truly
valuable in this life but virtue, and
that the parade and glare of dress is
more its enemy than its friend. Though
modesty peculiar and graceful to your
sex will not permit you to own, yet GER
tainlv true it is that your fondness for
dress yves its origin to the wish of
procuring yourselves rich and opulent
husbands. Your gaudy dress may, in
deed, entrap the fool or the coxcomb;
but what girl of sense would wish to
make a husband of either? The sensi-
bic man will not be directed in the
choice of a wife by her lawns, her silks.
or her satins, but by the internal per-
fect:ons of her mind. He will consider
how far she is capable OF giving up tn
gayities and pleasures of life to the
painful task of managing her family.
He will consider that as she will partake
with him of all his pleasures and com
forts, so she must be Of a mind that
will soothe amidst the cares, troubles,
and disappointments of this life, and
think n o home like her own, nor no
man like her husband. Happy must
be such a union, equally miserable the
reverse. My little daughters of Eve,
however morose or a~ntiquated you may
consider these reflections at present,
be assured the day will come when you
will sensibly feel the truth of them,
when you will with q sigh acknowledge
how true was that long since told by
"A Tender Parent. "-Deboit Free
Press.