The Osceola times., 1885-02-14
Our Duty.

Webster thus defines tn, word
"duty": "That which is due from
one person to another; that which
is owing-especially that which a
person is bound by, any natural,
moral or legal obligation to do, or
refrain from, the relation or obliging
force of that which is morally right"
From the definition we discover
that duty is two-foll and IN a
double sense. 1t is principle of
life growing out of our natural re-
lations, and it is rule of conduct
growing out of our moral relations.
In our natural relation the first duty
is that of flal obedicncc. Tho
child must obey its parents, and ac-
ccrding to human and divine law, it
is the duty of parents To require and
enforce obedience. Children cannot
too early be taught the necessity of
obedience, and that it is their duty
to submit to the parental will. Here
the foundation of human character
is to be laid, and children taught to
live and act from principle. a fail
use on the part Of parents to enforce
obedience and govern their children
SO as to make them recognize and
submit to divine authority is ruin
GUS in every sense. 1t is this fall
ure Of parents that is filling our
country with lawlessness and crime.
A spoiled child is disgrace to any
parents, and will, nine cases out of
ten, prove curse to society. 4
well trained, well taught aud well
disciplined child, will be u blessing
forever. Family government must
neither be tyranical or despotic, nor
should it be arbitrary; but mild as
love and as firm as truth. There
must be no wavering or failure to
elicit respect while you enforce
obedience. Maintain the dignity of
your position as heads of the family.
Make your children fear you, so as
not to offend, and to love you too
well to grieve you. DO not permit
undue familiarity, but seek to make
your children easy in your company
and elicit their confidence. BE GER
tain to impress them that God has
instituted these relationships, and
He intends for children to obey their
parents. 1t is their duty and they
cannot be happy unless they do their
duty. These lessons at home will
snve trouble abroad. The child
generally goes from the chamber to
the school room, and every teacher
in this broad land will testify that
well trained children at home make
their best scholars, ard that it is
spoiled children who give them
trouble and create disturbance in
schools, and they are the same boys
who make rows in Colleges and
divide Universities. 1t is shame
to any parent to raise a drunken,
worthless boy, and curse society
either with a thriftIess, worthless
tramp, or keen educated villain to
prey upon its interests. Oar homes
are becoming deficient and we see
the effect. Boys are men at six'
teen, and girls young ladies' al
twelve. Your children clubs, and
the young folks dances are both to.
gether furnishing SILLY girls for wive.
and mothers, and another race tc
ill jails, crowd penitentiarics ant
erect gallows. Failure at home t,
! teach duty and enforce law, and oul
country is being over run with thes,
fast girls and worthless boys. it il
, time to call halt. We hear thi.
: called an age of inidelity. This Il
! true. but il is an iniidelity to ohii
cation and trust This world wa
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