The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1886-04-08

the way she managed this boy, you know
she was intelligent. There are no persons
in community who need to be so wise
and well informed as mothers.
Obi this work Of culture in children for
this world and the next. This child is
timid, and it must be reused up and
pushed out into activity. This child is
forward, and he must be held back and
tanned down into modesty and politeness.
Rewards for one; punishment for another.
That which will make George will ruin
John. The rod is necessary in one case,
while frown Of displcasure is more than
enough in another. Whipping and dark
closet do not exhaust all the rounds of do
nestle discipline. There have been chill
dren who have grown up and gone to
glory without ever having had their cars
boxed.
Oh! how much care and intelligence are
necessary in the rearing of children! But
in this day, when there are so many books
on the subject, no parent is excusable in
being ignorant OF the best mode OF bring
ing up child. If parents knew more of
electics there would not lie so many dys-
poetic stomachs and weak nerves and in
competent lvers among children. If par
ents knew more of physiology there would
not be so many curved spines, and cramped
chests, and in1amed throats, and diseased
lungs as there are among children. If
parents knew more of art, and were in
sympathy with all that is beautiful, there
would not he so many children coming out
in the world with boorish proclivities. II
parents knew more of Christ, and prac-
ticed more OF his religion, there would not
be so many little feet already starting on
the wrong road, and all around us voices
of riot and blasphemy would not come up
with such ecstasy Of Internal triumph.
The eaglets in the eyre have no advan-
tage over the eaglets of u thousand years
ago; the kids have no superior way of
climbing up the rocks than the old goats
taught hundreds of wears ago: the whclps
know no more now than did the Wholps Of
ages ago-they are taught no more by the
lions OF the desert; but it is a shame that
in this day, when there are so many OPP
portunities of improyin, ourselves in the
best manner of cuitivatins children that
so often there is no more advancement in
this respect than there has been among
the kids and the ea gletS and the whelps.
3. Again Hannah stands b-fore yOu asa
Christian mother. From her prayers and
from the way she consecrated her boy to
God, know that she was guou. \ mother
may have the finest culture, the most bril-
liant surroundings: but she il not iii for her
duties unless she be n Christian mother.
There may be well-real libraries in the
house; and exquisite Music in JhC parlor;
and the canvas of the best artists adorn-
ing the walls; aud the wardrobe be
crowded with tasteful apparel; and the
children be wonderful for their attain
mlnts, and make the house ring with
laughter and innocent mirtn. but there is
something woeiul-lookins il mat house,
if it he not also the residence Ok a Chris
tian mother.
| bless God that there are not many
pray erless nothers-noa usauy of them.
The weight OF responsibility is SO great
that they feel the need OF II Divine
hand to help, ana Divine voice TO COM
fort, anu Divine heart " sympathi2e.
Thousands OF mothers nave been led into
the kingdom OF Col by the h.nls of their
little children. There were hundred of
mothers WHO would NOT have been Chris
tiaHs had it not Eeen for .he prattle of
their little ones. Standing some day in
the nursery they hsthJuGit themselves,
"This child God was given me to raise
for eternity. What is my influence upon
it, Not being a Christian my self, how
can l ever expect him to become a Chris
tian? Lord, help me-"
Are there anxious mothers who know
nothing OF the infinite help of religion?
Then | commend them to Hannah, the
pious mother or Samuel. DO not think it
is absolutely impossible that your children
come mp injurious. Out Of just such fair
brOwS, and bright eyes. and soft hands,
and innocent hearts. crime GETS lis victims
-extirpating purity from the heart, and
rubbing out the S!nOCthncss from the brow,
and quenchinS tine lurter of the eye, and
shriveling up, and poisoning, and purify
ing, and scuthin9, and acn'ding, and blast
ing, and burning with shame aud woe.
Every child is bundle of tremendous
possibilities; and whether that Child shall
come forth to life, its heart atlunel to the
eternal harmones, and after a life
OF usefulness on earth go to a life
of joy in Heaven, or whether across it
shall jar eternal discorls, and after a life
of wrong doing Oh earth it shall go to
home of impenetrable darkness and an
abyss Of Unreasonable plunge, is being
decided by nursery Song and sabbath les
son, and evening prayer, and walk, and
ride, and look, and frOwn and smile. Oh
how many children in glory, crowdng all
the battlements, and lifting a million
voiced hosaunC, brought to God through
Christian parentage!
One hundred and twenty clergvmen
were together, and they were telling their
experience and their ancestry; and of the
800 clergymen, how many of them, do you
suppose, assigned as the means of their
conversion the influence of a Christian
mother! One hundred out of the 120!
Phillip Doddridge was brought to God by
the Scripture lesson on the Dutch tiles of
a chimney fire place. The mother thinks
she is only rocking a child. hut at the same
time she may be rocking the fate of ma
tons, rocking the glories of Heaven. The
same maternal power that may lift the
child up may press child down.
daughter came to worldly mother
and said she was anxious about her sins,
and she had been praying all night. fhe
mother said: "Oh, stop praying: | don't
believe in praying. Get over all these re-
h6iouo Iolloilo anu VIII give yOu II uTeSS
that will cost $500, and you may wear it
next week to that party" The daughter
took the dress, and she moved in the gay
circles, and the gayest of the gay, that
night; and, sure enough, all religious i'm
pressions were gone, and she stopped
praying. A few months after she came to
die, and in her closing moments said:
"Mother, wish you would bring me that
dress that cost $500" The mother thought
it very strange request, but she brought
it to please the dying child. Now" said
the daughter. .mothar. hang that dress ON