The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1886-04-21

business but their own, believing in witches,
and ghosts, and horseshoes to keep the
devil out Of the churn,- and by goddess
life setting their children ON the verge Of
hell. The mothers of Samuel Johnson,
and Of Alfred the Great, and Of Isaac New.
ton, and of st. Augustine, and Of Richard
Cecil. and of President Edwards for the
most part, were industrious, hare. working
mothers. Ct - AVA
Now, while congratulate all Christian
mothers upon the wealth and the modern
science which may afford them all kinds Of
help, let me say that every mother ought
to be observant of her children's walk,
her children's behavior, he children's food,
her chldren's books, her children's com.
Partnerships. However much help Hannah
may have. think she ought every year,
at least, make one garment for Samuel.
The Lord have mercy on a man who 10 90
unfortunate as to have lazy mother.
q Again, Hannah stands before you as
an intelligent mother. From the way in
which she talked in this chapter, and from
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. 450rf
Oh this work Of culture in children for
this world and the next This child is
timd, and it must be reused up and
pushed out into activity. This child il
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 a frowA OF displeasure is more than
enough in another. Whipping and dark
closet do not exhaust all the rounds Of do
mestic discipline. There have been chill
dren who have grown up and gone to
glory without ever having had their ears
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 a child. If parents knew more of
electics there would not be SO many dys-
poetic stomachs and weak nerves and in
competent iivers among children. If par
ents knew more of physiology there would
not be so many curved spines, and cramped
chests, and inaamed 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 be so many children coming out
in the world with boorish proclivities. If
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 eyrie have no advan-
tage over the eaglets Of thousand years
ago; the kids have no superior way of
climbing up the rocks than the old goats
taught hundreds of years ago; the whelps
know no more now than did the whelps of
ages ago-they are taught no more by the
lions of the desert; but it is q shame that
in this day, when there are so many op-
portunities of improving ourselves in the
best manner of cultivating children, that
so often there is no more Advancement in
this respect than there has been among
the kids and the eaglets and the whelps.
8. Again Hannah stands before you as
Christian mother. From her prayers and
from the way she consecrated her boy to
God, know that she was good. A mother
may have the finest culture. the most bril-
liant surroundings; but she isnot fit for her
duties unless she be a Christian mother
There may be well-read libraries in the
house; and exquisite music in the parlor;
and the canvas Of the best artists adorn.
ing the walls; and the wardrobe be
crowded with tasteful apparel; and the
children be wonderful for their attain
ments, and make the house ring with
laughter and innocent mirth, but there IL
something woeful looking in that house,
IL It be not also the residence of a Chris
tian mother.
l bless God that there are not many
praverless mediterranean many Of them.
The weight of responsibility is so great
that they feel the need Of q Divine
hand to help. and Divine voice TO COM
fort. and Divine heart to sympathize.
Thousands Of mothers have been led into
the kingdom OF God by the hands Of their
little children. There were hundreds Of
mothers who would not have been Chris
tians had 1t not been for the prattle OF
their little ones. Standing some day in
the nursery they bethought themsel YES,
''This child God was given me to raise
for eternity. What is my influence upon
it? Not being Christian myself. how
can ever expect him to become Chris.
tiani Lord, help mel"
Are there anxious mothers who know
nothing of the infinite help of religion?
Then I commend them to Hannah, the
pious mother of;Samuel. Do not think il
is absolutely impossible that your children
come up ubiquitous. Out Of just such fair
brows, and bright eyes. and soft hands,
and innocent hearts. crime gets it's victims
-extirpating purity from the heart. and
rubbing out the smoothness from the brow,
and quenching the luster of the eve. and
shriveling up, and poisoning. and pntrify.
ing, and scathing. ana scalding. and blast
ing. and burning with shame and woe.
Every child is a bundle of tremendous
possibilities: and whether that child shall
come forth to life. its heart attuned to the
eternal harmonies, and after a life
Of usefulness on earth go to life
of Joy in Heaven. or whether across II
shall jar eternal discords, and after a life
of wrong doing on earth it shall 60 to a
home of impenetrshle 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, crowding al