The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1886-10-28
Something to Live on.

here little and there a little" /
thought another line ADD another
precept might he practical value.
1t is often by the repetition of good
thoughts upon our minds that good |
resolutions and good characters are
formed. On the contrary the con-
slant hearing of impure or profane
language leads those hearing it to
indulge in profanity and in licen
tiousness. Hearing but little that
is good and much that is bad, their
minds become the victims, the
slaves, of base and degrading
thoughts. Their mental and NOR
al food is of the lowest and most
corrupting charAeter. High and
noble purposes and ambitions, il
they had any, have had no food to
live on, hence have been starved
out. Bat food has been supplied.
The impure and profane language.
the sensual and hardened look, and
the fings at decency and virtue,
which characterize such persons,
plainly show that food has not been
lacking. Every hardened and des-
perate character in the land has
been feeding, but on what has ted
and inflamed the worst passions Of
their natures.
Parents owe much to their chill
dren, to privide even from infancy
and all through their youthful days
something useful and good for
their growing and expanding minds
to live upon. This neceSsitates on
their part the most scrupnlous care
and preparation, that they be quail
fed for SO important work. An
infant left TO cry itself to sleep in
the cradle is feeding bad train of
thought. And if such a course is
long practiced, the child will likely
grow up with snllen disposition.
The child, perhaps pert and smart
beyond its years, that IS constant
~ leased and plagued, to hear its
sharp witty answers, will likely be
in later life of snappish, shsteful
disposition. So the child, petted
and iindulged in every within and
caprice, will most certainly be a
spoiled and overbearing youth.
The child, may be hayward and
stubborn that is forever scolded,
and that receives but praises and
but few kind words, will become
sullen morose, and hateful.
Many other things might be emu
merated concerning thu care and
management of small children, but
we leave many of these for the
thought and reflection of parents
themselves. Remember that all
thoughts are food, something to
live on. The difference then in the
mental and moral growth results
from the difference in the character
Of the thoughts. How important
then, how essential, to the highest
development of both mind and
heart, that those thoughts be OF the
right character? Not only should
instructions be right, but also exam
pie. Children soon learn to imi
tate. They early learn as much
perhaps from example as from pre-
cept, in later years much more. Let
all parents look back to early youth
and reflect on what class of induen-
ces most affected them. for good,
and then try a similar course, with
all possible improvement, upon
their children. They are sowing
seed for a future harvest, which
death only preventing, will most as
suredly be reaped. 1t is true an en-
envy may come by night and SOW
tares, but there will be a harvest,
even though mixed with tares of an
enemv's sowing. Bat the worst of
all reflections will be, thst you sow
ed the tares yourselves What
more spoignant sorrow will pierce
your breasts in after life, il you see
" ur children wrecks. than the CON
seriousness that your teaching and
example poisoned them? Dire and
terrible beyond all description viii
be your feelings when conscious of
such a fact.
We once heard q very wealthy
! farmer tell how he once gloried in
coaxing young men into saloons to
begin a course of dram drinking.
He said he loved to see them have
a good time. He lived with per-
haps only three redeeming qualities,
kindness in his family, industry and
generosity to the needy suffering.
But money, liquor and licentious-
ness held powerful sway over his
heart, and effectually barred out
all the nobler feelings which have
presided there. Thanks to moth
er's better principles and teachings,
his children are all respectable citi
zens.
We said that q harvest is coming.
What shall the harvest ber' This
will depend npon many Influences,
but mainly upon the teachings, dill
igent watchfulness and example of
parents.
! i lMost farmers have to hire. at
least part of the year, one or more
hands. 1t is often difficult to pro-
cur good, moral men. Help must
be had, and it will not do to be too
particular. But there is one thing
every farmer can do, and which by
all means he ought to do, and that
is forbid the use of all profane and
impure language in the presence
and in hearing Of his children. Ev-
cry hired hand, however rough his
ways will observe this rule, il he
sees a consistent example set by
his employer, and that its obser-
vance is imperative. And he will
respect his employer the more for
its requirement. But how many
fathers in these things sets very
pernicious example? The more
shame to them, They are sowing
seed 10 yield a harvest. They are
giving thought-food for their
childrens' minds to live upon. Ev-
ery thought takes root to germi-
nate and grow, not for a day, a
month or year, but to abide for
life. How many golden thought
has taken root in a young. activer
virtuous mind, there to mature in q
glorious harvest of good and noble