The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1888-02-17

SoS &Sy -
Paper read by Mrs. /. N. Alexander al
the Farmers Instituted
MR.. PRESIDENT, GENTLEMRN AMI
LADIES:
AS member of the Burton Farm
er's Club when told to gather ideas
together in shape to be read, we do
so and are allowed no excuses.
Our boys, and few words in
regard tn training is no new theme,
but one on which much has been SAID
and volumes written, and yet has
never been exhausted, and cannot be
as long as boys exist, and stand be-
fore us in such diving light" that we
ever find something brought be-
fore our minds worthy eur most
earnest attention, no matter how oft
repeated.
Our boys really seem to be of more
Importance at the present time than
anything else in nature, for are they
not "Thc Coming Mann and is it
not of the greatest importance that
they are worthy the positions they
will soon be called to fill? But few
years will pass ere they will be leaders
Of State and Nation, yet all this will
dwindle into insigniAcance when
compared with the bic manhood of
- virtuous lovaI citizen.
There are few who find themselves
strong enough to Withstand the
temptations that strew the paths of
our rulers.
There seems to be no period in the
life Of our boys when they can be
considered apart from their parents;
so it becomes necessary for US to ex.
anime ourselves and discover il pos
sible any point in our own character
We would not have our sons initiate.
Is not the power OF example far more
potent for good than many precepts?
The child in its mother arms will try
TO initiate when as yet it's young
mind cannot grasp the ideas conveyed
by word. How doubly guarded then
should we he in every act and ex
preston; the smile, the frown, the
tone Of voice, all have their influence
on the young mind. We call child
a mimic aud what is it but the power
of example working on a childish
naturef The Bible says, "Train up
child in the way IN which he should
so, and when he is old he will not
depart from it,"
There seem to be period between
the child and the boy when he is old,
q period'when he gets terribly mixed |
10 the ways he should not go: and |
this | infer is the fault or mistakes of
the parents. The father may err on |
one side, the mothers on the other;
one may think the child ga leetle too |
smart" and wants curbing little, the
other thinks he is smart enough to |
manage for himself if only allowed |
his own way and not be interfered
with; so the first snare is laid, and |
young feet become tangled IN the
way they should no, go at the very
outset. Let us not 60 to the extremes
neither be too lenient or too severe;
there is no medium which seems for |
better and has more influence for
good Yet proper family govern
ment Is very important. 1t has been
said that anarchy and missrule in the |
domestic circle, means anarchy and |
missrulc in the State. Let us avoid !
al this discard by bringing our sons
under proper restrictions and subjec-
ton; let them be governed that they |
may know how to govern.
Again Scripture says, "Chasten thy
son while there is hope, and let not
thy soul spare for his crying"
Thus we quite naturally infer
there are some sons who need chas-
tening and if deserved and we fail to
TO our duty do we not become the
erring one instead of the child?
Childish disobedience soon developes
into lawlessness, petulance and rage
into a tempest, and if you would ruin
a child crafty his every whim and we
need not wait long to see him fast on
the downward road. The parents
who allow child to grow up without
learning the duty of obedience and
submission. prepare a bitter cup for
their own lips and sure destruction
for their sens. Has not God given
US in each child hint as to how he
should be trained
II the strong rein in firm grasp
ire needed to govern and hold in
check an impetuous nature, don't try
70 lead him by your wishes and smiles
as you do that hexile natures, lest in
alter years when he has lost all self
aspect and none remains for those
Who held him dear, he finds himself
1oatiag on in sin and ruin,and casting
Tpon lis a look Of bitterreproach says
father you did it, mother you did il,
,ou laughed at my follies and lead
ne with silken reins when ! would be,
md when would not. Won let me or