The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-03-31
CHILDREN AND MONEY.


branches of education but this; yet from
earliest childhood they should be taught
to value money, not only as a power to
be duly respected, but that it's accumula-
ton is positive duty, in order not only
to provide for old age but as one of the
great motive powers of advancing civil
ization.
Some may say they do not care for
money, yet as a wise woman said: ooh
no, they do not care for money, but they
want very badly what money will bring"
I know of several families who, with the
means of starting we'll in life, with intel
ligence, and advantageous surroundings
are now drifting into absolute poverty
for want of this early training. In one
instance old age is haraesed and weighed
down by the aspect of the "wolf at the
door," which with an early training of
the fine talents possessed, would have
kept him forever at bay.
In another, parents in their old age
were obliged to leave a lovely country
home and went to join the struggling
hundreds in a neighboring city with a
half dozen children as unframed as
themselves. Yet training in the saving
and expenditure of money would have
kept them by industry comfortable and
thrifty. The person occupying the farm
previous to this family supported quite
large family and made enough money
besides to buy another farm.
AS an instance of what can be done
we will draw from the experience of an
other family. While very small the
mother taught her children to count by
using articles about the home, such as
table and chair legs, windows, doors and
so CD. By this means they very soon
learned the rudiments of arithmetic. As
soon as possible they we're sent on errands,
and to market and taught 20 look sharp
after the value received for the money,
and to be exact in counting the change,
80 as to have justice for both parties, and
if anything was wrong they were sent
to rectify it, and were made to take the re-
sponsibility They also had tasks about the
house, and understood that they were to
attend to them without their attention be-
ing called to these duties. They we're kept
busy and formed habits of industry, and
grew up to be excellent business men
and at an early age had the offer OF sew
eral advantageous situations.
Two boys of the same family were each
given child's bank of metal and an &C.
count book. In their own hand writing
they entered in the book all the sums of
money they received as gifts, or which
they earned by extra work, etc. The
money received was divided into three
parts, put into several receptacles and
lodged in the bank. One portion was to
be saved, the next reserved for gifts or
charity, and the last they we're to expend
as they pleased, with the exception of
restriction as to candy and cakes. Both
pleasure in some atural taste for miner
ology, stamp collecting, etc. Such tastes
are strong protection to boys, and they
gain valuable knowledge with the habit
of research. Parents should show re-
spect for such occupations, and the con-
tinued effort required to follow them
thoroughly, which should be insisted
upon as matter of education, and as
forming property in the form of valuable
knowledge, that always has it's use if
only in elevsting the taste.
In another case young lady teacher,
whose father being one of the enlighten-
ed kind, taught his daughter how to
transact various kinds of business, how
to value and purchase property. etc, be-
came SO proficient i'll all such matters
that in the savings of some years she at
different times made advantageous pur-
chases of small properties, the rents OF
which would have supported her had her
health or powers failed, as they did in
after years through deafness. How much
more real love of his children had such a
father than one who says: "Oh let them
enjoy themselves while they are young"
and the sends them forth totally unfit for
the contests of life and labor.-Presbyte-
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