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

other members OF the family, the
leering look he casts at mother and
and sisters, thus avoiding the frank
confidential gaze that so we'll bef,
the noble brow of innocent childhood.
Do not all bad habits creep upon our
children with silent, stealthy tread?
Have you never found the concealed
cigar when il was impossible for any
reason further than sit was given me. "
and when there is an unusual amount
of the fumes Of smoke how nicely he
can account for it by informing you
tina. every one was smoking at the
office. One mother "expects her sons
will smoke there are so many men Of
influence 10 set the example," II she
expects it, quite likely they will ii
there is no restraint and they are not
taught to resist. But does she expect
they will triple, does she expect they
will piifer. because SO Tany are set
ting the example? Que bad habit
will surely follow another unless
there is sound judgmen, for fourda
ton and this qualification it is ex-
pected the parents will possess for
their children.
This seems 10 be great day for
patent tights and inventions yet we
never near of n pipe or cigar that
will consume its own smoke, instead
of outing it about peoples faces; we
find it in all public places, where our
daughters have just as good a right
as our sons, the church vestibulc and
postoffice not excepted; we find it in
great quantities in all our groceries;
our dry goods stores are not free
from its vile fumes, the mercha is
themselves are not polite enough to
do their smoking in the yard at the
rear of the store.
A father looks upon his daughter
with fond pride as she prepares for
walk; does his counienance change
as he sits watching the smoke curl so
gracefully above the door and hears
that daughter mu,ter as she passes
her mother in the hall, 81 say ma it
is just awful the way my new wrap is
sented with that horrid smoke"
Isn't there some way by which it
might be made a little less disagree
able? Couldn't it be 60, down little
finer so that the nicotine could be
taken in their coffee and the power
of bad example be much less?
We cannot avoid the sowing Of
seeds Of sin in the path OF the young /,
but we can watch closely and root it
out at its first approach lest it get a |
firm hold on both mind and body and |
utilize the strength that should be
given to that which is lovely in child
hood.
Let us teach our sons TO be virtu-
Gus as We teach our daughters to be
pure. Let US gain their confidence |
and prize it as one of our choicest |
treasures, then when that son is
tempted what chance that mother
will have 10 find out his weak nature,
and counsel and strengthen him to
battle with the world and it's vain
follies. And here is our strongest
hold on our boys. When a young
man can 60 TO his mother with sim
plicity and trust, knowing she will
do all in he. power to soothe those
woes which to him seem so great,
that boy is not far on the wrong road;
and now will he begin TO realize that
God has given his parents a power
not conferred on angel or archangel
that Of training boy for time and
eternity.
1t is from this class we find noble
manhood developed, and those who
hold the weaker sex in high esteem;
from this class we find the dutiful
sons, the loving brothers, and loyal
husbands. Let US teach him to love
the beautiful, the pure, the clouds
with their silver lining, the flowers
with their faint perfumes, all this will
reflect in his youthful nature, and in
after years show itself in taste and
refinement.
The song with which we sang him
to sleep, and the prayer we taught
him at our knee will echo back to
memory, when he shall lie down so
faint and weary that all else is for
gotten.
We are charged with mission,
let us be faithful to our trust and
leave no duty undone, Then we
will have learned the force of the
words of an English author and can
teach them by example and precept:
"To thysclf prove true;
Aud then IL shall follows a.
Surely as the day, the nigh;
Thou canst prove false to no man."
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