The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1888-08-02

are forced to stay and not to 1--we. II
The boy longs Tor the time when ne !;
can cali himself free, go out from what l
seemed almost a prison house, and +,
enjoy the unbounded pleasures that
await him in the arena of life. A sad
mistake indeed, and when the re-
straints of home are not felt by the
young man who boasts that he IS free,
too often the case, whatever home
training he may have had is discarded as
being a part of that life he longed TO
leave and the influence of home IS lost.
There is something radically wrong,
and tine question at once presents ITSELF
"what is it and how must it be cor
rected ?" Is love the law of all Is
that home as near 'slike heaven as
the father and mother can make 1t /!
Home should be the most attra ciive
place on earth. The we'll arranged
grove that shades the beautiful lawn,
the garden filled with the choicest
flowers, the dwelling planned with
architectural skill, the rooms appro
priately furnished with whatever IS es-
sential to beauty and comfort, the
table laden with plenty suited to the
choicest taste, the library filled with
select works of the best authors; may
all be supplied, and should be as far as
means will permit but even these Will
lose their attraction if love is not the
law of all-if gentleness and patience
dwell not there; while the cabin of the
peasant may shelter home Kings. and
Queens might envy, from which may
spring another Garfield or Lincoln.
Every one cannot supply all the
conveniences of home, every one can
not give their children the advantages
Of wealth and high intellectual culture,
but every one can supply that lcve and
heart training that sheds the light of
happiness in the cabin home as well as
the millionaire's palace. You may not
be able to shield their bodies from the
chilling blast cf winter, with comfort
able clothing-you may not be able to
procure sufficient food for their bodies,
but He who gave you life will hold you
responsible ifyou neglect to- give those
entrusted to your care that food cs-
sential to spiritual growth.
The subjects of home training are
children. While the minds are young
and tender, susceptible of the slightest
impression, and while form is given TO
the character which controls the after
life of the man, the child is under the
influence of home. Well has it been
slfd, ''The child is father to the man, F"
and the importance of the training
that forms the youth, and shapes the
whole after life Of man, cannot be
overestimated. The earliest impress
sions last the longest, SO the impress
sions first made on the young mind
will be manifested in after life, either
in a good or bad character. 1t is
not natural for children to distrust or
deceive others. Implicit confidence
is placed in everything they hear; they
| believe everything you tell them but,
sad to say, they are taught to dlstrust
and deceive BY the deception of those
around them. Could they see no de-
ception in others they would never
know how to misrepresent. How
careful then should be the instructors
of the young MUD that no germ OF
EVIL be planted there.
Home is the greatest school, the
most important institution of learning
found on earth. 1t is said that the
child learns more during the first six
years, than is learned all the balance
, of its life. If that be true how much
, for good could be taught during the
twenty years ofhome instruction! The
saving of the Wise Man, " Train up a
child in the way he should 60 and when
he grows old he will not depart from
it," is as true to-day as it was two
= thousand years ago. The false i'm
preston that children must be left to
themselves, must first SOW their "wllc
2 OATS is contrary to the laws of nature
as well as the Bible. When you plant
e your corn must you first let the weed:
Y and briers grow around it for awhile
5 SO that it will make better corn3 /
: The tender plant cannot thrive among
t briers and weeds, neither can the tende
: mind develop into true manliness
left out in the cold world of sin. Thi
r is the doctrine OF the Bible and th'
Y teaching of nature. The natural Law
h holds true in the spiritual world a
n well as the material.
t History furnishes many examples o
e the effect of home culture. The stor,
e OF Washington, "the greatest of goot
: men and best OF great men," is famil
b lar to every American youth Th
training of his christian mother fitted
), him for the trials of the Revolution
Il and gave to the world the character o
c a great woman reflected in the person
n of her son.
e Would that type of Martha Wash
If ington adorned every American hons
: to-day, and then We would have NJ
e fear for the future welfare Of our coun
try.
n Was it the unusual advantages .
c the Kings court or Egyptian love &C
|. quired at the highest universities tha
o fitted Moses for his mission, that caus
: ed him to reject the honor OF king
r son that he might suffer affection wit
e his own people? No, it was the earl
training OF his own godly mother tha
r made him Withstand the temptation
!? Of Pharaoh's court