The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-10-24
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There are two ways of training chill
dren in vogue, and a third way Of letting
them grow up without any training
whatever. The two ways are training
by precept and training by example.
The former is good in its kind, the latter
better but the best is by both COM
bined. Training by precept is, of course,
far better than no training'at all but
the reason it usually fails is that children
generally do just as mother does, or faith
er, too, for that matter. Therefore,
careless, slovenly housekeeper, and one
who gives no evidence of sense of re-
sponsibility to God or her neighbor, can
hardly expect to see her sons or her
daughters grow up into careful wise and
noble manhood and womanhood.
II a newly married woman knows her
education in these matters has been neg
lected it is her solemn duty to make up
at once for that lack of training (; so
that when she becomes the mother of
children, and because she is a wife, and
much of her husbands prosperity will
depend upon her cooperation, she shall
not make others suffer for shortcomings,
but will be able, both by precept and
example, to train up her children in the
way they should go.
On reflection, sensible, newly mar
ried womanlwill realize the Importance
of the position she has assumed, and of
its probable, or at least possible, future
solemn responsibilities, the rearing OF
young children, and the molding of their
lives temporal and spiritual. There is
hardly sadder sight than that of fam
| lily OF little children growing up without
/ ,,ov-al Or ,,aptal troininO aud onpca-
Iquently devoid of any special sense OF
duty toward God or man.
The woman who is satisfied with sim
ply giving her children good food, good
clothing and sleeping accommodation,
and has no other anxiety for her off.
spring, is scarcely good and wise
mother indeed, to use plain language
she is on but little higher plane than
the brute mother, who bestows as much
care on her young as this implies, an6
who even goes further, tor that matter
for she will most certainly instruct them
in the best methods of food getting anC
shelter and defense of their lives, taking
visible pains TO do her best in thus equip
ping them for their future battle of life
No, the good and the wise mother !:
she who, besides caring for their physi
cal needs, insures their mental and NOR
al well-being by proper training. If {
woman finds herself lacking, and hencC
personally untitled for such training
she can most assuredly teach herself
and certainly any woman should be al
apt pupil to so interested teacher az
herself If her shortcomings on self
examination prove to be carelessness
extravaganza, idleness, lack of system
untidiness, love of gossip, proneness tt
speak thoughtlessly and unkindly of hel
friends and neighbors, and TO listen tt
scandal, unmindfulness of the comforts
and interests of others, and a genera
lack of responsibility, self-study ant
self-discipline will be the remedy.
The greatest aid to bringing about {
personal reform will first be to establish
a methodical system of housekeeping
This will give leisure for thought anC
self-study, and self-study will lead t
self-training, which will gradually over
come all these failings, or any of them
by which she is afflicted. When this il
accomplished, and it may be work Of
time, and not till then, will the woman
be, in every sense of the word, a gooC
wife and fit to assume the solemn re
sponsibilities of motherhood. From &
home blessed with such mother will &c
forth wise and good men and women t
plant other blessed homes and families