Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-02-02
soMEraIHo FoR THE LADIES.
BREAKING PROMISES.

DhEAhlN1 EpAiske.
Ii is sign of much promise when the
editor Of leading paper like the keune-
bee Journal calls the atten ion of the pub
lie in general and of mothers in particular
to the question of moral culture for little
children. The keeping of promises is one
of the most important of moral preespts.
and We hope 10 hear the voices of many
mothers in answer TO the kind invitation
There are three duties which all parents
expect from chill iren. love, respect. and
obedience. Now, if the child i given US
with neither of these three attributes it
deyolve, upon the parents to implant, not
the attributes themselves, bul that influ-
ence which shall develop these graees in
the least time. ami in their most perfect
form. Regarding the physical wei
fare of the little child, quAnti-
ties of rules have been laid down
but where il the philosopher who will tell
the mother how to insure the future NOR
atty of her children. Thi. devolves al
most entirely upon her, and il she be- in-
experienced. however true her endeavor,
may be. she i more than liable to fail in
the result Of her training. She is the one
who l. TO make the first impression on the
waking mind. "a pure and white a. l. the
marble tablet, aud alas quite a. blank.
Were it possible for Us To look from day
to day upon the impressions which We are
giving our little ones. few of u would
wonder in after years, to iiud that the
rel ect which we hoped they would
cherish for Us, was almost entirely want
ing. Ii is useless tc bar the stable door
after the ,teed i, stolen. so il j. better
far to practice strict integrity towards our
children from the very first, rather than
one false Impression be given. Little
white lies are very convenient % the ma
jOrity. If they have become a necessity
To you. practice them elseN here than be-
fore your children. Spare bahy'- mind
from crooked mark in the beginning.
Don't tell her that il she will be a good
baby, that mamma will take her out this
afternoon. because even if You intend to
fulfill your promise many things may oc-
eur to prevent YOUR doing 50, and your
child may receive false impression OF it,
mother : truthfulness. Teach her to be
good because it is right to be good. but
don't make promises thar are liable to be
broken. Another habit which brings it,
own punishment to both mother and
child is that of depriving it of some
coveted toy, for good reasons of course,
but when the pretty eyes are dinmed
with tear-, when the sweet lips qniver,
and the little breast heave-. mamma re-
Tents and back goes the playthings and ba-
by scores another victory. 1t - only
al other way of breaking a promise.
mute promise to be sure but the impress
sion of mammals weakness i quite a. last
ing. Who has not seen baby taught the
cunning habit of pulling hair when the
tiny fingers were so weak that the action
was little more than a cares But how
will il he mnnf Ia. h.p ba,,
to punish the dear dimped baby hands
and in sadness bewail the bad temper
which her little one has betraye on being
deprived of her favorite amusement
Another false impression has been re
ceived. This time of mothers injustice.
! Many mothers laugh at the idea of her
child being educated mentally or morally
before ii eau talk. But | maintain that
some OF the very worst moral lessons NAV
be imbibed before baby can lisp single
word.
The moral development of children
depends upon the kind of instruction which
they received just as much as bodily de-
velopment depends upon the ply steal
culture or mental development on mental
culture. just across the street from my
window lives pair of baby girls the pet
and pride Of loving parents and the iov
of an old mel yhbor's heart. too. who has
not been so fortunate as the people over
the way. Scarcely day passes that do
not see two golden heads with eve.
of blue peeping through the
fence that holds them, little
prisoners. love their dainty ways and
love to feast my eyes upon their bonny
beauty, but oh. their little tongues
| Froude would call their stories truths of
their imaginations." Respectable. we'll
TODD people, no faults, LOVING and happy
No sooner would they do aught to iniure
the future of their children than would
you or |, bu. inexperienced, sadly mex
perienced,
Had it not been for these children per-
haps should not have penued this letter
But it may help some good mother TO one
deeper thought, and give her good cour-
~ ami patience TO set a high standard
for the morality of her children.
Always remembering That he who
aims star, shoots higher far than he who
aims "A tree.