The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-06-03
THE HOWARD LITERARY.
PUNCTUALiTY.
Mary p. Emerson Writes Upon . Subject
that should Interest Al

other words, youth fathers, or governs, |
our mature years hence the Importance |
of early impressing upon the child's mind |
habits of promptness and punctuality.
"Habit." saws Horace Nam, sis cable; |
we weave a web of it each day and at last |
we cannot break it." This is especially
time in our early years, when our minds
are most easily impressed with the influ-
ence of our surroundings. We are, at all
times, greatly influenced by those with
whom we associate, and never more go
than when as child We look to our
parents for guidance. How imperative
then becomes the duty, to those who have
the care of children of teaching them the
importance of deciding promptly the right
mode OF action, and as diligently setting
to work to accomplish the desired end.
"A little neglect" says Franklin, may
breed great mischief" Small duties put
off until tomorrow. cause losses and
failures that might never have occurred.
A little neglect from the managers and
the bank is broken. By its failure, many
are plunged into financial ruin from the
consequence of which, some become des-
titute and others swell the list Of suicides
and defaulters.
How often we see persons who are con-
tinually planning for great results in the
future, building up the expectations OF
their friends with the prospect OF desired
Rchievments, only to end in disappoint'
ment They are always getting ready
but never accomplishing anything. The
most silent forces are the most powerful,
the most potent minds the least Preten-
tious. the greatest and most noble deeds
the most silent and unostentatious. why
then can we not learn that our most
certain road to success lies in our courage,
perseverance, and promptness OF action.
What better lesson can parents teach
their children than that of being punctual
in all their dealings and intoxicating into
their minds the necessity for labor and
self-support? He can have little hope OF
his sons ever becoming great or useful
man. who does not, in the child's early
wears, teach him that labor is honorable
and necessary to every boy who would
make a successful man. Teach him to
fulfil every promise to the letter, teach
him that a promise Is a sacred thing as
binding as an oath which must never be
broken and above all else, watch him
that the noblest life work is that of alevi-
ating the sorrows and mitigating, 20 Tar
az possible, the Eisfortunes of fellow
mortal.
Every effort of self-support, in whatever
field of labor, is meritoriOus. every desire
to shrink from it, to be condemned L
have sometimes noticed in rich men
children the desire 10 substitute for the
noble virtues the advantage OF wealth and
pOsitiOn. We can do our children no
greater wrong than by allowing such
thoughts 10 take root in the youthful
mind, and yet it is OF very frequent occur
renee that children are led to do so by the
examples of their predecessors. When we
endeavOr to substitute talent, position or
ancestry for the desire 10 accomplish soma
bioh and noble mission in life, we are max
ing a mistake. TO be true man one mus
cultivate those inner virtues, truth, In
dustry and an upright bearing before the
world
sneak from experience when 1 affirm
that the early training OF child can never
be entirely overcome. Much as are TO b'
desired all the good things OF this life, al
the advantage of wealth and position
things that 10 man can depreclate, tn
habits OF economy, prudence, persever
ance and punctuality are OF greater value
The child who is ate in getting up OF
morning. late in dressing himself, VIII
has To be told to wash his face, who is lat
at the breakfast table, late at school ant
late in bed at night, will never grow up
prompt, reliable man on whom people Wi
look with trust or Importance. All sue
boys grow w negative. Have they tim
for self-imprOvemeDt? No. Have the
time to visit the sick? No. Have the
time to help in pushing on some import
ant enterprise or some work OF charity
Oh. no. They would be willing to bel
IF they could, if they had time, but the
have so much to do they cannot possibl
SPARE time. We all meet such people
and never without feeling that they are
detriment to themselves and every on
else. 1t is the working man that Is AWAY
willing to spare portion OF his time, II b
so doing ne may accomplish any good I
fellow-mortal. He is never too busy
accomplish a little more. He has time
speak a kind word, or give smile of Ell
couragement to a struggling soul who
Ieeking an honorable goal He 1t is WI
snds leisure for recreation and instructiN
amusement. II a comrade dies we nm
hin first at the cross, last at the grave
His family is prosperous and happ
bis home neat and comfortable
nj this because ne is punctua
Children who grow up in such homes a
never in want of employment. BeiI
Taught from the earliest childhood the il
portancs of obeying every summons al
discharging every duty with promptnes
he habit of punctuality is as natural
any inherent trait of character. On Il
pther hand, should a child be raised in
home where every want is interpreted al
INDUCED, where no effort has ever be-
made to teach him the importance of S,
support, where only the one thought he
TO escape labor is of paramount impo
Ince we find him in after years misel
BILE. Disseminated and unhappy. I
parental roof can not always shelter hi
and when he goes out into the world
make shift for himself it is usually pc
out he makes of it. II he should be
fortunate as to inherit wealth he is too
dolent to take care of it. Money IN
purchase position but it can not purch;
habits of economy and discretion. 1t c
not procure for us the elements of 81
cess. II wealth be showered upon
without our being compelled to labor
il we are unable to appreciate its r
value. and if untutored in the metht
best calculated to preserve us from
digence il will in the main benefit us
little.