Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-12-09
VIRTUE IN ENDURANCE,
Teach the Children to Endure Hard
 ships with Fortitude.

At the present time so much is said about the duty of manife3ting sympa- thy, especially toward children in the little misfortunes which seem to them so great, that we are led to wonder whether there is not danger of show ing too much pity? Whether our too
 free and ready expressions of compas-
 sion or sympathy may not tend to
 weaken the resolution and force which
 is essential to heroism? And to consider
 if the latter be not too grand a quality
 to be thus imperilcd?
 In a certain family of young people of all ages, from four to eighteen years. the features of heroic endurance
 in all things, both physical and moral
 is so marked a trait as to excite the
 wondering admiration of all beholders.
 At the same time the children are as tender of heart and compa ssionate as they arc brave. Their parents are the one of old New England Puritan stock the other of purely Huguenot de- scent, thus the inheritance of tender ness and strength came alike from
 both. One might say that it was all mere matter of inherited qualities but for the fact that two of the eight chil- dren had been adopted by a childless sister of the mother, and in these two, while the inherent courage would como to the front in cases of severe trial, it but rarely showed itself in the small frets and accidents of daily life. In conversation with the mother this diff ference was mentioned and she was asked to what she attributed it. She replied:
 My sister and I agree perfectly in most of our methods of training, but in one We do not l have always made 1t q rule to let my children see that though l tendcrly sympathized with them while they made no complaints, they could receive but scant pity from ne if they sought it.
 If Jack hurt himself quite badly, when he first went to live with my sis ter, Inc might shed tear or two if the pain were severe, but he made no out cry and sought no aid unless it were really needed. A few days ago I was truly Grieved that when he crushed his finger i'll the door he began to cry aloud, and rushed up to his aunt, who kissed his finger and bound it up amid many compassionate phrases, or others more hurtful, such Naughty door; auntie shall have to whip the door, Unless this course be speedily altered (and 1t must br, or my husband and I cannot consent to leave the children with my sister) both Jack and Lucy will be ruined in this respect. They will be- come towards, and cowardice is the worst of all faults; for it is the mother of all crimes"
 "Of aH criInes?" we asked, doubt angly.
 "Well'-sniling- perhaps that is a little too strong a phrase, but truly I think that fear is the root of most sins The boy who fears the ridicule of un- worthy associates will use tobacco and, later on, strong liquors, although he may have an actual distaste for them, in order to make himself manly. He fights because he fears some one will say that he is afraid. The girl marries a man for whom she cares little or nothing because she fears she may be called an old maid; or she trails long dress over filthy streets in a manner which is revolting to all her dainty in Stincts, because she fears that her dress may be ridlCuled as out of style. Both men and women live beyond their | means for fear they may be esteemed poor, and pretend to tastes which they have not for fear they be not thought well of From first to last in all our lives, lies and deceit in all their shades | proceed from fear of some sort"
 Not quite all" was insisted. "There are lies of jealousy, envy, covetous- ness, malice, even of benevolence.
 Even thesr," continued the mother, may usually be traced to some form | of fear, Jealousy is fear that some | one else may be better loved or more highly favored than we; envy is fear that some one may surpass us; malice l itself is more often aroused by fear than by any other one of half dozen | motives; even benevolent lies are | probably induced by fear of ill con- sequences to others if the truth be | told"
 Whether the speaker was quite right | in her reasoning it is not now neces- sary to discuss; we would only draw training in habits of endurance.
 A little girl of four years, the grand daughter of once famous American statesman, was playing in the parlor of | his fine, oldfashioned country house. The yawning fireplace of more ancient days had been filled in with brick, in order that n modern stove might be used. Against n lower corner of the patchwork rested a piece of polisked iron about eighteen inches square and |