The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1892-03-09
Happy Homes.

a- = s5
With mothers, nothing is SC
necessary as patient calmness
and cheerful good nature. Many
children, boys especially, have
gone the crooked road, not be.
cause of evil surroundings OF
want of virtuous training, but
for want of sunshine at home.
Children need smiles as much as
flowers need sunshine. Unfor-
tunately, youth cannot be
taught to look ahead as to the
consequences Of evil doing. If,
therefore, a thing pleases them,
they are very apt to seek it;
while if it displeases them, they
will avoid it. If home is only a
shelter, where harsh words and
fault-fnding is the rule, chill
dren will very naturally spend
as much time as possible else
where. Let parents, then. re-
alize early that to make their
children happy is to make them
good. No greater safeguard
against temptation can be given
than a cheerful. happy home,
and the humblest abodes can be
made such. There should be
pictures on the walls; entertain
ing books, instructive papers
and periodicals, with games and
amusements of all kinds in the
house. Flowers should adorn
the yard. These things we know
cost money, but not as much as
many vices are likely to do.
Then every mother should
give her children all the social
pleasures she can, by inviting
young friends to visit them, and
allowing them to attend enter
tainments that will please and
improve them. 1t may be'ne-
cessary at times to follow the
injunction. "Spare the rod and
spoil the child" but in most
cases a pleasantly given repri-
mand will do far more in cor
recting a fault. Whac parent
would not prefer to have chill
dren influenced to good conduct
by a desire of pleasing rather
than by a fear Of offending? II
a mother never expresses her
pleasure when her children
seek to please her, but is always
ready 10 censure them, they
soon become discouraged and
hardened by the ceaseless fault.
finding, and become needless Of
reproach.
Work-occupation of any
harmless nature--is a necessity
for most children. Their active
habits demand it. They enjoy
being busy. Children should
be encouraged to perform for
themselves every little office
that is possible-washing dress
ing and bathing themselves,
polishing their shoes and taking
care of their own clothes, keep
ing their drawers and trunks 10
order, as well as waiting on
themselves about the house. In
a word, they should be taught ia
be as independent Of others as
possible. To make little chill
dren happy, it does not require
wealth on the part Of parents,
as many parents think, but
kindness and the tact which il
inspires. Give children a chance
TO play, TO love you, let them
know they can be of some use,
thus exercising their imagina.
tions, minds and affections, and
they will be happy. Smiles are
cheap. Who was il that said
"Smiles are cheap things to b.
fraught with so many blessings
both TO the giver and receiver
pleasant little ripples to watch
as we stand on the shores of ey-
eryday life" Let children
then, have kind words ant
sweet smiles, for more than al
else they need the sunshine oI
the heart to educate them, ant
will always find the best teach
ing in the cheerful, loving ma
lures of their parcnts--the swee
haven Of vesture in happ!