The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1892-03-26
TIE DUTY OF PARENTS.
Read Before Silver Springs saptst Sun
day School, by Mrs. A. Finley, and Pub
lished by Request.

with the guardianship of children
and youth, | will especially ad
dress myself.
Dear fathers and mothers: dc
not doubt but that with each one
of you who are present to-day,
your children are the objects oi
your highest solicitude. For trem
you lie awake at night and plan,
and you picture for each darling a
bright aud happy future. How
natural that you should crave for
your loved ones the blessings, the
nonors and the high places of this
life.
The Jews, when looking for their
promised Messiah, expected one
would come with pomp and splen-
dor, and who bringing all the
nations of the earth in subiection
to himself, should establish Il great
earthly Kingdom. How were their
ambitious hopes disappointed,
when instead of a mighty king
came the lowly aud despised Maze.
rene in the garb of poverty, (him-
self mechanicl and associating
with laborers aud fishermen, go
ing among publicans aud sinners,
caring for and healing the sick
and afflicted instead of setting up
the long expected kingdom, and
claiming the glory and power that
might have been his for the TAX
lug.
Like these jews, we too are
prone to magnify the Importance
of the things pertaining 10 this
lite, and we seek for our children
gifts which are unat;ainable, or
which If obtained prove oftentimes
curses instead of blessings.
One parent Graves wealth for
his children, and labOrs day and
night for it's acquisition, aud when
he has succeeded in getting it he
sees his sons and daughters rmned
by its possession, and all his strug-
giles and sacrifices requitrd with
the ingratitude and contempt OF
lnOSe IOf WnOm ne tOllcu.
Many sous and daughters have
every advantage which school ana
college aud social intercourse with
the refined and cultivated can give,
and vet they may bring but disap.
pointme { to the hearts that idol
ize them.
Perhaps son of lofty genius
and an Intellect that might have
enabled him to fill the highest sta-
tons, either from lack Of energy
or from the enervating influence of
pleasure and life of ease, finds
himself outstripped in the race by
some child Of poverty who had to
work his way uniiided aud in spite
of thousand disadvantages.
Another, on whom the fondest
hopes are centered, aud who gives
promise of nobility of soul and
loftiness OF purpose, falls a victim
to disease aud is either cut down
in the outset of his career or
doomed to a life of suffering.
Many lovely daughter, reared
with tenderest care, aud FOR whose
future Inc brightest anticipations
we're INDUCED, aud who was ex.
peciel to be "a shining ornameat in
society, has united befself for lite
with one who has dragged her
down to the lowest depths of power
ty aud degradation aud who has
caused her to blush with the
shame of being the wife of
drunkard, gambler, or idle vdga-
bond.
1t may be that the fond parents
see another lovely daughter, who
smiled on by prosperity, grows 10
be a cold aud worldly minded
woman Of fashion, caring only for
self and hardened to all the sweet
aud tender sympathies that
brighten existence.
But why med we multiply iu-
stances of the uncertainty of hopes
which have their foundation on
earthly things alone. War, pesti
iCHDI3 ihbthh t'NAhNOt uNthFl hbh a
Thousand unl0oke ! for casualties
constantly cutting down the
objects of the fondest parental
solicitude, and it were vain to
hope that our loved ones will De
favored above others, aud will be
exempt from the cares and aflIic-
tiOns that, t,under one form or anOth-
er, are the lot of all that are born
of woman.
Dear friends, the consideration
Of illusory nature OF our hopes for
the worldly happiness of our dear
ones should not hinder us from pro-
viding the good things of this life
for them, for she that provideth
not for his own is worse than an
infdel."
Nor should it prevent our CIV
Ing them every advantage OF edu-
carton and inspiring them with the
desire to win the appreciation of
their fellow man, and TO prepare
themselves TO occupy statious Of
honor and trust, tor these places
need TO be filed by conscientious
men aud women who have been
ira ned for the duties and respon-
sibilities Of life.