Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1893-01-20
VIRTUE In ENDURANCE.
Teach the Children to Endure Hard
ships with Fortitude.

ships with Fortitude.
At the present time so much is said
about the duty of manifesting 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 compass
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 quality
| to be thus imperiled?
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 trait as to excite the
wondering admiration of all beholders
| At the same time the children are as
tender of heart and compn ssionatc as
they are 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 Ono might say that it was all
mere matter of inherited qualities but
for the fact that two of the eight chill
dren had been adopted by childless
sister of the mother, and in these two,
while the inherent courage would come
to the front in cases of severe trial, it
but rarely showed itself in the small
frets and accidents of daily life. In a
conversation with the mother this diff
ference was mentioned and she was
asked to what she attributed it. She
replied:
"My sister and agree perfectly in
most of our methods of training, but in
one we do not have always made it
q rule to let my children see that
though l tenderly sympathized with
them while they made no complaints,
they could receive out scant pity from
me If they sought it.
''If Jack hurt himself quite badly,
when he first went to live with my sis
ter, he might shed tear or two, if the
pain were severe, but nc made no out
cry and sought no aid unless it were
really needed. A few days ago was
truly grievcd that when he crushed his
finger in 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 as Naughty door; auntie
shall have to whip the door, Unless
this course be speedily altered land
it must be, or my husband and 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 all crimes?" we asked, doubt
ingly.
"Well'-smiling-''perhaps that is a
little too strong phrase, but truly l
think that fear is the root of most sins.
The boy who fears the ridiculc 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
man for whom she cares little or
nothing because she fears she may lie
called an old maid; or she trails long
dress over filthy streets in manner
which is revolving to all her dainty in
stincts, because she fears that her dress
may bS.ridiculed 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
we'll Of From first to last in all our
lives, lies and deceit in all their shades
proceed from fear of some sort"
mot quite all" was insisted. "There
are lies of jealousy, envy, covetous'
ness, malice, even of bencvolence."
Even these" 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 feai
that some one may surpass us; malice
, itself is more often aroused by teal
: than by any other one OF Il half dozen
motives; even benevolent lies are
probably induced by fear of i'll 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
attention to the value of an early
training in habits of endurance.
,, A little girl of four years, the grand
daughter of once famous American
statesman, was playing in the parlor o
his fine, old.fashioned country house
The yawning fireplace of more ancien
days had been filled in with brick, il
order that n modern stove might b'
used Against lower corner Of th'
brickworlt rested piece OF polished
iron about eighteen inches square an'