Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-01-26
VIRTUE IN ENDURANCE.
Teach the Children to Endure Hard
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 heroism2 And to consider
II the latter be not too grand quality
to be thus imperilcd?
In 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 compa ssionate 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. One might say that IL was all n
mere matter of inherited qualities but
for the fact that two of the eight chill.
dren had been adopted by n 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 Il
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 IL
rule TO let my children see that
though | tendcrly sympathized with
:hem while they made no complaints.
they could receive but scant pity from
me II they sought IT,
III jack hurt himself quite badly,
when he first went to live with my sis
ter, he might shed tear or two, II the
pain were severe, but he made no out
cry and sought no aid unless it were
really needed. A few days ago | was
truly grieved hat when he crushed his
finger in the door he began TO cry aloud,
aud rushed up to his aunt, who kissed
his finger and bound IL 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 DO
ruined in this respect. They will be-
come towards, and cowardce is the
worst of all faults; for II is the mother
Of all crimes"
"of all crimes2" we asked, doubt
ingly.
Observation-Disclosures that is n
little too strong a phrase, but truly
think that fear is the root Of most sins.
The boy who fears the ridicule OF I'M
worthy associates will use tobacco and,
later on, strong liquors, although he
may have an actual distastc for them,
Ia order to make himself manly. lie
fights because he fears some one will
say that he is afraid. The girl marrics
q man for whom she cares little or
nothing because she fears she mag be
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 be ridiculed us out of style. Both
men and women live beyond their
means for fear they may be esteemed
poor, aud 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"
mot quite ALL, was insisted, There
are lies OF Jealousy, envy, covetous-
ness, malice, even Of benevolence.
"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 n fear
that some one may surpass rs; malice
itself Is more often aroused by fear
than by any other one OF half dozen
motives; even benevolent lies arc
probably induced by fear Of i'll con-
sequences TO others il the truth he
told"
Whether the speaker was quite right
in her reasoning it is not now neces-
sary 20 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 Of
his fine, old-fashioned country house.
The yawning fireplace Of more ancient
days had been Allied in with brick, in
order that n modern stove might be
used Against lower corner Of the
brickwork rested piece OF polished
iron about eighteen inches square and
nearly an inch thick. What was be-
hind that piece Of iron had often puz-
zled the child, and the answer that IL
covered the opening left in the brick
work, 80 that straw could be thrust up
the chimney and lighted to burn it out
without removing the stove" conveyed
no meaning 10 her perplexed mind.
In her eyes the queer square OF IRON
covered the entrance TO some enchant-
ed region whore little girls must neces-
sGrily delight to 60