Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-07-28


who are these people in society, light
as froth, blown every whittier of temp
tation and fashion-the peddlers OF
iithy stories, the dancing-jacks OF poll
teal parties, the scum of society, the
aVern-lounging, store-infesting, the
men OF low wink, and filthy chuckle,
and brass breastpin, and rotten associ-
atoms? For the most part, they came
from mothers idle and disgusting, the
scandai-mongers OF society, going from
house to house attending to every
body's business but their own; believ-
ing in witches and ghosts, and horse
shoes to keep the devil out of the
churn, and by goddess life setting
their children on the very verge of hell.
The mothers of Samuel Johnson, and of
Alfred the Great, and of Isaac Newton,
and of ST. Augustine, and of Richard
Cecil, and of President Edwards, fer
the most part were industrious, hard
working mothers. Now, while l con-
graduate all Christian mothers upon
the wealth and the modern science
which may afford them all kinds OF
ought to be observant of her children's
walk, her children's behavior, her chill
dren's food, her children's books, her
children's ompanionships. However
much help Hannah may have, / think
she ought every year, at least, make
one garment for Samuel. The Lord
have mercy on the man who is so un-
fortunate n hos had n Ia nnnt hpr'
Again: Hannah stands before you TO-
day as an intelligent mother. From
the way III which she talked in this
chapter, and from the way she man
aged this boy, you know she was in
telligent. There are no persons in
community who need to be SO wise and
well-informed as mothers. O, this
work of culturing children for this
world and the next. This child is
timid, and it must be reused up and
pushed out into activities. This child
is forward and he must be held back,
and tanned down into modesty and po-
likeness. Rewards for one, punish
ments for another. That which will
make George will ruin John The rod
10 'iNStoools III Vic IdSt, Nullc a. lloN IL
OF displeasure is more than enough
In another. Whipping and dark
closet do not exhaust all the rounds of
domestic discipline. There have been
children who have grown up and gone
to glory without ever having had their
ears boxed. o, how much care and in
telligence is necessary in the rearing
n oh DIT l.
there are so many books on this sub
Ject, no parent is excusable in being
ignorant of the best mode of bringing
up child. If parents knew more of
dietetics, there would not be so many
dyspeptic stomachs and weak nerves
and inactive livers among children. If
parents knew more of physiology, there
would not be SO many curved spines
and cramped chests and infamed
threats and diseased lungs as there are
among children. If parents knew more
of art, and were in sympathy with all
that is beautiful, there would not be
so many children coming out in the
world with boorish proclivities. If pa
rents knew more of Christ, and pract
-tised more OF his religion, there would
not be so many little feet already
starting on the wrong road and all
around as voices of riot and blasphemy
would not come up with such ecstacy
of Internal triumph. The eaglets
in the eyrie have no advantage
over the eaglets of thousand
years ago; the kids have no SUI
perior way of climbing up the
rocks than the old goats taught them
hundreds OF years ago; the whelps
know no more now than did the whelps
OF ages ago-they are taught no more
by the lions OF the desert: but il is a
shame that in this day, when there are
so many opportunities of improving
ourselves in the best manner Of cultur-
ing children, that so often there is no
more advancement in this respect than
there has been among the kids and the
eaglets and the whelps.
Again: Hannah stands before you
today as Christian mother. From
her prayers, and from the way she con-
secrated her boy to God, | know she
was good. A mother may have the
! finest culture, the most brilliant sur
roundings; but she is not fit for her
duties unless she be Christian
| mother. There may be well-read
Libraries in the house; and music in
the parlor; and the canvas of the best
artists adjoining the walls; and the
wardrobe be crowded with tasteful
apparel; and the children be wonder
full for their attainments, and make
the house ring with laughter and in
nocent mirth; but there is something
wofully lacking in that house, if it be
not also the residence of Christian
mother. / bless God that there are not
many prayerless mothers. The weight
of responsibility is so great that they
feel the need of a divine hand 10
/ help, and divine heart to sympathize.
Thousands of mothers have been led
into the kingdom of God by the hands
of their little children. There are
hundreds of mothers today who would
not have been Christians had it not
been for the prattle OF their little
ones. Standing some day in the
nursery, they bethought themselves,
Oh; - 81, ,n;,