The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1896-11-25

inch in the Tionesta Presbyterian church,
Nov. s, 1896. 1t is timely discussion
Of an important but much neglected sub
iect.-ED.1
TEXT; "Take heed that ye despise not
one of these little ones. s."-Matt. xviii, 10.
When I was waited upon by commit
tee from the Woman's Christian Temper
ance Union and invited to speak along
tho line of sermon preached some time
ago, on "Train up a child in the way he
should GO" under circumstances that
would give it more extended hearing,
l consented for various reasons. First,
because of the personal interest have in
children and in that which pertains to
their welfare, and also because of the real
pleasure l have found in working with
them. l can conceive of nothing more
ennoblng more elevating i'm its charac-
ter, nothing more filled with positive de-
light and enjoyment than the watching
over and directing the development of
the child life in its progress from help
less infancy to the man of full grown
statue and power; watching over IL as
the gardener does the bud of his choicest
flower as it swells and busrts out into the
beautiful rose, keeping it free from the
hurtful insect, watching it when the rains
fail, turning it to the light that it may re-
ceive its richest color and fragrance. SO
the child life is like the tender bud of
rarest flower over who's development we
watch with a delight and fascination in
tensi1ied by the thought of the immortal
ity enshrouded which may burst into the
lovely blossom to he transplanted in
to the Paradise of God.
I consented also because child life is so
precious. Not only because it is so brief;
not only because 1--WE shall never pass
this way again." but because ''as the
twig is bent the tree is inclined"
Usefulness and happiness in this world
and the destiny in the world to come are
often determined, 1 believe, at an age
much younger than is generally believed.
Each one knows from his own experience
how potent are the influences of child
| hood for good or evil; how deeply i'm
bedded in the human mind those first
impressions of life are, how strong the
| force of those early acquired habits. 1t
has been said that the effect of the first
seven years training of child will never
be overcome in after life, and some one
has fixed eight years as the time when
child has learned half he will ever
know. To what extent these data are ac.
curate all NAV not agree, but they are
at least approximate and serve to indi-
cate the wonderful responsibility, oppor-
tunity, and real importance of this early
period of life, and to impress upon the
minds of those into whose care Goods
little ones have been placed with a
sense of the obligation resting upon them
in aiding and directing this development,
and in the formation of such characters
that shall be honoring TO Godand bless
ing to humanity.
Then again, l consented because
thought something of this kind might be
needed and that might be able to offer
some suggestion that might be helpful, or
at least awaken thought on subject
which is of such supreme Importance.
While I confess my lack of experience
in one phase of the practical side of this
subject, and so may not be able to speak
so intelligently as others might do, yet
personal experience is not always neces-
sary in order to observe de-
feet and suggest a remedy. But
there is phase of the subject with which
am familiar and upon which 1 can
speak from experience. Ten years of
practical work of teaching in schools of
all grades up to college proper has OPEN
ed my eyes to the possibilities of child
life, and the great lack of understand
ing, or else negligence, which is scarcely
less, if not altogether, criminal, in the
care and direction of those powers which
in so short time will form character
that is practically unchangeable So
from my own experience as an educator
of children, from my own observation,
which believe to be at least equal in
keeness to the average; from heart in
active sympathy with children, feeling
deeply the weight of the responsibility of
these early years, and realizing how
much might be done that is not, 1 ad-
dress you on this subject.
1. Let us notice first why this subject
does demand, and should command a
deep interest on the part of every one
whether he is in close contact with child
life or not.
A child does not, and can not realize
the full significance of the present in its
relation to the future. He lives each
hour for what the hour brings him and
passes on into the next carrying with
him its influence. There is but little op-
portunity for choice even if the power to
choose wisely were given him. There is
no recourse left but To take at the hands
of others what they see fit to give him.
His environment,-ph ysical, moral, in
tellectual and spiritual-is all made for
him. So without the knowledge OF the
value of the present, or the power to
choose or change his surroundings his
character is being unconsc iously and un-
alterably fixed for him. His very weak
ness and helplessness appeals to us for
aid.
"a child crying in the night
With no language but cry"
is not more helpless and in need of ma
ternal care than is this same child when
he becomes able to express himself in
telligently and to 20 where he will, in
need of some one to direct the latent
powers of his being along those lines