Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1897-07-28
oH1Lp's WORST HABIT.

A CHMD'S WORST HABIT.
At a recent mothers meeting theques
ton was asked, "Whet is the worst habit
a child can have?" The leader passed
it around and three fourths Of the wo-
men present said, 1.-THE habit of dis
obedience" They were right. Obedi'
ence to rightful authority, and respect
for good and sacred things, are the
only foundations upon which we can
ever hope to build up a noble charac-
ter.
would go on and say that almost
the worst habit a mother can have is
the habit Of allowing disobedience. It
is very sad to admit that it is also one
of the most common. The reasons are
not hard to find. The strong mother
love that thinks nothing of weary arms,
or aching back, or ~sleepless nights, If
only baby is comfortable, makes it
easy and natural to please him even
though what he wants to do may not
be just the right thing; he is 81 sweet,
and his little faults are so cute, and his
little rebellions such tritles anyway,
that mother is sure he will do better
when he is over, and she is not going
to make the darling miserable by fus.
sing over every little thing he does
that is not just right.
Dear mother, stop right here and get
those two mistakes corrected now.
Your baby is sweet and cute, but he
does sometimes show an ugly temper.
He is contrary sometimes and doesn't
always mind what you say. Now set
tie 1t in your mind that he will not do
better when he is older unless you help
him now. Don't make it hard for him
to obey by saying, you shall and you
must" and by stormy scolding, but
oh, if you want him to be e good man,
and get to heaven at last, be sure he
does just what you tell him to do.
Begin early and he will soon learn
that mamma just what she says,
and you will not have such hard con-
ficts as if you wait till he is older, and
his will stronger. Never, never pass
over any disobedience, however small,
lest you ruin your child.
The other mistake is thinking that
these little faults are trihes. They do
seem so; the tiny little leaves the acorn
sends up through the ground are very
trifling compared with the great oak
tree; and yet, If any one twists or bende
that tiny stem, the tree is damaged fol-
all time. The Lord has given you the
greatest honor a human being can have
in giving you o soul to train. But tina
training is no sinecure. 1t means work
ing and watching and praying. If th
devil can persuade you to let that sou
alone to do as it pleases, that is all b
wants. He will not let 1t alone. Hav
you ever thought that the worst crimi
nal who ever lay in o Jail or hung on
gallows, was once a sweet baby,
baby who either had no mother, OF
whose mother neglected to train him
arightp AS mothers, let us face the aw.
full fact that we may be the worst enc
mics Of our darling children. Let mt
give you an instance:
once made the acquaintance of O
lady who told me this of herself: 81
was an only daughter; my father
mother and brothers INDUCED me il
everything. My will was never crossed
/ had everything l wanted. When
married, my husband followed theil
example. Having no children, l coult
still do as l pleased. But when | want
ed to be a Christian, it was so hard t.
give up my own will and obey God
that very nearly lost my soul. M
words can describe the struggle l had
Over and over again l cried, "Oh, if
had only been trained to obey, hov
much it would have helped me now
So, dear mothers, cultivate steadily
faithfully and prayerfully, the habi
OF obedience; not skipping sometime
and insisting others, but keeping eve
before your minds the future happi
ness Of your children rather than thei
present enjoyment. So shall you b
their best friend as we'll as their mos
devoted lover, and may the Lord Civ
you all the wisdom and patience the
you need, and bring you and you
darlings safe into the Heavenly HON,
-Mrs. Z. NJ. Craise.
II is not necessary for me to drin
prussic acid in order to know that
will kill any man who dares drink
An, body who observes the fruit
card playing will be able to draw co
illusions which will not be very mu,
to the praise of the game.-Rev. W.
Worth, Methodist, Lynn, Mass.
Why so Called.
Excuse me,n said the Thought