The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1899-03-29

Perhaps there is no JOY that comes to
man or woman in the new home so sweet
as that of the advent of the first baby
Wonderful possibilities are seen in it by
its fond parents, and they are going to
guard and protect it., and train it up in
ways that will make it an ornament to
society, of use to the world, and alto
gether worthy to be looked up to. All
its little ways. so artiess and attractive,
are tireless sources of pleasure. The
movements of its eyes, its hands and
lips are all anxiously watched and every
variation noted as evidence OF marvellous
progress. Its first tooth, its first step,
and its first word are events in the fam
lily that it would not popularize the out
slider to underrate Nobody ever had
such baby before; every hair of its
head is in the right place; if it is thin,
why babies ought to be thin: if fat,
they wouldn't exchange for their neigh
boris lean baby for worlds. Our baby"
that makes it the brightest and best.
That man and that woman who have
never looked into the opening, innocent,
wondering eyes of their own baby have
missed one of LIES divinest joys. The
pleasure we feel in the ownership OF the
darling is immense, and should any one
dare mention that the time might come
some day, when the idol of our hearts
| might be shattered, when instead of find
ing JOY and gladness in standing as
his parents, we should find sorrow and
shame, and instead of being honored as
the proud parent OF so good a child, we
should receive pity as our portion, we
would turn away from such as being
senseless jargon, not worthy Of mo-
ment's thought.
| It is not wise to borrow trouble, to
imagine disaster and fret ourselves over
what may never happen; but it is always
wisdom to learn by others failures, and
avoid the rocks on which their banks
have been stranded. Countless parents
| have come to mourn the downfall of
their beloved ones That fate may be
ours, and might we not pause and in
quire into the causes for so many human
wrecks and if the parent has no hand
in causing them, might he not at least
have hand in preventing?
| If should venture to hint at one thing
more than another that is fruitful of dis
aster, would say idleness. Satan finds
some mischief for idle hands to do" and
just as truly is it said that IAN idle mind
is the devils Workshop" 1t is very hard
for people of wealth, or even Of moderate
competency, to require their children
to work merely to get ahead of his
majesty OF the lower regions, and turn
him out of his favorite pursuits. So
hard is it that not many have the cour-
age to try it. 1t is so pleasant to see the
young folks following the bent of their
inclinations and having a good time, that
it seems positively unkind to set them at
irksome tasks for an effect you hope
far away off in the dim distance that
you may never see, and that may not
come to pass The father of man who
acquired great wealth. and came to be
widely known, once offered the boy a
dollar if he would clean out the horse
stable nicely. The lad worked diligently
and completed the job satisfactorily. The
father approved and gave him the covet-
ed dollar with the remark: Nov that
find that you can do this work so we'll, l
will expect you to do it every morning"
So the boy whose skill had been tested
ing what his soul detested, for nothing
1t seemed like hard lines, but the boy
was learning useful lesson. He was
gaining handicraft by which he could
earn his bread if need be; he seemed to
be working for nothing, but was not; the
pay was not in present cash, but it was
in health and strength, in knowledge
of the drudgery that somebody must do.
and a greater willingness to aid in the
worlds needed work. these lessons we'll
learned lead to wealth, and did in this
instance
| 1t is priceless wisdom for the young
| W uIluCl Sldllu tildl tIC WOilu 10 III OtllClS
as we'll as themselves; that they cannot
choose for themselves the easy places,
and leave somebody else to take all the
hard ones, and that the sooner brow
sweating and bearing begins, the
| lighter their load later on. It is not easy
| for children to be deferential to their play
mates and obedient to their parents But
it is the parents duty to instill these
saving virtues early, while it may be done.
Who have been the worlds benefac-
tors, the substantial business men and
women that no community can afford to
do without? Have they been pampered
in the lap of luxury, bred in ideness,
and devoted to sports and frivolity gen
orally? Not at all The history of suc-
cessful men and enterprises is a story
OF work and perseverance No spasmodic
efforts, but long continued keeping at it.
Gladstone once said "There isn't a
healthy, vigorous, energetic, self-reli-
ant, successful man whose example does
| 4 -