The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-05-17
CHILDREN

| They are the embassies from heaven.
 They bring to our world token of
 Gods creative power and a symbol of
 His purity and love.
 They are as wax in our hands; let us
 see to it that only gentleness shall mold
 them and truth shall shape them. ! How can any human being ill-treat a l child? Yet we know they are slapped
 and pinched and snubbed and thrust in
 dark closets and terrorized with fierce punishments and frightened with bogies
 and suppressed and repressed and de- pressed; all over the land their walls and protests float out. In homes of wealth. as we'll as those of poverty. the little children suffer and are wrecked 1 Their hearts made furnaces in indigna- | tion, their eyes smarting with tears of outraged justice, their very lives dis 1 torted and spoiled even down to the grave. Do you think these are strong words? Yes. Do you thing them un- true? No
 Is that parent fulfilling his Cod given trust who holds rod over his playful. happy child to repress every shout or frolicsome naughtiness, until the child skulks hidden till "Papa's gone Now we can playi' Does that mother who parnpers every appetite and smooths the way for the eradication of every desire fulfill a mothers mission to that child, who will perchance curse her for the resuls in after life or even strike her from its path if an obstacle to the attainment of the undiscipllned wishes of maturity We can each recall some instance where the ill-advised methods flo parents have turned upon society men and women a stain upon their name and community, and we know also that hearts have been misjudged and scared by those hearts bound to them by nature How much of beauti- full imaginings, of light-hearted vitality, mere joyousness in the bounding life of youth, serene acceptance of truth and kindliness as the natural atmosphere of this to them yet blessed and lovely earth; how all this flood of healthy hap piness poured into our homes and lives by these heaven sent messengers: sum all this up in one word, childhood, and then meet it with ,rebul1e and punish ment if we dare.
 There is no glory like that which crown the life of man or woman who has guiled a soul from infancy to ma turity with patient love and wisdom. Poets artists, musicians make themes and subjects to uplift mankind; their works follow the centuries; the soul that fosters and develops love and pur- ity in a child gives the beauty of God to eternity
 Ancient Egypt bowed it's head in rev erence before the sign of soul-birth; shall we of boasted modern civilization give small heed to the breathing spirit when it appears in our homes? In in joyousness, love, what sur passes a child? Its limbs are given for exercise. it's lungs for shouts of mer- riment, its eyes to behold only that which 'is of good report" it's nose to smell the pure air of heaven, it's ears to hear only gentleness and wise remon- strance, it's soul to send out the ten drils of trustful affection. We are Gods teachers and the caretakers of these precious souls, What account of our responsibilities, shall we render when we leave our charges to work out here the result of our influences, and We pass hence and stand before the Giver of all to receive our reward for "the things done in the body?"
 KEITH SAINT JOHN.