The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1903-04-11
Our Young Folks.

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The bible says, Train up a child in
the way he should go and when he is
old he will not depart from it," A
casual observer looking around might
find many instances which seem to
prove that the above is not true There
is young man who has apparently
been carefully trained and has been
graduated from high school and col
lege. His parents have surely done
their part by him. They have worked
saved. economical and sacrificed many
things that he might be kept at school.
Many times the mother has worn last
seasons bonnet or wrap and made her
dress do yet another summer in order
that the boy might have a new spring
suit like the other boys. And the faith
err, what did it matter what he wore as
long as his sons were only we'll dressed
and had money to spend like other
young men. We admire the father and
mothers unseltish devotion to their
son but they are to-day reaping the
result Of mistaken kindness towards
Look at him! 1t does not take a keen
observer of human nature to=.tell that:
something is wrong n = ::s BY r.
He seems to think ':that the earth
was made for him and the fulness
thereof is his" He is supremely sell
fish and why should he not be? He
has never been taught the delights of
serving Others and does not know the
pleasure of giving when it costs a sac
rifice OF something held dear. He is
sowing wild oats.
His parents in their desire to have
him dressed like the rest have failed to
keep pace with him. They scarcely
know and do not understand this young
man whom they call son.
His companions are not such now
as they would have chosen for him, but
zone must not curb the boy too
strongly, he is young and full of life'
say they, and in their loving loyalty
to him try to believe that all will yet
be we'll, and that by and by he will set
tie down and then how proud they will
be Of their noble boy
Yet as the days, weeks and months
pass by something more than Father
Time is whitening the mothers hair
and bending the fathers once erect
form. Oh, the eyes that are dim with
watching and tears! Does it ever &C.
cur to that mother in the silent watches
of the night when she is sleeping lis
| tening for the footsteps so long de-
layed that she should have taught him
self-control? That had she been less
deslrlous Of making a. good appearance,
less careful maybe of the outward
seeming and more careful more watch
full Of the inner growth, the real self
of her boy she might be a happy moth
Ell If that knowledge does come God
! pity her.
Something may happen which will
awaken this son into realizing sense
of his obligations to his parents. Let
us hope that he will come to himself
| and like the Prodigal son arise and 20
home to his father. We can picture
the mothers joy, the fathers forgiving
smile and the remOrseful sorrow of the
repentant boy; but can we picture the
| endless attempts at right living, the
hours or encouragement, the sorrow of
the remembrance Of opportunities for
usefulness gone forever, or the temp
tations to be overcome in conquering
habits which have become a part of his
nature. No. it is too sad a picture.
| Train up a child in the way he
should CO. It is the mother more
particularly who has this responsibility,
| this great and precious. privilege. Do
not make the mistake Of being slave
to your child. Teach him rather to
! serve Others. Economy and sacrifice
4 are necessary in many homes that the
children may be clothed, fed. and ed
ucated. This is a PARENTAL obligation,
but each Child should have his part to
do, not in earning money necessarily,
but in the thousand and one ways in
! which each can tighten the fathers and
mothers burden.
Teach your child that labor is
knightly, that work is noble and that
the working man is equal to any in the
land. That to be honest and true is
to be great. Teach him to be ashamed
Of nothing but = that which is wrong,
that patches and darns are badges of
honor which indicates at least two con-
sditions il st, the careful oversight Of
q mothers loving hands and second the
i protection 81 wise economy Which.is q
/ stepping| stone to succ essMin 81 an. line.
Teach. him tsneit herathe rich mort
sI.poor az. to hate loved because
sirzconldditioza