The Tupelo journal., 1906-01-19
THE TRAINING OF BOYS.
Teach Them Self Control, Inspire with
Stories Of Heroic Deeds, and
Keep Them Busy.

When we think Of the bias given to q
boys nature by prenatal influences-by
tendencies inherited from ancestors
and by surroundings unfavorable to the
development of fine character, we would
despair of saying any helpful words to
mothers but for the fact that God, who
gave the son to his mother, will surely
help her conscientious efforts to train
him well.
Do not require him to sit through a
sermon he cannot comprehend. The re-
suit would be an early hatred Of church
going. Let Sunday school teaching suf-
flee in his early life. When old enough
to mingle with other boys, ask him each
evening for the history of his day. En-
courage his confidence. Make him feel
you are his best friend and adviser. AL
low him to bring home his friends. Thus
you may discourage any bad associa-
tions. Teach him to do nothing he would
blush to tell you, Tor have any friend he
could not bring home to you.
Self-control is an important lesson for
life; let him learn it of you by imitation.
Phillips Brooks once in a sermon
warned his congregation against the eff
feet Of dull homes in driving boys else
where for their a~musements, and ad-
vised them to set up billiard tables at
home. Such a means of grace" is only
open to the rich, but l remember a home
where the father and mother devoted
several Friday mornings in the month
to the amusement of their boys and their
friends, which proved of immense ad-
vantage to tn ewhole neighborhood in
the way of home training.
AS soon as your boy can understand,
tell him tales of heroism and self-sacri-
flee. Remember, "as the twig is bent,
the tree inclines." How completely he
is yours to mold while in your loving
arms!
Teach him that you expect him to
make you proud of him. Try to set his
will in the right direction. If he needs
admonition, take him alone, reprove him
kindly and firmly; say how much his
Ill conduct has panied you. If he repeats
the faults, correct him; but make the
punishment fit the fault and use no un-
due severity over trifles in which there
is no moral responsibility involved. If
you notice a cropping up of an heredi-
tary trait, use every means possible to
%counteract it. If one plan fails, try an
other, not neglecting to seek counsel
from God.
The mother is fortunate who can give
her growing boy an outdoor life; a
pony to ride, a garden to run about in
(perhaps to c%ultivate) and pets to keep.
But if her lot is cast in a city apartment
she has the compensating% influence, al
ways near, of museums, picture gal
leries, stereopticon lectures and threat
rical performances-the latter should be
chosen with discretion.
Handicraft has an important use in
the training of boys. DR.. Isaac Watts
says:
For Satan finds some mischief still
For idle hands to do.
The writer knows of a home where q
sunny garnet oOm was devoted to the
boys as a workshop. There once they
constructed a rowboat, taking the old
one a. the model. One winter day they
surprised their mother with an invita-
ton to a sleigh ride on a chair sled
with real bells on the handle), all made
by their own hands.-N. Y. Tribune.