Year: 1863

their happy home look down upon their earthly
charge, longing only for reunion with the alb
sent ones, who are yet TO be gathered iuto the


mansion of their heavenly Father, where glad
ness prevails and sorrow enters not. Since such


is the rccompense Of faithful parents, who con-


slider their children's interest as their own, can
any one conceive or imagine the amount OF guilt
which must and will attach itself to the care


less parent, especially the mother, who thinks


of nothing but her own case, seldom instruct
ing her children in any good or useful knowl-
edge, consoling herself with the idea that they


nave to go TO school some day or other, and that
the teac her, who has not enough Of their own
duty to attend TO, can easily add mammals with


theirs and be exceedingly gratified for the


honor done them. If it were not for this class


of mothers, who seem 10 be largely IN the ma


ority our schools, and specially the free schools


would moi be so crowded with children, who,


from their ages, in many instances, would be
entitled to the appellation Of innocents; yet,


from want of proper home discipline appear to
have thrown aside all cbldlike simplicity, and


in its stead to have adopted all the elegant slang
phrases socommon to Young America, present
ing to the eye of the refecting teacher, scene
which would almost BATTLE description. Ii these
misled mothers would but know, and knowing,
care, they would not send their children to
school, so devoid of all good or useful training
thereby prociaiming more loudly than words
could do 81 have not fulfilled my duty to-
wards the angels loaned me; their young hearts |
once pure and good have gone to ruin; and |,
their lawfully appointed guardian, am the cause
What sad reflection might this be to those |
who accept such precious trusts; yet fail to


comply with any part of their great RESPONSE
bility. As regards the share which teachers |
have in assisting parents TO form the young
mind and to instil principles of morality and
virtue into their hearts, much might be SAID
and yet be nothing more than what has SO Of
ten been said before by persons of more compe-
tent Judgment and enlarged experience than
myself as teacher and in every other sense.
However, there is one requisite which should
never be omitted, in the necessary qualifications
for d teacher even ii all others were perfect
and that is Conscience for, if this great want
exists, no amount of book learning should, or
ever could, make up for it, as without its aid


the pupils of the school could never advance in |
that science, which in my estimation precedes |
all Others the cultivation of the heart, the on
ly foundation upon which any refecting or con- |
scientious teacher should ever attempt to build
with the reasonable expectation of producing |
in more mature years that which should be the
emulation of the old: mind well stored with |
good, useful knowledge, guided in all its vari-
Gus conflicts, by that best OF monitors, pure |
and well trained heart. Since if moral educa- |
tion be so necessary to form perfect character
why pass it now so lightly either underline pa
rental roof, or in the school room; employing |
in the last named place, as teachers, those who /
perhaps deem it very good subject to write
about, but a very hard thing to practice show
ing in their every day life to their pupils what |
little value they attach to a knowledge of the
only science which, after all, leads 10 true and
lasting happiness. On this subject, let each and |
every one Of us reflect well, if we be wanting |
or deficient; let us take into serious considera-
ton that whilst it is all very well and proper |
for us to obey the law enacted by our late Leg
isaturc, in regard to the careful improvement
of our minds, which form so perishable a part |
of our nature, we forget not the decree OF a |
higher power in reference to the developing of
every good and virtuous impulse with which he
has adorned us, and for which he will hold US
accountable, if careessly used or idly thrown |
away. Again, lot me repeat that whilst we |
are striving for new mental food and culture,
we forget not the moral and better part OF our |
nature, our hcarts.