Year: 1861

their characters in childhood. It is
quite evident, at least, that the impress
sion then made are the most lasting.
How rarely do we forget them. A man
maintains his infancy through his entire
life SO distinctly that shrude compar-
ative moralist may observe him in al
most any period and describe his pa
rentage with startling accuracy, espec-
tally the domestic habits of the mother.
He may embrace new principles and
enter new practices that would change
him very much, indeed, would reverse
his general course in life; but at every
appropriate turn he will exhibit bis
early training and influences, and he
cannot disguise them. To the ordina-
ry observer there are exceptions taking
up large part of our rule, but enough
of it remains for practical observation.
True, we have native power of choice
by which we work our lives through
the world, and by which we add to or
take from our actual peace; but when
we reflect that the reason of that choice
is in the nature we inherit from our
ancestry, constitutionally or education
ally, it is plain that parents lay out the
great portion of the veal or woe that
occur to the child during life. They
are by nature appointed over it, and
to them is committed its destiny as in
a most solemn trust. Though they
may not be able to thoroughly change
the hereditary disposition impaired to
it during the short period of their con-
troll, they may effect it practically and
while the mind is young, unsophistica-
ted and plastic, it is in the best condi.
tion to arrange and mould, and those
who have its affections and confidence
are the ones first in the responsibility
of this important work. atst .l


There is usually not much want OF
interest in the welfare of the child-it
is the object of especial anxiety but
there is a sad misrepresentation of poll
cy arising from an improper understan


ding of the philosophy of mind, espec
tally that of the young mind. MOI
half enough care is taken in due time
nor is there half enough perseverance
after the good work is understood and
commenced. People are apt to lSl
upon vice in the young like dirt on ;
garment that may be washed out one
time as well as another, and upon char
, acter as something that he gets onl,
when it is mechanically given to him


And thus his correction, though &c;
thing that certainly must be done," il
postponed till things that cannot wal


are seen to-" and the erection and es
tablishment of his character is deferred


till time when it may be Jumped ant


thoroughly done at once. We can al
b feel the effect of this -remissness an,


procrastination in some degree in ou
own parents, and it is large habi
with those Of the present day and gen


Grafton. Indeed, very few are awar
Of the magnitude of the error and les
heed it. Viceis not merely on or abou


the character, but IN it-part of it
$ is becomes sentiment in life; and t
!, get free from it, we must suppress an


starveit from aoitho,tt, and give th
d system moral energy enough to loath


and discharge it. And be assured tha


while it remains it is neither dead no
is harmless, but is fostering into and dc


forming the native goodness and grea
= ness of the human soul. The work
IL never entirely done, and our duty


only discharged when we have been q


watchful and assiduous as our capacit
is and standing would admit. Errors al


painful according to their nature an
~ magnitude; here the life. and deatl
l the prosperity and adversely, the hal


piness and misery of those who are
at our own life and insepcrable from o,
IN inmost feelings, are at stake. Neith'
will time move on and experience a
nj


I'D cumulate without giving shape an
"a texture to the character of the youn


immortal candidate fol-, happiness; Il
Ill perceptions of the infant man greedi


feed upon all that surrounds his sens


tive nature-his empty capacities yeal
ch for facts out of which to make theori


and rules to promote him into that {
DC ways coveted life, which, at his earle


existence prophetically dawned throug
eA his god-given faculties, and by whi'


above the perpetuity of his being


" made sure. Now. it is not for him


el make surroundings, but he instinctiy


ly lays hold.on and appropriates of


animation that he feels and sees; b
of sides, as his physical being is first su