Year: 1862

81 don't twig it,"


"Vell, my boy-it is this just as the
twig is bent the tree is inclined. No
matter whether 1t be wooden twig or a
meat one, a sprig of shelelah or sprg
of humanity. AS you plant the corn SO
will it grow, and it behooves people to
plant strait. Now can you tell us, Walter,
my boy, how a father-a fond and dear
father, can expect his children to be ami
able in their disposition when he is as
cross as the gable end of a horse
whenever the house is graced with his
presence? If the father swears can he
expect his son to refrain from the use OF
profanity? If he is cross and peevish;
finding fault with everything and every
body, how can he reasonably expect the
twiglet of his family to do different ?
Leaning against the shrub, will warp
the tree, my boy. If the father keeps
late hours, and frequent places like Ce-
sar's wife-beyond suspicion; how can
he blame the son for following in the
footsteps of his illustrious predecessor 4?
If the father cannot control his temper,
is it right, my boy, to whip the child for
learning his daily lesson but too well ?
Little twiys see things very close. While
the large tree is looking ahead over its
neishbors; over stumps, rocks, creeks,
valleys, and houses, the twig is looking
close along the ground, twisting aud ben
ding about by every breeze and peaking
into the little cracks, angles and crew
ices, aud under the leaves, stones, and
punches of Notwithstanding a thous-
and things its lofter parent never thinks
to observe. If the father is a sloven,
how can the child be else, till new ideas
are born within him? If the father, on
entering the house, throws his hat, coat,
muffler, boots and bundle in different di-
rections, careless of the labor he makes
for others, how can the child be chided
for doing the same?


If the father be church member and ,
as is too often the case, succeeds in over
reaching his neighbor, and boasts of it at
the table-the table is funny place, my
boy-how can he expect his children to
learn honesty or to respect professors of
religion ? Whatever the parent does is
right in the eye of the Child, yet folks
wonder why their children show certain
traits of character as years rapidly settle
upon them. The mother expects her
daughter to be a lady some day, but for
gets to set the example. At the table or
by the freside, she indulges in uncalled
for remarks about her neighbors, or throws
out insinuations against the character Of
those as good as herself, and then expects
her child to be a lady If the mother be
untidy in her dress--allows dust and dirt
to accumulate on tops of stands and be-
hind doors, how can she blame her dauoh-
ter for falling into the same habit? If she
washes the dishes in cold or lukewarm wa
ter, without soap wipes them with slow
sy rag, and sets them away so greasy that
you can draw Solomon's temple, or write
the epitaph of a baby in the grease on
them with fork tine, how in the name
of faith can she expect her daughter to
be neat ? All these litlle twigs are great
institutions, my boy, and the wind which
sways the tree will effect the bush. Such
is the law of nature, my boy. Yet folks
never see itas they should. II the moth
er is discreet and sensible woman, the
daughter will be the same. If not, don'l
take chances on them, my boy.-If the ia


ther is gentleman, the son will be very
apt to be much the same sort of a person,
and take pride in honoring the author o


his being.


There are thousand little things, my
boy, which will make the boy into a loaf
er or man. There are thousand little
acts at home, the influence of which will
!, never die. AS the shadow reflects the i'm
aye VI tilS SuoJoC1, Oi1hOi lOoS0i vi


so will children reflect the education oi


home, and the lessons taught by the fire
, side, or when knecling beside a beloved
, mother, last till we are no more. If g


child is governed by kind words, so will
its life give evidence. II home is made
pleasant the boy will have its sacred pro,
lection. If everything around the fire
| side is built loose and cross grained, moth
ing but the power OF God, or great am
, bition, will spring the boy back into the


upright man No one is fit to govern un
! til he has been governed--no one ca,


govern others until he can govern himself
: And, my boy, it is the short lessons


which we remember the longest. The
: home influences are seldom forgotten, ant


the lessons for good or evil which you ane
S us received i'll years agone, when the mnt
t was more susceptible than now, will mak'
:, or damn us my boy. Parents cannot b.
= too careful Of the little ones given them
e Their home lessons cannot be too good.
: If the parent thinks its own child per
r feet, how much more must the chlli
= think Of its parent, and how perfect il