Year: 1874

HABIT.


Tho power of habit IS something of which we
are every day conscious. Though so much has
been said and written concerning it, we need
still cline upon line, precept upon precept, here
little and there a" great deal to keep in our


minds the importance of forming in our chill
dren and strengthening in ourselves good hab-
its. 1t is so difficult TO break up long estab blish
ed modes of action, and turn the channels of
ones activities in new directions, that it is not
surprising the mature in life, who have suffer
ed from not being started right in the first
place, should lay, as they are inclined to, great
stress on the i'm portance of making IN all things
a good beginning.


There are few habits which form pretty
good foundation for success in life and insure
the friendship of the discerning and virtuous.
First among these we would place the habit of
self-help. This may and should be formed in
child, before it can walk or talk, by provid
ing resources for its amusement and leaving it,
within due bounds, to depend upon those re-
sources. Then as it grows older it should be
taught and gently compelled to perform in its
own behalf all that it can do. Few OF US but


know young men ana young women Periectly
helpless for all the ordinary uses of life. If
they alone were the sufferers it wouldn't matter
much, but they are social leechos, always de-
manding service and never rendering it. Good
husbands, good wives, good parents rarely, if
ever, are found in this class of people.
Next in importance to the habit of self-help


we would place that of personal tidiness. We


dc not care to guess how many American men


and women set down to breakfast every morn


ing with their toilets half made, the men with
out collar and cravat, the women with unkempt


hair, and the children resembling the parents
in dress as much as in feature. "But you see


there are so many things to do in the morning
stock to feed, COWS to milk, fires to make,
milk to skim, children to dress, breakfast to
get-that one can't spend much time fixing
themselves up.'' All very true; but one doesn't


90 round barefooted in the morning, or without
washing face and hands, because habit the


reverse of all that has been formed. "My hair


is combed in the morning for all day before l


leave my chamber" said an elegant house


keeper the other day, and she keeps no girl,


and we couldn't help thinking the happiness


her husband must have had just in the one par
ticular of seeing her every morning for twenty


years with combed hair, and neat linen collar,


opposite him at the breakfast table, and of the


order and cleanliness in the household of which


that one little item was an index. Then "clean-


illness is next to godlness," should be early and


deeply impressed on every child, and it should


be taught to shrink from uncleanliness and un-
tidiness as it shrinks from vice.


Another habit of great value is that of cour-


tesy. If child is properly trained to ask for


what he wants and make meet acknowledge


ments for favors received, to recognize the rights


and respect the feelings of others, he will be
able to win friends matter what other faults
he may have. This habit he will acquire,
absorbs, rather, from those around him. Cour-


teous children are but the reflection of courte-


Gus parents. Genuine courtesy flows out from


the heart and can never be put on as an out
side garment.


Another excellent habit is that of helping
others. In fact we are in the world for the
express purpose of doing that very thing, and
if we fail in this, it matters little to any but


ourselves how long we rem ain here. 1t is nat
ural for the loving parent to do everything for
his child and require nothing in return, but the


sooner the child is taught to deny himself in


order to serve others, his parents, his brothers


and sisters, the more certainly will whatever is


noble in him be developed. We are all selfish


enough, and there are very few who are not


improved by having their impulses of benev-
olence stimulated.


The habit of improving ones time is of inn


portance that can hardly be over-estimated.-


Not that children should work all the time, but


that they should spend very few hours in mere
idleness and time killing. One occupation


should succeed another, so as to give due varie
ty and exercise the mental and bodily powers
in harmony. Idle children are apt to make
idle grown folks, and there are too many drones


in society for its good, as we all know.
The last habit we will mention is that of per-


severance. Life, from beginning to end, is full
of obstacles to be overcome, Of problems to be


solved, of mountains to be tunneled and valleys


to be filled up, and we can hardly begin too


soon our endeavors to master destiny He that


owe rcomes in little will overcome in much. A


child should not be given a task beyond his


powers, but within that limit he should be re-


quired to do what is assigned him. The slim


illus of praise or reward will often be sufficient


to secure the performance of given labor,


though the pain of censure may sometimes be
necessary.


With these habits of self-help, personal tidi-


ness, courtesy, helping others, improving ones


time, and perseverance,, it matters little how


poor in purse an individual may be left, he or


she will possess buoyant power that will raise


them above adversity and pluck victory from
the arms of defeat


~The more woman's waist is shaped like