Year: 1877

WHAT SHALL BE DONE WITH THE CHILL


DREN


At the close of a weary day, one au-
tumn, sat down disspirited and sad.
Six little restless feet were at last rest
ing, three children's voices, that all day
long rung through the house, were
hushed in sleep. The prayers, so pre-
ciOus to a mothers ear, and, as we be-
each finding an echo in my heart. One
prayer, on this autumn evening, brought
tears to my eyes: "Please, God, help
me to keep still, and not trouble tired
papa" This prayer it was that made
me sit and think in the gathering dark
ness.


The little fellow who whispered this
heartfelt prayer was a peculiarly rest
less, fun-loviug boy, but sensitive and
affectionate. So long as my little ones
are happy and kind in their play, al
low them to Etoss the light ball, be-
stride the stike," and enjoy various
kinds of amusement, trying to forget
that / have nerves. "It is the God
given way to develop the muscles,
strengthen the lungs, and give the
strong body which is the home of the
strong mind,"I often say to myself,
when my own selfish inclination prompts
me to check their play. And so they
play on, with merry noise and shout,
except during the short time when re-
quire simple lessons.


1t may be that / am old-fashioned in
my notions, but true it is that | feel it
my duty and esteem it the chief pleas
ure of my life to take the entire care of
my children. Therefore it is that, if
necessary, 1 would hire everything else
done, before leaving to the care of an
other these gifts of God to me. 1t is
mine to study the character of each and
to help him to form and strengthen it !;
mine to note the "besetting sin" and to
aid him to "lay it aside; y mine to teach
him to ''run with patience" and to ''lOok
unto Jesus" To me is given this ode
lightful task" and to me is given the
hope of appearing before God in that
future glorious day and utteIing those
triumphant, joyous words: "BehOld L
| and the children which God hath given
me u


As sat in the deepening twilight, 1
was prayerfully seeking some plan to
prevent my restless boys from troubling
:stired papa,n and at the same time to
make them happy. This same papa
loves his children with tenderness like
that of mother, and rejoices in their
health and joyous activity but his pro-
fession is one especially wearing to the
nerves, and he comes home weary from
the labors of the day. He looks to his
home longingly as night comes on, and
a feeling of restfulness steals over him
as he enters the cheerful rooms. Many
who engage in certain kinds of business
are very weary, but find their rest in a
frolic with the children. To those whose
ears are panied with the mOnotonous
din of the factory or foundry, the glad
some noise of childish voices is refresh
ing as the music of birds. But my
.gude man. is weary in brain, and it is
necessary that the telling of restfulness
should be encouraged, and that for
time quiet should reign. In the morn
ing he can enjoy the music of childhood,
and Join in the romp and the riot which
| Longfellow describes in the 'Children's
Hour"


Before this weary evening OF which
speak, had let my own heart have Its
way and, welcoming the coming, had
Immediately entered upon the converse
so delightful between lovers who have
been all day separated. There were Sc
many things to say! had boarded up
the pretty sayings of the children e e
repeat to their papa. My head was 1uii
of items of mutual interest about thell
cunning ways, or their progress IN les
sous. Then, too, had bits of gossip OF
news gathered from my callers, or from
the letter of some absent friend, to re,
peat to my husbands ears. he bae
stories for me of what he bad heard ane