Year: 1878

hOui paper VI IHS ~ASS VI NODi u
airy contained an account of what at
one time promised to be an inter
esting repetition of Gretna Green
episodes, but fortunately the fond
parents were reconciled or bull
dozed. and gracefully submitted and
allowed the young couple to con-
SUNNI ate their happiness under the
roof where the bride had first seen
the light of day; had spent joyous
and merry youth, and had been
taught at her mothers knee by the
lips of a good mother the sacred in
junction, almost as old as time it.
self, Honor thy father and thy
mother that thy days may be long
upon the land"


In a neighboring county paper of
last week another recital is given OF
similar occurrence, but which did
not result so pleasantly, the fair
young daughter being married away
from the home olthe parents whose
darling she had always been, and
whose aim IN life was to make her
happy. Almost every week our pa
pers tell us Of like occurrences, and
we read them, sympathyzing with
the young people, entirely forget
ting the deep pangs of grief and
disappointment that fill the bosoms
of the parents whose tears are shed
over what they think the wayward-
ness of the child upon whom money
earned by hard toil-has been
spent; in watching over whom
sleepless nights have passed; for
whose happiness their whole time,
energy and hearts have been en-
gagged, and all this now rewarded
by the entry upon the most solemn
and important engagement of life
away from home and against the
wishes of their parents.


1t is not meant to be personal in
these remarks, but the object of
these lines is to call attention to
what the writer believes to be
great, a g-ievous wrong. 1t is made
penal and severely punished to steal
mule, horse, COW or hog, worth
only a few dollars and whose exist
ence is brief, but the stealing of a
daughter, human being, with years
of misery or doubtful joy before
her, is but an interesting episode, an
occasion for fun and jest, and the
stealer hero. And equally strange
1t is that minister of the gospel of
peace, good will and obedience,
whose duty it is from the pulpit to
proclaim to all children, Honor thy
father and thy mother" shall under
any circumstances be the direct and
chief means of causing the daughter
TO directly disobey the injunction
that the minister but the Sabbath
before had proclaimed was all-im-
portant and admitted of no excep-
tion, short of a command to
commit a crime. 1t is the duty
Of those who stand as the rep



resentatIyes of a Saviour's teaching
TO teach the performance of duty,
harmony in households, obedience
Go law, love OF parents, and to set the
example of carrying all these into
practice, instead of being particeps
criminis in violating these obliga-
tions.


For the part OF the writer he con
fesses he would be afraid TO trust
a woman who will disobey her pa
rents, for a disobedient daughter
viii hardly make al obedient wife;
and more, if he is not good enough
to be a son in law, he would not ad-
nit that the young lady is good
enough for his mothers daughter
in law.


Now it is admitted that many
clever, good people have run away
and married, and it is equally true
that many good people in a passion
Il


have committed great crimes; so
the first fact proves nothing.


1t is passing strange that a
daughter can find it in her heart to
trample upon a mothers wishes;
forget a mothers love, and despise
a mothers care and plight herself
to a man who is comparatively
stranger.


Marriage at best is a risk, but
how much more so when it is en-
tered into under the frowns of God,
whose command is set at naught,
the sorrow of parents whose love is
scorned, and the violation of all the
duties which make society at all
tolerable.


Let me appeal to all young people
to show more respect to your pa
rents; more respect for yourselves,
and more care in selecting q part
ner for life than you will show by
engaging in runaway match.


PARENT.
HODCEG p MTT EG