We are living in an age when almost everything is superficial. There is but little stability and
firmness of character, because the training and education of children from their cradle is superficial.
Their characters are built upon sliding sand. Self-denial and self-control have not been moulded into
their characters. They have been petted and indulged until they are spoiled for practical life. The love
of pleasure controls minds, and children are flattered and indulged to their ruin. Children should be
trained and educated so that they may expect to meet with difficulties, as well as with temptations and
dangers. They should be taught to have control over themselves, and to overcome difficulties nobly;
and if they do not willfully rush into danger, and needlessly place themselves in the way of temptation;
if they shun evil influences and vicious society, and then are unavoidably compelled to be in dangerous
company, they will have strength of character to stand for the right and preserve principle, and will
come forth in the strength of God with their morals untainted. The moral powers of youth who have
been properly educated, if they make God their trust, will be equal to stand the most powerful test.
If parents would feel it a solemn duty that God enjoins upon them to educate their children for
usefulness in this life, if they would adorn the inner temple of the souls of their sons and daughters
for the immortal life, we should see a great change in society for the better. And then there would not
be manifest so great indifference to practical godliness, and it would not be as difficult to arouse the
moral sensibilities of children to understand the claims that God has upon them. But parents become
more and more careless in the education of their children in the useful branches. Many parents allow
their children to form wrong habits, and to follow their inclination
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rather than to impress upon their minds the danger of their doing this, and the necessity of their being
controlled by principle.
Children frequently engage in a piece of work, and become perplexed or weary of it, and wish to
change and take hold of something new, although they entered upon the work with enthusiasm. Thus
they may take hold of several things, meet with a little discouragement, and give them up; and thus
pass from one thing to another, perfecting nothing. Parents should not be so much engaged with other
things that they have not time patiently to discipline those developing minds. They should not allow
the love of change to control their children. A few words of encouragement or a little help at the
right time may carry them over their trouble and discouragement, and the satisfaction they will have in
seeing completed the task they undertook will stimulate them to greater exertion.
Many children, for want of words of encouragement, and a little assistance in their efforts in
childhood and youth, become disheartened, and change from one thing to another. And they carry
this sad defect with them in mature life. They cannot make a success of anything they engage in; for
they have not been taught to persevere under discouraging circumstances. Thus the entire lifetime of
many proves a failure because they did not have correct discipline. The education in childhood and
youth not only affects their entire business career in mature life, but the religious experience bears a
corresponding stamp.
Young ladies frequently give themselves up to study, and to the neglect of other branches of
education even more essential for practical life than the study of books. After they have obtained
their education, they are frequently invalids for life. They neglected their health by remaining too
much
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in-doors, deprived of the pure air of heaven, and the God-given sunlight.
These young ladies might have come from their schools in health, if they had combined with their
studies household labor and exercise in the open air.
Health is a great treasure. It is the richest possession mortals can have. Wealth, honor, or learning
is dearly purchased, if it be at the loss of the vigor of health. None of these attainments can secure
happiness if health is wanting. It is a terrible sin to abuse the health God has given us. Every abuse of
health enfeebles for life, and makes us losers, even if we gain any amount of education.
Poverty, in many cases, is a blessing; for it prevents youth and children from being ruined by
inaction. The physical as well as the mental should be cultivated and properly developed. The first
and constant care of parents should be that their children may have firm constitutions, that they may
be sound men and women. It is impossible to attain this object without physical exercise. Children,
for their own physical health and moral good, should be taught to work, even if there is no necessity
as far as want is concerned. If they would have virtuous characters, they must have the discipline of
well-regulated labor, which will bring into exercise all the muscles. The satisfaction children will have
in being useful, in denying themselves to help others, will be the most healthful pleasure they ever
enjoyed. Why should the wealthy rob themselves and their dear children of this great blessing?
Parents, inaction is the greatest curse that ever came upon youth. Your daughters should not be
allowed to lie late in bed in the morning, sleeping away the precious hours lent them of God to be used
for the best purpose, and for which they will have to give an account to God. The mother is doing her
daughters great injury in bearing the burdens the
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daughters should share with her for their own present good and future benefit. The course many parents
pursue in allowing their children to be indolent and to gratify a desire for reading romance, is unfitting
them for real life. Novel and story-book reading is the greatest evil that youth can indulge in. Novel
and love-story readers always fail to make good practical mothers. They live in an unreal world. They
are air-castle builders, living in an imaginary world. They become sentimental, and have sick fancies.
Their artificial life spoils them for anything useful. They are dwarfed in intellect, although they flatter
themselves that they are superior in mind and manners. Exercise in household labor will be of the
greatest advantage to young girls.
Physical labor will not prevent the cultivation of the intellect. Far from this. The advantages gained
by physical labor will so balance the mind that it shall not be overworked. The toil will then come
upon the muscles, and relieve the wearied brain. There are many listless, useless girls who consider it
unladylike-like to engage in active labor. But their characters are too transparent to deceive sensible
persons in regard to their real worthlessness. They will simper and giggle, and are all affectation. They
appear as though they could not speak fairly and squarely, but torture all they say with lisping and
simpering. Are these ladies? They are not born fools, but were educated such. It does not require a
frail, helpless, over-dressed, simpering thing to make a lady. A sound body is required for a sound
intellect. Physical soundness, and a practical knowledge in all the necessary household duties, is never
a hindrance to a well-developed intellect, but is highly important for a lady.
All the powers of the mind should be called into use, and developed, in order for men and women
