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True Love at Home
371
take your position above them, but right down among them. This
is Brother O’s great fault. He is too stiff. It is not natural for him
to use simplicity. He does not reason from cause to effect. He will
not win affection and love. He does not come right down to the
understanding of the children and speak in a touching manner which
will melt its way to the heart. He stands up and talks to the children
in a wise way, but it does them no good. His remarks are generally
lengthy and wearisome. Sometimes if but one fourth were said that
is said, a much better impression would be left on the mind.
Those who instruct children should avoid tedious remarks. Short
remarks and to the point will have a happy influence. If much is
to be said, make up for briefness by frequency. A few words of
interest now and then will be more beneficial than to have it all
at once. Long speeches burden the small minds of children. Too
much talk will lead them to loathe even spiritual instruction, just
as overeating burdens the stomach and lessens the appetite, leading
even to a loathing of food. The minds of the people may be glutted
with too much speechifying. Labor for the church, but especially
for the youth, should be line upon line, precept upon precept, here
a little, and there a little. Give minds time to digest the truths you
feed them. Children must be drawn toward heaven, not rashly, but
very gently.
Battle Creek, Michigan,
October 2, 1868.
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