Dangers of the Young
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idleness, or do that which is of but little account, which requires no
exercise of the mind or muscles, and excuse the indolent daughters
because they are weakly. What has made them weakly? It has often
been the wrong course of the parents. A proper amount of exercise
about the house would improve both mind and body. But they are
deprived of this through false ideas, until the children are averse to
work. Work is disagreeable, and does not accord with their ideas of
gentility. It is thought to be unlady-like and coarse to wash dishes,
iron, or stand over the wash-tub. This is the fashionable instruction
which is given children in this unfortunate age.
God’s people should be governed by different principles than
worldlings, who seek to gauge all their course of action according
to fashion. In every instance should God-fearing parents train their
children for a life of usefulness. They should not permit their principles
of government to be tainted with the extravagant notions prevailing
in this age, that they must conform to the fashions and be governed
by the opinions of worldlings. They should not permit their children
to choose their own associates. Teach them that it is your duty to
choose for them. Prepare them to bear burdens when young. If your
children have been unaccustomed to labor, they will soon become
weary. They will complain of side-ache, pain in the shoulders, and
tired limbs, and parents will be in danger through sympathy, of doing
their work themselves, rather than have their children suffer a little.
Let the burden upon the children be very light a first, and then increase
the labors a little more every day, until they can do a proper amount of
labor without becoming so weary. Inactivity is the greatest cause of
side-ache and shoulder-ache among children.
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There is a class of young ladies in this age who are merely useless
creatures, only good to breathe, eat, wear, chat, and talk nonsense,
while in their fingers they hold a bit of embroidery or crotchet. But
few of the youth show real sound judgment and good common sense.
They lead a butterfly life, without any special object in view. When
this class of worldly associates get together, about all you can hear
is a few silly remarks to one another about dress, or some frivolous
matter, and then they laugh at their own remarks which they consider
very bright. This is frequently done before older people, who can but
feel saddened at such lack of reverence for their years. Such seem to