Proper Education
13
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 in-doors, deprived of the pure air of heaven, and
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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 daughters should share with her for their own present good
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and future benefit. The course many parents pursue in allowing their
children to be indolent and to gratify a desire for reading romance,