76
Child Guidance
and practices of their childhood. Children are peculiarly susceptible to
impressions, and sanitary knowledge may be imparted to them by not
permitting disorder
Teach Love for Cleanliness and Hatred for Dirt—You should
cultivate a love for neatness and strict cleanliness
Dress your children simply and plainly. Let their clothes be made
of durable material. Keep them sweet and clean. Teach them to hate
anything like dirt and filth
Let the strength which is now given to the unnecessary planning
of what you shall eat and drink, and wherewithal you shall be clothed,
be directed to keeping their persons clean and their clothes neat. Do
not misunderstand me in this. I do not say that you must keep them
indoors, like dolls. There is nothing impure in clean sand and dry
earth; it is the emanations from the body that defile, requiring the
clothing to be changed and the body washed
Keep Premises Clean—Whole families might be helped and
blessed if parents would find something for their children to do. Why
are not ministers and teachers more explicit on this subject that means
so much to physical health and spiritual soundness? The boys and girls
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of the family should feel that they are a part of the home firm. They
should strive to keep the premises cleansed from every unpleasant
sight. Instruction in these lines should be given
Every form of uncleanliness tends to disease. Death- producing
germs abound in dark, neglected corners, in decaying refuse, in damp-
ness and mold and must. No waste vegetables or heaps of fallen leaves
should be allowed to remain near the house to decay and poison the
air. Nothing unclean or decaying should be tolerated within the home.
In towns or cities regarded perfectly healthful, many an epidemic of
fever has been traced to decaying matter about the dwelling of some
careless householder. Perfect cleanliness, plenty of sunlight, careful
attention to sanitation in every detail of the home life, are essential to
3
Manuscript 32, 1899
.
4
Testimonies For The Church 2:66
.
5
Manuscript 79, 1901
.
6
Christian Temperance and Bible Hygiene, 141
.
7
Letter 108, 1898
.