Industry
91
slow to reform and to become more expeditious. If they will, they can
overcome their fussy, lingering habits. In washing dishes they may be
careful and at the same time do quick work. Exercise the will to this
end, and the hands will move with dispatch
Blend the Physical With the Mental—When children were sent
into my family to board, and they would say, “My mother does not
want me to do my washing,” I would say, “Well, shall we do it for you
and charge you half a dollar more for your board?” “Oh, no! Mother
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doesn’t want to pay any more for me.” “Well, then,” I would say, “you
may get up in the morning and do it for yourself. God never designed
that you should be waited upon by us. Instead of your mother getting
up and getting breakfast in the morning while you lie in bed, you
should be the one to say, ‘Mother, don’t you get up in the morning. We
will take hold of these burdens and perform these duties.’ You should
let those whose hairs are growing gray take their rest in the morning.”
Why is this not so? Where is the trouble? It is with the parents who
let their children come up without bearing any burdens in the family.
When these children go out to school, they say, “Ma says she doesn’t
want me to work.” Such mothers are foolish. They spoil their children
and then send them to the school to spoil it.... Work is the very best
discipline they can have. It is no harder for them than for their mothers.
Blend the physical labor with the mental, and the powers of the mind
will develop far better
Devise Ways—Parents should devise ways and means for keeping
their children usefully busy. Let the children be given little pieces of
land to cultivate, that they may have something to give as a freewill
offering
Allow them to help you in every way they can, and show them
that you appreciate their help. Let them feel that they are a part of the
family firm. Teach them to use their minds as much as possible, so
to plan their work that they may do it quickly and thoroughly. Teach
them to be prompt and energetic in their work, to economize time so
that no minutes may be lost in their allotted hours of work
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15
The Youth’s Instructor, September 7, 1893
.
16
Manuscript 19, 1887
.
17
Manuscript 67, 1901
.
18
Manuscript 60, 1903
.