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Daughters of God
strained. You have not taught him the sinfulness of a sullen, stubborn
disposition and firmly restrained this growing evil. Even in the ex-
pression of his countenance your indulgence is leaving its mold. The
impressions made in youth are most abiding, and early life is the best
time to cultivate correct habits.
Paul has been encouraged to be exacting and particular in his diet,
but you should set the food before him and never allow him to turn
from it in disdain, calling for something that you have not provided.
He may cherish his exacting habits in regard to his diet until he shall be
disagreeable to himself and all connected with him. If he were obliged
to labor according to his strength, hunger would give him a relish for
his food and remove his murmuring. Decided measures should be
taken in this matter. I love this son of yours; he can be molded in the
right way, for, if properly trained, he will respond after a time....
Give your boy something to do. Teach him to be industrious. He
has naturally no love for work; he loves indolence and seeks to shirk
responsibility. If you want your children to bless you, teach them to
be useful and self-denying. Restrict their reading. They should not be
allowed to pore over the pages of novels or story books filled with the
tales of lust and knavery, for it will not leave a heavenly influence on
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their minds. They are young and inexperienced and will be just what
you make them. All such habits of reading will cut up by the roots
the principles of virtue which enter into the formation of a good, firm
character. Novel reading is like taking poison and will sooner or later
reveal its bitter results.
The mark for good or evil made upon the characters of your chil-
dren is not written in the sand, but is traced as on enduring rock. Their
associations will have to be guarded, for what is learned from the
words and habits of their companions will mold the whole after-life.
The company your children keep, the principles they now adopt, [and]
the habits they now form are settling the destiny of their future with
an almost infallible certainty.
Heretofore, what I have said to you has left no lasting impression,
but will you not now become a different man? If you do not, I greatly
fear that you will depart from the faith....
May the Lord give you such clear views of Jesus that your soul
will be enraptured. I commit these plain words to you both, to tell you
that one-half your usefulness is counteracted by defects that you can