12
A Solemn Appeal
laws, especially from the ages of thirty to forty-five, by numerous pains
in the system, and various diseases, such as affection of the liver and
lungs, neuralgia, rheumatism, affection of the spine, diseased kidneys,
and cancerous humors. Some of nature’s fine machinery gives way,
leaving a heavier task for the remaining to perform, which disorders
nature’s fine arrangement, and there is often a sudden breaking down
of the constitution; and death is the result.
Mothers, you should give your children enough to do. If they get
weary, it will not injure health. There is quite a difference between
weariness and exhaustion. Indolence will not be favorable to physical,
mental, or moral, health. It throws open the door, and invites Satan in,
which opportunity he improves, and draws the young into his snares.
By indolence, not only the moral strength is weakened, and the impulse
of passion increased, but Satan’s angels take possession of the whole
citadel of the mind, and compel conscience to surrender to vile passion.
We should teach our children habits of patient industry. We should
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beware of indulging them too much. When they meet with difficulty
in their labor, we must help them through it instead of carrying them
over it. It might be easier for us at the time to do the latter; but we fail
to teach a useful and valuable lesson of self-reliance to our children,
and are preparing the way to greatly increase our cares in the end. We
should awaken in our children generous, noble principles, and urge
them to active exertions, which will shield them from a multitude of
temptations, and make their lives happier.
My sisters, as mothers we are responsible in a great degree for the
physical, mental, and moral, health of our children. We can do much
by teaching them correct habits of living. We can show them, by our
example, that we make a great account of health, and that they should
not violate its laws. We should not make it a practice to place upon our
tables food which would injure the health of our children. Our food
should be prepared free from spices. Mince pies, cakes, preserves, and
highly-seasoned meats, with gravies, create a feverish condition in the
system, and inflame the animal passions. We should teach our children
to practice habits of self-denial; that the great battle of life is with self,
to restrain the passions, and bring them into subjection to the mental
and moral faculties.
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My sisters, be entreated to spend less time over the cook-stove,
preparing food to tempt the appetite, and thus wearing out the strength