Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 May 1885 — PARENTS AND CHILDREN. [ARTICLE]

PARENTS AND CHILDREN.

To Take Castor-Oil. The French method of administering castor-oil to children is to pour the’oil into a pan, and place over a moderate fire; break an egg into it, and stir up; when it is done, flavor with a little salt, sugar or currant jelly. In this way the very unpleasant taste is hardly perceptible. —American Queen.

A Word to Mothers. Is there a more responsible posit : pn on earth than the one of motherhood ? In all earnesfftiess we would ask this question of every mother and would have her take it into serious consideration, whether she is fulfilling her dutms as queen of the household and the laVer of the foundation stone of the great tomple of humanity. <> Is she making herself strong and. healthy in body and mind, so that she may give her children their rightful inheritance of. sound minds in healthy bodies? Is’She studying hygiene so that she may rear her children in accordance with the laws of health ? Is she studying a good moral code so that she may implant germs of truth, honesty, and virtue in the tender mind that is to grow as she bends it and be formed after the model of her own self, which is ever before it as a guide and standard of perfection ? Does she comprehend the fact that any dereliction from the straight line of truth and honor will be copied by the little miniature edition of herself? If she deceives or swerves from square truthfulness, the child with its quick perception and earnest imitativeness will surely become untrue in its nature. If the mother is low, coarse and vulgar, the child will not become refined, good and gentle. Ji she uses incorrect, ungrammatical language, her child will not talk correctly; years of culture in shools will fail to eradicate early home training, because it is there the foundation is laid of all the future structure. Let our mothers be wise, good, and learned; they above all others need to study and learn all they can, for they are the first teachers and natural.guide of the young. Perhaps many a weary, over-worked woman may say she has no time to read, to study or to learn. But she must take the time, let her work less in variety, sew less and do less of other unimportant work; a neat, clean house is always desirable, but a neat, clean mind more so. A mind clear of the weeds ofignorance, fretfulness, ill humor, and all that is causative of unhappiness is a treasure well worth the working for. A mother must not allow herself to become a mere household machine and drudge; she must be thoughtful, provident and painstaking in doing the absolute necessaries of her home work, but always devote some hour of the twenty-four to improve her mind; she must be always growing; she must keep up with the times; she must read thoroughly at least one good newspaper a week. A mother who does not keep up to her children in growth and improvement, and if possible a little ahead of them, never wins their full respect or becomes what she should be, a perfect example. Above all do not overwork —do not become dragged out and lose all heart for recreative pleasures and amusements. Make life one long panorama of work, of play, of study, of culture, of tastefulness and of moral goodness and happiness. Whoso does this will find herself a good mother and well fitted to sit as queen of the household, and enthroned in the hearts of all her gladsome and joyous subjects. • Then pleasant as the morning light, In pease shall pass her days. And hearts—approving conscious joy Illuminate her ways.” —Exchange.