We know so little about the laws of procreation, and are so in- different to such knowledge, that little children have a hard time from their earliest existence until they are grown. With many almost all childiiood is a time hurriedly passed by, and as quickly ignored as possible, because it represents dependence, subjection, and chafing 3O0 THE hearthstone; or, life at home. restraints. How often is this season wholly neglected ! how rarely fully perfected ! Who is to blame ? Certainly not children. Who then? The fathers and mothers, whose ignorance or indifference, or both, blind them to their own responsibility, and whose selfishness torments children until they escape from it. Perhaps if men and women were better fitted to be parents, the terrible miseries inflicted upon their offspring would be averted. It is a knowledge for which the world stands more in need to-day than of any other. It is a knovv^ledge that those who possess it ought to teach with earnestness, in all seasons and places. It will not avail that fathers regret the unfortunate heritage of their sons, and that mothers shed rivers of tears over the waywardness of their daughters. It is not enough that they wish they had never given birth to such children. It is their business to anticipate the characters of their children, and to give life only under such circum- stances as will with certainty make it a blessing and nothing else. Prudes and tyrants shut their eyes to this subject, and apply the epithet of coarseness to those who urge its consideration, but this does not avail. The child who is outraged in its conception will bring its Nemesis with it, and there will be no escape from it. " The sins of the parents are visited upon the children," and most frequently the retaliation of children upon parents is in proportion to the brand that is put upon them. If parents could always foresee the natures of their children, as it is their high privilege to do, and not only foresee them, but mould them nobly or otherwise, with absolute certainty, the evil results of irresponsible parentage would be at an end forever, and this Biblical saying would cease to have the terrible meaning to us that it now possesses. When will we become reasoning beings and increase the glory of God by elevating the standard of man ? When the tyranny and oppression of the weak over the strong is lessened, then children will not come into the world with hatred and revenge deeply instilled in their beings. Then will not fathers be humbled to the dust in after years by the misdeeds of their children, whom they have begotten in DUTY OF PARENTS TO CHILDREN. 36 1 ignorance, and then expect them to be possessed of reason and righteousness. Until they are thus fairly treated will the family life be wanting in beauty, in harmony and in true happiness, and the world be full of distress and discord. The right to a good organization, to a happy temperament, should not be denied a child, but should be earnestly striven for by parents — not mothers only, but fathers and mothers. And when children are born into homes they should be made welcome and treated with justice as well as affection ; with respect rather than indulgence.

AI-modernized reading of the original text

We know so little about the laws of procreation, and are so indifferent to such knowledge, that little children have a hard time from their earliest existence until they are grown. With many almost all childhood is a time hurriedly passed by, and as quickly ignored as possible, because it represents dependence, subjection, and chafing 3O0 THE hearthstone; or, life at home. restraints. How often is this season wholly neglected ! how rarely fully perfected ! Who is to blame ? Certainly not children. Who then? The fathers and mothers, whose ignorance or indifference, or both, blind them to their own responsibility, and whose selfishness torments children until they escape from it. Perhaps if men and women were better fitted to be parents, the terrible miseries inflicted upon their offspring would be averted. It is a knowledge for which the world stands more in need to-day than of any other. It is a knowledge that those who possess it ought to teach with earnestness, in all seasons and places. It will not avail that fathers regret the unfortunate heritage of their sons, and that mothers shed rivers of tears over the waywardness of their daughters. It is not enough that they wish they had never given birth to such children. It is their business to anticipate the characters of their children, and to give life only under such circumstances as will with certainty make it a blessing and nothing else. Prudes and tyrants shut their eyes to this subject, and apply the epithet of coarseness to those who urge its consideration, but this does not avail. The child who is outraged in its conception will bring its Nemesis with it, and there will be no escape from it. " The sins of the parents are visited upon the children," and most frequently the retaliation of children upon parents is in proportion to the brand that is put upon them. If parents could always foresee the natures of their children, as it is their high privilege to do, and not only foresee them, but mould them nobly or otherwise, with absolute certainty, the evil results of irresponsible parentage would be at an end forever, and this Biblical saying would cease to have the terrible meaning to us that it now possesses. When will we become reasoning beings and increase the glory of God by elevating the standard of man ? When the tyranny and oppression of the weak over the strong is lessened, then children will not come into the world with hatred and revenge deeply instilled in their beings. Then will not fathers be humbled to the dust in after years by the misdeeds of their children, whom they have begotten in ignorance, and then expect them to be possessed of reason and righteousness. Until they are thus fairly treated will the family life be wanting in beauty, in harmony and in true happiness, and the world be full of distress and discord. The right to a good organization, to a happy temperament, should not be denied a child, but should be earnestly striven for by parents — not mothers only, but fathers and mothers. And when children are born into homes they should be made welcome and treated with justice as well as affection ; with respect rather than indulgence.

The hearthstone; or, Life at home