Observe the wayward boy whose chief inheritance is
a wild, wilful nature. He is nearing his fourteenth
birthday. Having been allowed to have his own
way while small, he has cultivated an ungovernable
desire to do as he pleases. Let the mother of
that boy cease her old habit of saying, “I don’t
know what will become of that boy! I don’t
understand how he can treat me so rudely. I’ve
done all I can, and he just grows worse,” and
take a more rational method. Have you gone to
that boy and told him the sweet, simple story of Jesus
and why he came from his beautiful home; that a part
of his mission was to teach you how to make your home
after the pattern of his heavenly home; that his heart
is touched with compassion when he beholds any one
in trouble; that he is grieved because you have made
a mistake; but that you are sorry and are decided
to do your duty? Have you told the boy all that?
Have you knelt beside his bed at night with your tear-dimmed
eyes pressed upon his hand, and told him the great
dangers that are before him, even surrounding him,
and informed him how to avoid them? Have you told
him that he is at the most critical time in his life,
that a mistake now will mean a life of suffering for
both him and you, and that he can with you begin over
and remove some of his past mistakes? Have you
talked thus to your boy? If not, why not?
It is your privilege as well as your duty.
CHAPTER XXVI.
PARENTAL DUTY.
The first duty of father and mother to their child
is to see that they are a unit on family government.
Second, they must study themselves and their failures,
trying to make the weak places strong. Third,
study the disposition of the child, gain an understanding
of its inner life, and find out what pleases and displeases
it; and, while cultivating the good, hold in check
the bad. A mother should understand her children
better than any one else. If she is a thoughtful
mother, she knows not only the surroundings of her
children, but many of the impressions that she has
stamped upon their undeveloped minds.
Children are not putty that can be moulded into any
form to suit our fancy, but there is a method by which
we can fashion their young lives. Much patience,
devotion to the child, and fervent prayer will be
needful to accomplish anything worth while.
Every parent should see that their attitude toward
their children is what it should be. Consider
their feelings and show them respect, remembering
that they have rights upon which you must not intrude;
but never loosen the reigns of home government.
Make any rules that you think practicable and necessary;
explain each rule carefully to your child, giving
your reason for making it, and then demand obedience.
Never, unless for some special reason, ignore any good
rule. Should your child happen to break one of
these rules, do not punish without first finding out
the cause. He may not have understood your meaning,
