In your zeal to find entertainment for your children, do not forget that they must have employment.  See that every member of your household has certain work to do.  This work should be suited to the years and the strength of the individual and, if possible, to his likes and dislikes.  Work of the proper kind will strengthen the muscles, improve the health, keep out many evils, and create in the young a desire to help bear the burdens of life.  Periods of rest may be made profitable by having on hand as much wholesome literature as you are able to secure.  By this means much useful knowledge may be stored.  The reading need not be confined wholly to religious works; reliable treatises on science, art, mechanics, cooking, chemistry, domestic economy, health, etc., are all profitable if not indulged in to the exclusion of religious literature.  If you trust God, he will help you to know what to do.

A lady once said, “Our children are what we make them, and we get out of them just what we put in.”  These words contain much truth.  God holds all parents, according to their light and understanding, responsible for the training of their children.

If you have a preference among your children, never reveal it.  On the contrary, endeavor to place the less favored ahead in your care and attention.  You can justly do this, for the favorite will get all the attention he deserves anyway.  I well remember a case where the mother’s favorite son brought sorrow and shame to the entire household by stealing from his own father, simply because she had humored and petted him in childhood.  Parents can not be too careful in this respect.

Many a mother does not realize how highly her children value her opinion.  A boy had met with an accident that somewhat disfigured him for a time.  While he was preparing to leave for school, his mother said, “You will no doubt be made sport of today; are you able to bear it?” His answer was, “Oh, I don’t care what any one says about me but you; but if you were to make fun of me, I couldn’t stand it.”

SWEET GEM OF THE HOME.

    Thou formal home, so graced, so blest,
      With earthly treasures rare;
    Within thy portals we expect
      All graces rich and fair.

    We gaze, we search, but all in vain;
      The gem we love so well,
    “Sweet innocence,” doth not remain,
      Nor in thy chambers dwell.

    Thy children, as the world they greet,
      Are bearing tales of thee;
    “I was not warned,” they oft repeat,
      Nor taught at Mother’s knee.

    Sweet Innocence, thou heav’nly grace,
      Rich gem from God above! 
    Thy touch upon the human face
      Reveals but peace and love.

    Thy treasures richer far than gold,
      Thy gifts of greatest worth,
    Might grace our homes, except for sin,
      Whose curse now sweeps the earth.