“In the blissful vision, each shall share
  As much of glory as his soul can bear!”

CHAPTER XXIV.

THE CHILDREN’S PATRIMONY.

  “Give me enough, saith wisdom; for he feareth to ask for more;
  And that by the sweat of my brow, addeth stout-hearted independence;
  Give me enough, and not less; for want is leagued with the tempter;
  Poverty shall make a man desperate, and hurry him ruthless into crime;
  Give me enough, and not more, saving for the children of distress;
  Wealth oftentimes killeth, where want but hindereth the budding.”

The children’s patrimony is a vital subject.  It involves the great question, what should Christian parents leave to their children as a true inheritance from the Christian home?  We shall return but a very brief and general answer.

The idea of the home-inheritance is generally confined to the amount of wealth which descends from the parent to the child.  And this is indeed too often the only inheritance of which children can boast.  Many parents, who even claim to be Christians, enslave both themselves and their families, to secure for their offspring a large pecuniary patrimony.  They prostitute every thing else to this.  And hence it often happens that the greatest money-inheritance becomes the children’s greatest curse, running them into all the wild and immoral excesses of prodigality; and ending in abject poverty, licentiousness, and disgrace; or perhaps making them like their deluded parents, penurious, covetous, and contracted in all their views and sentiments.

We think, therefore, that the children’s patrimony should be more than gold and silver.  This may pamper the body, but will afford no food for the mind and spirit.  We do not mean by these remarks, that their patrimony should not include wealth.  On the other hand, we believe that parents should make pecuniary provision for them, that they may not begin life totally destitute.  But we mean, that when this is the only patrimony they receive, it often proves a curse, because it tends to destroy their sympathy with higher interests, exposes them to the uncertainties of wealth, and makes them dependent upon that alone.  If it should elude their grasp, all is gone, and they become poor and helpless indeed.

What, therefore, besides wealth, should be the children’s patrimony from the Christian home?  We briefly answer.

1.  A good character.  This is more valuable than wealth; for a good name is rather to be chosen than great riches.  This character should be physical, intellectual, and moral.  Give your children the boon of good health by a proper training to exercise and industry.  Transmit to them the patrimony of good physical habits by educating their bodies, and developing their material existence according to the principles of natural law.  Develop their intellectual faculties, and enrich them with, the treasures of