As the faculties of man, woman or child are brought into active exercise, so do they become strengthened, and the mother, in doing her work in the training of her children, grows in wisdom, in knowledge and in power, thus enabling her the better to perform her duties.

PARENTS SHOULD SET GOOD EXAMPLES.

As children first acquire knowledge and habits from the examples of their parents, the latter should be circumspect in all their actions, manners and modes of speech.  If you wish your children’s faces illumined with good humor, contentment and satisfaction, so that they will be cheerful, joyous and happy, day by day, then must your own countenance appear illumined by the sunshine of love.  Kind words, kind deeds and loving looks are true works of charity, and they are needed in our home circle.

Never a tear bedims the eye,
That time and patience can not dry;
Never a lip is curved with pain,
That can not be kissed into smiles again.

Your children will form habits of evil speaking if they hear you deal lightly with the reputation of another—­if they hear you slander or revile your neighbor.  If you wish your child to show charity toward the erring, you must set the example by the habitual exercise of that virtue yourself.  Without this your teaching will be of but little avail.  If you take pleasure in dwelling upon the faults of others, if you refuse to cover over their infirmities with the mantle of charity, your example will nullify your teaching, and your admonitions will be lost.

COURTESIES IN THE HOME CIRCLE.

Mothers should early train their children to regard all the courtesies of life as scrupulously toward each other as to mere acquaintances and strangers.  This is the only way in which you can secure to them the daily enjoyment of a happy home.  When the external forms of courtesy are disregarded in the family circle, we are sure to find contention and bickering perpetually recurring.  Rudeness is a constant source of bickering.  Each will have his own way of being rude, and each will be angry at some portion of the ill-breeding of all the rest, thus provoking accusations and retorts.  Where the rule of life is to do good and to make others happy, there will be found the art of securing a happy home.  It is said that there is something higher in politeness than Christian moralists have recognized.  In its best forms, none but the truly religious man can show it, for it is the sacrifice of self in the habitual matters of life—­always the best test of our principles—­together with a respect for man as our brother, under the same great destiny.

EARLY MORAL TRAINING.