Early Impressions by C. H. B.

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 24, 1902

Early Impressions

By C. H. B.

C. H. B.

My father was a pioneer in the West. He settled in central Illinois in 1837. He had received only about three months' schooling; yet he took an interest in the education of the youth, often visiting our school, and speaking encouraging words to the students.

Our home was a Christian home. My grandfather, who was a minister, made his home with us. The Bible was read daily, the songs of Zion were sung, and prayer was offered. The children were never urged to “get religion;” but a religious influence filled our home, which was known as the ministers' hotel, though they never paid for their meals in money. Outside the home there was swearing, and drinking, and fighting; liquor was cheap; and horse racing, wrestling, drunkenness, and fighting were of weekly occurrence. But a Christian school and a Christian home counteracted these outside influences. A large number of young men who grew up in the early history of this frontier town became ministers of the gospel. One half of the eight children in my father's family entered the ministry, and all became church members.

The brain of the child and youth is like a ball of putty,—impressions are easily made, but not easily erased. What we see and hear in youth, if often repeated, becomes a part of our being. We may endeavor to get rid of it, but like indelible ink, it remains, and often comes forth in thought, even when the circumstances seem most unfavorable. The environment of our youth largely makes us what we are in after life. Bad habits learned from bad associates, how they cling to us! Like the octopus, they hold us with a hand of steel; we rise on our dignity, and resolve to be men, to find that we are but grown children.

How glad I am that I so often listened while in youth to the songs of Zion. The songs my parents sang seem to me to-day the sweetest of all songs. Parents, sing to your children. Do it for their sake, and pray with and for them, even though you may not feel like it. God will reward you. I believe it pays.