Happy Children by Mrs. M. E. Gorman

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 12, 1864

Happy Children.

By Mrs. M. E. Gorman

How mistaken are some parents who toil to make their children happy, by gratifying every childish wish; whether it be in food, or in dress, or in innocent play-things? The very effort to please them, if improperly manifested, is an injury to them. The first lesson to teach a child, is, that the will of the parent is not law only, but that is is best for it. The young mind hates law, rebels against restraint. Hence the will of the parent must not be held up before the child as a rod, but as a benefit—a blessing. It is astonishing how easily a parent may convince and persuade a child that it is not best for it to have its stomach loaded with sweet, pernicious things. When you succeed, a piece of wholesome bread is sweeter than sugar. It is so in matters of dress. What child does not feel as happy and as good, in neat, clean, plain clothes,

as in costly apparel? It is so in toys and play-things. Give your children plain food, plain dress, and a few play-things, and they will be far happier—if they are taught that Pa and Ma think it best—than if thousands were spent on them.—Mrs. M. E. Gorman.