The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Child at Home, by John S.C. Abbott

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Title: The Child at Home The Principles of Filial Duty, Familiarly Illustrated

Author: John S.C. Abbott

Release Date: June 7, 2006 [EBook #18533]

Language: English

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CHILD AT HOME ***

Produced by Home Economics Archive: Research, Tradition and History (HEARTH). Ithaca, NY: Albert R. Mann Library, Cornell University. http://hearth.library.cornell.edu

THE

CHILD AT HOME;

OR

THE PRINCIPLES OF FILIAL DUTY

FAMILIARLY ILLUSTRATED.

BY JOHN S. C. ABBOTT,

Author Of "The Mother At Home."

Published By The

American Tract Society

150 Nassau-Street New-York.

Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1833, by CROCKER and
BREWSTER, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of
Massachusetts.

Right of publishing transferred to American Tract Society.

PREFACE.

This book is intended for the children of those families to which The Mother at Home has gone. It is prepared with the hope that it may exert an influence upon the minds of the children, in exciting gratitude for their parents' love, and in forming characters which shall ensure future usefulness and happiness.

The book is intended, not for entertainment, but for solid instruction. I have endeavored, however, to present instruction in an attractive form, but with what success, the result alone can tell. The object of the book will not be accomplished by a careless perusal. It should be read by the child, in the presence of the parent, that the parent may seize upon the incidents and remarks introduced, and thus deepen the impression.

Though the book is particularly intended for children, or rather for young persons, it is hoped that it will aid parents in their efforts for moral and religious instruction.

It goes from the author with the most earnest prayer, that it may save some parents from blighted hopes, and that it may allure many children to gratitude, and obedience, and heaven.

JOHN S. C. ABBOTT

Worcester December, 1833.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Chapter I.

RESPONSIBILITY.—The Police Court. The widow and her daughter.
Effect of a child's conduct upon the happiness of its parents. The
young sailor. The condemned pirate visited by his parents.
Consequences of disobedience. A mother's grave. The sick child. . .7

Chapter II.

DECEPTION.—George Washington and his hatchet.—Consequences of deception. Temptations to deceive. Story of the child sent on an errand. Detection. Anecdote. The dying child. Peace of a dying hour disturbed by falsehood previously uttered. Various ways of deceiving. Thoughts on death. Disclosures of the judgment day. . .28

Chapter III.

OBEDIENCE.—Firmness requisite in doing duty. The irresolute boy. The girl and the green apples. Temptations. Evening party. Important consequences resulting from slight disobedience. The state prison. History of a young convict. Ingratitude of disobedience. The soldier's widow and her son. Story of Casabianca. Cheerful obedience. Illustration. Parental kindness. . .46

Chapter IV.

OBEDIENCE, continued.—The moonlight game. Reasons why good parents
will not allow their children to play in the streets in the evening.
The evening walk. The terrified girl, Instance of filial affection.
Anecdote. Strength of a mother's love. The child's entire dependence.
A child rescued from danger. Child lost in the prairie.. .71

Chapter V.

RELIGIOUS TRUTH.—Human character. The Northern Voyagers. Imaginary scene in a court of justice. Love of God. Scene from Shakspeare. Efforts to save us. The protection of angels. The evening party. The dissolute son. A child lost in the woods. The sufferings of the Savior. The Holy Spirit. . .94

Chapter VI.

PIETY.—Penitence. Charles Bullard. His good character in school. In college. The pious boy. The orchard. The fishing-rod. The forgiving spirit. How children may do good. The English clergyman and the child who gave himself to the Savior. The happy sick boy. The Christian child in heaven. Uncertainty of life. The loaded gun. The boy in the stage-coach. . .119

Chapter VII.

TRAITS OF CHARACTER.—We cannot be happy without friends. Why scholars are unpopular in school. The way to gain friends. The warm fire. Playing ball. Recipe for children who would be loved. A bad temper. Amiable disposition to be cultivated. The angry man. Humility. The vain young lady. Vanity always ridiculous. The affected school girl. The unaffected schoolgirl. Story of the proud girl. Moral courage. The duellist. The three school-boys. George persuaded to throw the snow-ball. What would have been real moral courage. The boy leaving home, His mother's provisions for his comfort. The parting. His father's counsel. His reflections in the stage-coach. He consecrates himself to his Maker. . .347

THE CHILD AT HOME

CHAPTER I.

RESPONSIBILITY.

In large cities there are so many persons guilty of crimes, that it is necessary to have a court sit every day to try those who are accused of breaking the laws. This court is called the Police Court. If you should go into the room where it is held, you would see the constables bringing in one after another of miserable and wicked creatures, and, after stating and proving their crimes, the judge would command them to be led away to prison. They would look so wretched that you would be shocked in seeing them.

One morning a poor woman came into the Police Court in Boston. Her eyes were red with weeping, and she seemed to be borne down with sorrow. Behind her followed two men, leading in her daughter.

"Here, sir," said a man to the judge, "is a girl who conducts so badly that her mother cannot live with her, and she must be sent to the House of Correction."

"My good woman," said the judge, "what is it that your daughter does which renders it so uncomfortable to live with her?"

"Oh, sir," she replied, "it is hard for a mother to accuse her own daughter, and to be the means of sending her to