The neglect of home-training seems
to arise out of an existing-prejudice against it. Some think that education
will unfit their children for industry,--will make them indolent and proud.
They regard mental culture as an enemy to both industry and virtue. Strange
delusion! The mind is given to use, not to abuse; and its abuse is no
argument against its proper use. God has given the mind, and intends it to
be developed and cultivated. If, therefore, its training has made it
indolent and dissipated, it only proves its education to be spurious. You
might, by a parity of reasoning, blindfold the eye that it might not he
covetous, or tie up the hand lest it pick a man's pocket, or hobble the
feet lest they run into evil ways, as to keep the mind in ignorance lest it
become wicked.
Besides, we find more real indolence and wickedness among the ignorant than
among the educated; for man will be educated in something. If you do not
educate your child in the truths of nature and religion, be assured he will
become trained in falsehood and in the ways of Satan. "Uneducated mind is
uneducated vice." A proper education is a divine alchemy which turns all
the baser parts of man's nature into gold. Without it all is discord and
darkness within and without. Besides, ignorance leads to misery because it
leads to wickedness. Dr. Johnson was once asked, "Who is the most miserable
man?" He replied, "That man who cannot read on a rainy day!" It has well
been said by Edmund Burke that "Education is the cheap defense of nations.
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