While the boy or girl who is taught the real truth concerning life grows in knowledge and becomes self-reliant and courageous.

In the care and bringing up of children, in the present, the greater responsibility rests with the mother; but there is neither right nor justice in this. If perfect equality existed between husband and wife the responsibility would be shared equally. As it is, the greater burden of the care of children is placed on the mother, while the advantages necessary to the intelligent bringing up of children are denied her. The superficial mind may say that it rests with the mother to rear the child, and with the father to provide for the material wants; and when they do this that they are fulfilling the natural requirements of life. But if the mother is going to rear the child in the way he should go, then the more highly she is developed spiritually, intellectually, and physically, the more efficient she becomes in the care of both the minds and bodies of her children. It is not enough that the father should provide for the physical sustenance of the child. Some fathers excuse themselves by saying that having worked hard all day, when evening comes, they need rest.

Max O'Rell once related the following incident: "Some years ago I was spending Sunday afternoon in the house of a young married man in Chicago, who, I was told, possest twenty millions. The poor fellow! It was the twenty millions which possest him. He had a most beautiful and interesting wife, and the loveliest little girl of three or four years of age that I ever set my eyes on. That lovely little girl was kind enough to take to me at once - there's no accounting for taste. We had a little flirtation in the distance at first. By and by she came toward me, nearer and nearer, then she stopt in front of me, and looked at me, hesitating, with her finger in her pretty little mouth. I knew what she wanted, and I said to her: 'That's all right, come on'. She jumped on my knees, settled herself comfortably and asked me to tell her stories. I started at once. Now, you understand I was not allowed to stop: but I took breath, and I said to her: 'Does not your papa tell you long stories on Sunday- That lovely little round face grew sad and quite long. 'Oh, no!' she said, 'papa is too tired on Sundays.' "

If parents only knew it they could get far greater rest and more valuable knowledge from entering into child-life than in almost any other way. It is not sitting or lying down that rests one. but the power to change thought from one thing to something entirely different, and entering into the child-life would give both rest and recreation. It would tend to renew youth and in every way prove beneficial to father and child. It would be of untold assistance to the mother, who has been engaged throughout the day with the care of the children. It would introduce a new element into the life of the child, and children require change of thought quite as much as do older people. The monotony experienced by older people is also experienced by children.

A few words on the question of the temperament of parents will be timely. It may be said that temperament is a matter of heredity, but being born into this world with a certain temperament, the power is given to change it. A morbid, gloomy temperament may be made bright and hopeful, and the anxious, worrying temperament may become the peaceful, restful one. No matter what mental condition is brought into the world, it can be changed, modified, or eradicated. Children will thrive best where there is a spirit of hopefulness, where the mental sunshine of fearlessness, brightness, and gladness is diffused about them.

Parents should always be patient with children, remembering that the understanding of a child is only developed to a limited degree, and through being patient in showing the right course of thought and action, more can be accomplished than by manifesting a spirit of impatience.

Sometimes young dogs and kittens will play with a ball for hours at a time, but with children it is very different. Frequent change is necessary to their well-being. The mind of the child already gives evidence that it is not going to be satisfied with any one phase of life, but must know all there is to be known before it will ever rest content. The mind of the child is really the prophecy of all that is yet to come. Parents should never try to quell anything in the nature of normal activity in the mind of the child. It is only when the child thinks and acts far beyond his years that they should be careful not to in any way increase such activity of mind; because in such cases the head may become abnormally developed to the detriment of the rest of the physical organism.

Children should never be told that there are two ways of doing things; the right way only should be pointed out. Try to teach the child that there is only one way in life and one way to do everything, and it will make the child's mind more harmonious and the life much easier to live than by having a right and a wrong way.

Parents owe it to their children never to do anything that will cause them to be fearful; never to threaten them with punishment for wrong-doing, but in so far as it is possible, keep their little minds filled with courage, brightness, kindness, gentleness, straightforwardness, politeness, and truthfulness. Parents should always think of their children as they would have them be and do. By keeping this uppermost in their minds, they will find that the life of the child will shape itself according to their highest ideal. What they think and see in their own minds concerning their children, if held to in a strong, stedfast way, will sooner or later be beautifully exprest in the life of the child.

Punishment meted out to children for their wrong-doing is seldom or never merited - if punishment ever can be said to be merited.

The child is acting out more the life of those about him than his own. The worry, the anger, or the fretfulness, is occasioned more by conditions thrown about the child than by anything wrought out by the child. If the punishment were meted out according to the true deserts, more often would it go to the parents. Punishment does not make children better, but serves to call out a certain sense of resentment, and when parents punish their children, they, themselves, become instrumental in the introduction of a false element in the life of the child.

Parents should teach their children how to think and reason for themselves. When a child is told to do a thing and asks the father or mother the reason for it, that reason should never be denied. It is not sufficient to say, "I told you to." Such an example, if carried out, will be copied by the child, and in after life will show forth as a disagreeable trait of character. The child has a right to the reason for anything he is asked to do or refrain from.

Parents should be reasonable and consistent in their dealings with their children. Children should not be allowed to do a thing to-day and have the same thing refused them on the morrow with neither rime nor reason. In fact, it is better to deal with children in as reasonable and as straightforward a way as one would with adults. Make everything very simple and very clear.

Truthfulness, simplicity and directness once established in the mind of a child are going to be of untold benefit to him in his after life. The impressions received in early childhood are the abiding ones. The frank, straightforward, manly man is usually so because of his early training.

Do everything possible to direct the mind of the child into true channels. The child who is brought into the environment of parents who are fault-finding, intolerant, and selfish, who punish the child for misdemeanors which are often the direct result of their own thought and action, not only has a hard time in childhood, but will find it difficult in after life to overcome the wrong tendencies which were implanted in childhood. It is neither right nor just for parents to expect their children to express more than they themselves are expressing. The mental atmosphere surrounding the child will have a marked effect upon the harmony of the child's mind and the well-being of his body.

Respect the rights of children, and when grown up they will respect the rights of others. Children are influenced, to a marked degree, by the example presented to them by their elders. Give them the very best of examples. Make it easy for them to be obedient and truthful; make it easy for them to be loving and kind, by being all these yourself. What you are in a thoroughly consistent way, that also they will become.