dear children, a promising,
lovely boy, had early become intemperate, and was now sleeping in a
drunkard's grave!

Having passed through the ordinary nursery incidents of the first months
of infancy, Charley--for so he was familiarly called--became a fine fat
child. "Sweet boy," said his mother, as she rather clumsily patted his
cheeks, and felt of his tender limbs, "you will be a comfort to your
parents in their old age."

"I was just thinking of that," added the father. "What a blessing he
will be to us! He will manage the farm--administer to our comfort, and
inherit our estate."

Many a bright sunny morning has been followed by a dark cloudy evening.
Our supposed blessings often prove to us a source of disappointment and
sorrow. I have seen the mother clasp her lovely infant to her breast,
and fondly and dotingly caress it, and press its little hands and feet,
soft as velvet, with her lips. And I have seen that child, the rainbow
of promise, and the cause of so much joy, bring down that mother's head,
ere it was gray, with sorrow to the grave.

Thoughts like these, however, never crossed the minds of Mr. and Mrs.
Duran. They dreamed not that sickness and death might blast their
hopes, and leave them more lonely than they were before. So staid and
uniform had been their own life, that they never once supposed that
Charles, if he should grow up, could pursue any other course.

Every day little Charles became more and more the object of cherished
hopes and affections. The hearts of the parents were bound up in him. He
became their idol. His wants, real and imaginary, were all met. His
danger was of being spoiled by too much indulgence.

"I believe they will kill him with kindness," was the remark of Ann, a
colored woman, who had long lived in the family. "It is just the way Mr.
Parsons used to do with his Jim, who never amounted to anything."

CHAPTER III.

HIS EARLY TRAINING.

"Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old he will
not depart from it." Prov. xxii, 6. The proper training of children is
of the utmost importance. Upon it to a great extent depend their
usefulness and happiness in the world. And as the happiness of parents
is so intimately connected with the course of conduct pursued by their
children, it should be with them a constant study how they may promote
the well-being of their offspring.

On this subject much has been said and written. Some recommend
indulgence as