moment he heeds them and allows them to enter
his mind, that moment he is in danger and will most likely fall into bad
habits. He must strenuously resist all such thoughts and going to his
father or mother tell them about his trials and temptations and strive
to forget them until success crowns his efforts. By persistent efforts,
by repeated prayers to the Lord for help, by reading his Bible and good,
pure stories, by running into the open air and indulging in some useful
occupation or joyous, healthful play, he will eventually conquer them
and thus rise to the dignity of a true man. Sometimes, too, it may be
necessary to consult the physician for help. In addition to the
instinctive shrinking which every right minded person generally feels
from putting ideas of impurity into a child's innocent mind, a parent's
pride leads him to hope that _his_ boy would not indulge in any such
mean and disgusting practices. But, bearing in mind the advice of
Herbert Spencer--"that the aim of discipline should be to produce a
_self-governing_ being," the best advice a parent or guardian can, and
ought, to give, is: do not harbor bad thoughts or feelings about
anything; at once turn them away and think of something else, of
something good, true and pure. Indulge in no hatred or revengeful
feelings towards others; plot no evil things; always be true to your
word, faithful to your duties and charitable to all. Treat everybody
kindly and politely. And further, a child should be _taught_ what
"chastity" really is, instead of leaving him to find it out as best he
may.

It should be clearly explained to him that true chastity requires the
shunning of all indecency and foul language; that he should refrain from
touching his secret parts except when the necessities of nature require
it; that all sexual emotions should be subjugated. When he grows older
every boy should be taught that chastity means continence; and it should
be firmly impressed upon his mind that all lascivious actions are a
drain upon his whole system and weaken the powers which the Lord has
given him to be employed _only_ in the married state. These are
characteristics of a true man and will help him very much to keep out of
sexual difficulties which, as we shall see further on, are among the
greatest curses of life.

The use of tobacco, wine, coffee or tea by children is well known to be
highly injurious. Never allow a child to use either of these--not even
in small quantit