SECTION M. '541 3. Appetite is another thing which should be put under strict oeernment, and children should be taught betimes to restrain it. That of the taste is the first thing that gets the ascendant in our younger years, and a guard should be set upon it early. What an unbecoming thing is it for children to be craving after every dish that comes to a table ? and that they will generally do, if they have never been taught to bridle their craving. They must eat of all the pickles and sauces and high seasoned meats, and gorge themselves with a medley of inconsistent dainties; and without any restraint, lest little master should be froward, or lest little miss should grow out of humour with her dinner. How often do they make a foul inroad on their health by excess of eat- ing, being tempted farther than nature requires by every luscious bit which is within their sight ? how frequently doth this indul -' genre vitiate their stomach, ruin their constitution, weaken the springs of nature, and destroy the powers of animal life betimes ? how many graves are filled, and funeral vaults crowded with little carcases which have been brought to untimely death by the fool- ish fondness of a parent or a nurse, giving the young creatures leave to cat any thing they desire ? or if they happen by strength of constitution to survive this pestilence, how often do they grow up to young gluttons, and place their happiness in the satisfaction of the taste ? they are deaf to all the rules of virtue and absti- nence all their lives, because they were never taught to deny themselves when they were young. O it is a mean and shame- ful thing to be a slave to our taste, and to let this brutal appetite subdue reason and govern the man. But if appetites must be gratified in the child, they will grow strong in the years of youth, and a thousand to one but they over -power the man also. Let but fond' parents humour their little offspring, and in- dulge. their children to sip wine frequently, and they will gene- rally grow up to the love of it long before nature needs it ; and by this means they will imagine drams are daily necessary for their support, by that time they are arrived at the age of man or woman. Thus nature is soon burnt up, and life pays for the deadly draught. The foundation of much gluttony .and drun- kenness, of many diseases that arise from intemperance, and of many an untimely death, is laid in the nursery. An excess of niceness in pleasing the palate, is a foolish and dangerous humour, which should never be encouraged by parents since the plainest food is the most healthful for all persons, but especially for children ; and in this respect they should be under the conduct of their elders, and not always choose for themselves. This conduct and discipline will train them up to virtue and self - denial, to temperance and frugality, to a relish of plain and Wholesome food to the pleasures of active health, and to a firm and cheerful old age. I!¡
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=