Parental MR. ALCOTT. Was it natural for Mary to say what she did to her son ? ALL. Yes. MR. ALCOTT. What feeling did her words express ? SEVERAL. Anxiety; a mother's love. (Mr. Alcott remarked at large on a mother's love.) RECORDER. Did you hear how, at the fire in Sea Street the other night, a mother rushed into her burning house for her child, through the flames, and was burnt up with it? (All testified great interest.) MR. ALCOTT. Do any think that was wonderful ? MR. ALCOTT. Was it not beautiful? JOHN B. Yes, but it would have been hard-hearted if she had not. Idea of MR. ALCOTT. Do fathers and mothers now "wist" or "know" what their children are doing, what is going on in their minds, even when they are in the cradle, smiling and moving their little hands? (There was no answer.) Who have a little brother or sister at home? (Some held up hands.) Do you know what is going on in that little babe's mind? (None.) How many desire to know? (Several held up hands.) Do you think these little infants are about their Father's business? (Several held up hands.) How many think it is a little animal, with nothing in its mind, and with no more goodness than a little kitten's, as I heard a person say once? (Four held up hands.) Who think its goodness is much more positive than a kitten's? (All the rest.) Was the infant Jesus just like any little baby you know? (All thought so but four.) William B., thinks babies have no goodness at first. How do they get it? WILLIAM B. I don't know. AUGUSTINE. God gives it. MR. ALCOTT. Who think that the spirit within is the real child, and the body but shows where it is? (All raised hands.) Who think that when babies play, and smile, and love, they have begun their father's business? (All.) Why did not Mary understand Jesus' answer? Misapprehen sion of Childhood. MR. ALCOTT. Do parents generally un derstand what is going on in the hearts and minds of their children? WILLIAM B. Parents very seldom understand what passes in their children's minds, especially concerning spiritual subjects and their feelings. (Almost all the rest rose to assent to the same opinion.) (See Note 187.) (Mr. Alcott read a paraphrase, and spoke of the subject of this and the next conversation.) CONVERSATION XV. INTEGRITY OF SPIRIT. FILIAL PIETY. Jesus at Nazareth Fourteen Years, from the Sacred Text.- Maternal Prudence. Filial Love and Obedience. Motives to Obedience. Authority of Holiness. - Liability to Temptation. -Mission of Life. Mr. Alcott recalled the subject of the last conversation, and then read JESUS AT NAZARETH FOURTEEN YEARS. Before the Vulgar Era, 7. Filial ObeJulian Period, dience. 4720. Nazareth. LUKE ii. 51, 52. 51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. MR. ALCOTT. These verses contain all that is said of Jesus, from the time he was twelve till he was thirty years of age. What do you suppose he was doing all these eighteen years? (See Note 188.) EDWARD J. That reading does not bring any thing to my mind, it is not long enough. WILLIAM C. I think he was growing wise. JOHN B. I think that after he went to Nazareth, he told his mother what he had been doing in the temple, and what his "Father's business" was, and she kept it all to herself. Maternal VOL. I. ALEXANDER. I think the reason she did not tell any body what he said was, because she did not want people to praise him. 11 She did not want him to be proud, for she did not know that he could not be proud, but she knew from the angel, that he was to be great. AUGUSTINE. I think he asked his mother not to say any thing about him, because he thought people would not understand, and would make fun of him. I think he worked in his father's shop, and did carpenter's work, and shaped out his thoughts in things. Filial Obedience. LUCIA. I think "subject to them " means that he obeyed his parents. When his father and mother wanted him to do any thing he did it, and he did not wait to have them ask him. MR. ALCOTT. Why was he so obedient? LUCIA. His mother taught him; and his Father in heaven, before he came into the world, taught him. MR. ALCOTT. Do you think he taught his mother, or his mother taught him most? LUCIA. I don't know ; he taught her by his actions. MR. ALCOTT. Why were these actions right? Why was this obedience so ready? EMMA. He knew what was right; his conscience told him so. WILLIAM B. He wanted to do right. MR. ALCOTT. Why did he want to do right? MR. ALCOTT. Love, love! how many of you have that love, which makes you want to obey your parents, both when they ask you, and before they ask you, as Jesus did? (Most held up their hands.) EDWARD J. I don't know exactly. (See Note 189.) MR. ALCOTT. Can any of you remember when you wanted to do something very much, and knew your parents did not want Motives to you to do it, but they had not said any thing to you about it; and yet you gave up your want? (Some held up hands.) How many of you mind your parents, because you think they will punish you, and in some way make you do as they wish? (See Note 140.) (Some hesitated, but none acknowledged.) Those who have been punished within the last six months, may rise. (A good many rose.) Now those who have done wrong, whether punished or not. (All rose but Nathan.) MR. ALCOTT. Have you not done wrong for six months? NATHAN. No. MR. ALCOTT. Have you not been angry; nor struck any body, nor said any thing wrong; nor felt any thing wrong during this time? NATHAN. No, (to each item answering.) (See Note 141.) MR. ALCOTT. Well; you are an extraordinary perNo one else would say so. son. (Nathan did not answer.) Suppose Luke had written down that Jesus sometimes quarrelled with his companions, sometimes disobeyed his mother, &c. JOHN B. I should not have believed him. SAMUEL T. I should have torn the leaves out of my Bible. AUGUSTINE. The apocryphal Bible tells a great many such stories. EDWARD J. I should like to hear some of them. MR. ALCOTT. No; We cannot waste the time. Charles, what are you interested in to-day? |