CHILDREN
Children are the symbols
of simplicity, purity, honesty, innocence and piousness.
They have yet to learn
the evils of dishonesty, falsehood, criminality, viciousness, stealth,
aggressiveness, revenge, unfaithfulness and deceptiveness.
Consequently, they are
exceedingly attractive and lovely. Their smiles are delightful and their
laughter is marvellous.
The English poet William
Wordsworth (1770-1850) says in his poem Intimations
of Immortality:
“Heaven lies about us in our infancy;
Shades of the prison house begin to
close upon the growing boy,
But he beholds the light, and whence
it flows.
He sees it in his joy;
The youth, who daily farther from the
east**
Must travel, still is Nature’s priest,***
And by the vision splendid
Is on his way attended;
At length the man perceives it die
away,
And fade into the light of common
day.
“Earth fills her lap with pleasures of
her own;
Yearnings she hath in her own natural
kind,
And, even with something of a mother’s
mind,
And no unworthy aim,
The homely nurse doth all she can
To make her foster child, her inmate
man,
Forget the glories he hath known,
And that imperial palace whence he
came.
----
*prison house worldly existence.
**east: the beginning of the sun’s daily journey. ***Nature’s priest: feeler of
spiritual unity with nature.
------
To conclude, here is an
educative quote by the English divine
August W. Hare (1792-1834): Tasks set to children should be moderate. Over-exertion
is hurtful both physically and intellectually, and even morally. But it is of
the utmost importance that they should be made to fulfil all their tasks
correctly and punctually. This will train them for an exact and conscientious
discharge of their duties in after life.
********
G.R.Kanwal
3rd April 2025
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