HERE we see a picture of little Milly. She is sitting on a big rug, rocking her doll’s cradle with one hand, while she holds the other one up as if to say “Be quiet! You’ll wake the baby.” In the cradle lies her little pet kitten. He is snugly covered with dolly’s blankets and with his head laid back on the pillows, seems to be very comfortable.
How motherly this little girl acts! She has probably often had mother tell her not to wake baby in just the same way she is telling us now. The kitten has been put to sleep just as she saw mamma put her baby brother to bed in his cradle. Little children always love to play that they are grown up, and you will often find them doing things in exactly the same way as their elders, especially those they love or admire.
How often we see children imitate someone so exactly that we need not ask who it is! In speech, we often hear small boys and girls use many expressions gathered from the talk of older ones in the same family. Even tones of voice and gestures used in speaking are faithfully repeated. Oftentimes not only older people are imitated but it is not at all unusual to see children copy a brother or sister or a little playmate.
When we remember this fact, how necessary it becomes that we should not allow the little ones to hear us say things, or see actions, such that we should not care to have them given back to us again. The bad is copied as well as the good and if we do not wish children to use impatient and loud tones of voice or cross words, we should never use them ourselves. Again how necessary it is for all boys and girls to keep away from those who are not pure in words and actions.
God tells us, “Evil communications corrupt good manners.” In another place in His word He says, “Abhor that which is evil.” Let us try to remember these precious words and strive faithfully to copy after the only true pattern given to us— the Lord Jesus Christ.
ML 06/08/1902