THE CHILD CHARACTER by John Ruskin

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jun 18, 1894

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 32.

THE CHILD CHARACTER.

By John Ruskin

THE first character of right childhood is that it is modest. A well-bred child does not think it can teach its parents, or that it knows everything. It may think that its father and mother know everything—perhaps that all grown-up people know everything—very certainly it is sure that it does not. And it is always asking questions and wanting to know more.

A second character of right childhood is to be faithful. Perceiving that its father knows best what is good for it, a noble child trusts him wholly, gives him its hand, and will walk blindfolded with him if he bids it.

A third character of right childhood is to be loving and generous. Give a little love to a child and you get a great deal back. It loves everything near it when it is a right kind of a child, would always give the best it has away if you need it, does not lay plans for getting everything in the house for itself, and delights in helping people. You cannot please it so much as by giving it a chance of being useful in ever so little a way. And because of all these characters it is cheerful.

Putting its trust in its father, it is careful for nothing; being full of love to every creature, it is happy always, whether in its play or its duty.

So, then, you have the child's character in these four things,—humility, faith, charity, and cheerfulness.—Ruskin.