A lazy day of Gutenberging allows me to relish 19th-century juvenile literature. This one, "Lion Ben of Elm Island" (Rev. Elijah Kellogg, 1869), is about a small early-American community in Maine. Not much plot or suspense, just families and towns, a more primitive Mayberry RFD, including details of how people build their houses, make their livings, and raise their kids:
He was neither in his own opinion, nor by profession, a religious man; but the teachings of a pious mother had laid deep in his young heart the foundation of faith and love. When torn from her by the savages, in the solitude of mighty forests, he had pored and prayed over them, till they ripened into a heartfelt love for Him "who causeth the grass to grow for cattle, and herb for the service of man."
His teachings were therefore of such a nature, that while divested of the stiffness generally connected with all attempts at advice or instruction, they deepened every good impression, and stirred the young heart to the quick.
A most silly and hurtful notion, often entertained by young people in respect to religion, is, that it has a tendency to make people narrow-minded, or, as they phrase it, meeching. Such a feeling was effectually repressed, as they listened to ideas of that nature from one who hesitated not to grapple with the fiercest beasts of the forest, and bore on his person the scars of many wounds. His influence over them was very much increased, for the reason that he seemed anxious to make them happy in this world, as well as the other; inculcated with great earnestness those principles which lie at the bottom of thrift, competence, and the well-being of society.
Religious discourse from their parents, the catechising of the minister, advice in respect to their conduct in life, might be quite dry and uninteresting; but with what power to attract and move were the same ideas invested, as they fell from the lips of the hunter and warrior, on a wild sea-beach, amid the roar of breakers; in some sunny nook of the hills, with the rifle across his knees, made juicy and attractive by his graphic language; not thrust upon them against the stomach of their sense, but, like the teachings of the great Parent of nature, in harmony with bursting buds, the springing grass, shading into a deeper green, or mingling in their ear with the brook's low murmur, and the music of summer winds among the foliage,--thus imperceptibly, as the increase of their strengthening sinews, growing up with, and moulding the very habit of their thoughts!
How quaint, to think that children's books should uphold and reinforce those behaviors that strengthen a society, rather than to tear them down and pollute those values.
ReplyDeleteCan't recall if I have mentioned it, but recently purchased a "Rick Brant" children's book, along the lines of "the Hardy Boys", excepting the protagonists were the son of a renowned scientist and his Marine vet best friend engaged on scientific expeditions and adventures, rather than solving crimes. . Very eye opening to see what I read as a kid- there were many lessons taught, about how Men acted, how Women acted, about Truth, Compassion,courage, etc- Violence? Some, but nothing gratuitous or obscene,usually settled with fists, and always in defense of the weak, although "Scotty" was never without his trusted rifle...
Racial and cultural differences were noted, but not denigrated.
I sent it on to my nephew, perhaps he will like it. One can hope.
That sounds like a good book, Tex. It has the feel of Walter Scott's writings in Waverly, which perhaps was partially an inspiration -- it was widely read in the period.
ReplyDeleteA most silly and hurtful notion, often entertained by young people in respect to religion, is, that it has a tendency to make people narrow-minded, or, as they phrase it, meeching. Such a feeling was effectually repressed, as they listened to ideas of that nature from one who hesitated not to grapple with the fiercest beasts of the forest, and bore on his person the scars of many wounds. His influence over them was very much increased, for the reason that he seemed anxious to make them happy in this world, as well as the other; inculcated with great earnestness those principles which lie at the bottom of thrift, competence, and the well-being of society.
ReplyDeleteEvery culture and nation has a religion though, whether people know about it or not. Avoiding religion merely makes them easy for aggressive religions like Islam to convert them by the sword.
Stuff likes to go into a vacuum, and the vacuum of the human Void which has no faith or strength of belief, loves welcoming in foreign invasions and foreign religions.
I sent it on to my nephew, perhaps he will like it. One can hope.
Only way to de program a corrupt and evil cultural education is to replace that cultural education with a purer, older version or an entirely alien culture. In my experience that's always been the case, at least.