Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-06-07

bayanGue of this description, irritated at
this officious interference of his wife, the
father would silently retreat to the deck,
that he might be out of hearing and leave
tbe wife to carry on the dialogue with the
child, in the way which seemed to comport
so well with her feelings. ,..
The effect Of this constant collision
between the parents, on the SUBJECT OF 60
vernment, in the presence ofthe child, under
such circumstances, it will readily be sup
posed, could not have been otherwise than
disastrous. The father, in this way came
to be regarded by the child as nothing less
than monster, or tyrant; and although ne
felt under necessity ofcomplying instantly
with the fathers command, it was with,
similar feeling to that which prompts the
slave to obey, when obedience and the lash
are the only alternative presented to his
mind. This was ruinous in its influence
on the feelings and temper of the child; his
obstinacy was not subdued, but crushed,
and from the expression Of the eye, and the
curling Of the lip, you could almost read
the wish Of the young transgressor, that he
"was as strong as father" y
Nor did this interference of the mother,
connected with her own excessive lndul-
gence to the child, secure any thing like
filial respect for herself. The authority OF
parental requirements she had helped TO
demolish with her own hands; and the.
child was now even less disposed to obey
her than his father, when her commands
were not in accordance with his wishes.
And one reason was obvious-the child
knew that although the mothers demand
might be positive, still it was not at al! certain
that she would make him obey. This lesson
he had learned most effectually from her
early and long. continued practice Of giving
commands without The expectation of their
being obeyed. This was often illustrated.
One fine day, Jenny" (as she often called
him, especially when the father had inflicted
some punishment) had been quite trouble
some, and the indugent mother, getting out
ofpatience with him, applied the flat Of her
hand to his ear, with so much force, that he
came very near being upset. This excited
the anger of the child, and he hurled alittle
playthng in his hand at his mothers head,
and then screamed as loud as possible,
"Jim, stop your noise; whist, immediately"
said the mother, putting on all her sternness.
"Jim" kept on screaming to the very top OF
! his voice.
81 say, Jim, be still this uery instant, or
willtake your skin off. Buthe I'D learned
how to estimate such threat, and kept on
crying. swell, I'llgo and tellyour. father,
and see if he can't make you stop" and
started, as though she were going on deck
for this purpose. James paused, for a
moment, at this annunciation, and fixed his
eye on his mother to see if she was actually
going up the companion way, at the same
time pouting out his lips, which indicated
almost any thing rather than a subdued
state Of feeling towards his mother. The
moment however, she returned, he began
to below again like a mad bull, and the
mother finally resorted to little dish of
sweetmeats to pacify the angry child. Thus
ended the contest. The mother felt
chagrined at the obstinacy Of her boy; and
little James had sagacity enough to know
that he had conquered.
| left the cabin with my heart full, as l
looked forward to the prospects Of that
child, and the fearful effects, seen now only
in miniature, of that false but cruel tender
ness ola misguided mother to child which
she loved, and yet was contributing her In.
fiuence to ruin, for time and eternity. For
habits of thought and feeling were thus be-
coming fixed in the mind Of a child, res.
pecting the authority of those who, under
God, gave them being; and disregard to
obligations growing out of that relation,
was excited and strengthened by that parent
which would, almost inevitably, be extended
to the laws of the land, and the infinitely
higher claims of the LEGISLATOR of the
universe. If that child, in after life, by
crime, shall bring disgrace and ruin upon
HIMSELF for this world; and finally be found
on the left hand of the Judge, 0 will not
that mothers heart be wrung with anguish,
at the legitimate, buttremendousy appalling
results of her own conduct?
NY precious friends, who are mothers !!
do you realize the responsibility Of your
charge? The first impressions which you
make upon that little prattler on your lap,
may mould its character, and shape its
destiny for eternity! Let your requirements
then be reasonable and proper, and when
made, let OBEDIENCE, full and entire, on the
part of your child, be understood to be
absolutely indispensable: And when its
young spirit thus, at first, learns to bow to
rightful authority, through the instrumental
ity of your domestic administration, it may
be, that you will be fixing in that son the
elements of principle which will bring it
| to tho foot of tic Maker. in nenitenf. cheer