Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1844-11-29
Management of BOYS.

marked, that the experience OF sixty years hau
taught him, that if boys had a faithful and judi
ciouS mother, they were pretty sure to turn out
well, whatever might be the character of the ia
ther. There are mothers who, from various cauS-
eS, in rearing their sons, are deprived OF the CO.
operation ofthe father. The following hints are
intended for the assistance of such mothers.
l. Keep your boys By NIL means out of The streets.
At The proper times for play, allow them to invite
some Of their neighbours children into your yard,
or permit them to visit those children Of your
friends with whom you are willing they should as
sociate. But let it be an immutable law, that they
are not to rove the streets in freedom, to play with
whatever companions chance may throw in their
way. By commencing early and firmly with this
principle, you will have no difficulty in enforcing
it. Turn a boy loose into the streets, to associ-
ate with the vicious and ~rrofane, to lounge at the
corner Of stores and stables, and he will almost
certainly be ruined. Therefore, at all hazards,
keep them OUT of the streets.
2. DO mol alow your boys TO play out Of doors
IN The euening.-There is something in the prac-
tice of night exposure s. night plays which seems
to harden the heart. You never see such a boy
possessed of IL gentle and modest department He
is always forward, self-willed, unmanageable.-
There is always temptation in the darkness of the
evening, to say and do things which he would not
be willing to do in the open blaze of day. The
most judicious parents will never allow their
children to be out at such hours; consequently, the
only companions he can be with are the unmana-
geable. There is something almost fendllke in
shouts which are OCCASIONALLY heard from such
troops of boys congregated at the. corners of the
streets. If you would save your sou from certain
ruin, let him not be with them. Keep him at
home in the evening, unless, by special permission,
he is at the house OF some ludiciOus friend, where
you know he will only engage in Preside sports.
8. Do phat you can 10 Keep your boys employed.
Ley play be their occasional privilege, and they
will enjoy it far more highly. Employ them in
the garden, if you have one, at work, not at play.
1t will do them no harm to perform humble servi-
ces. 1t will help you, and help them still more, to
have them bring in the wood or the coal, to scour
the knives, to make their own beds and to keep
them in order. You may thus render them useful
and greatly contribute 10 their future welfare. IF
YOU are sick it is still more important you should
train up your sons in these habits of industry, for
they stand in need of this moral and physical dis
cipIine. Louis Philippe, the present king Of the
French, though the sou OF the proudest and the
richest noble of France was in childhood and youth
required to wait upon himself in the performance
of the humblest offices. 1t was through this cul-
ture that he was trained up to be one Of the most
remarkable men Of the present age.
/. Take an interest in your chiLdren's ENJOYMENT.
A pleasant word, an encouraging smile, from a
sympathiZlng mother, rewards an affeclionate boy
for many an hour of weary work: and the word
aud the smile reach his heart, and make Il more
pIiable, gentle, mother-Ioving boy. How often
will a boy, with such a mother, work all the after
noon to build a play house, or a dove cote, cheer
ed with the anticipated Joy of showing it to his
mother when it is done. And when he takes
her hand to lead her out and show he: the evidence
of his mechanical skill, how greatly can his young
spirit be ~gratifed by a few words Of encourage
ment and appreciation. BY sympathizing in the
enjoyment of your children, by maniiesting the in
terest you feel in the innocent pleasures they can
find at home, you thus shield them from countless
temptations.
s.. Encourage as much as possible a .tondness 70,
Observation-Disclosures books have been, ofIaie year:
so greatly multiplied, that there is but lltlle diff
Guilty in forming, IN the mind Of the child, a taste
for reading. When the taste is once formed, you
will be saved all further trouble. Your son will
soon explore the libraries of all his associates, ant
I he will find calm and silent, and improving amuse'
ment for many rainy days and long evenings. And
| you may have many hours Of your own evening
{ solitude enlivened by his readings. The cultiva
ton of this habit is of such Immense importance
and is so beneficial in its results, not only upon thu
child, but upon the quietude and harmony Of lhl
whole family, that it is well worth while TO maxi
special efforts to awaken a 70 ndness for books
Select some books of decidedly entertaining char
l acter, and encourage him for a time to read aloul
to you, and you will very soon find his interest rv
eted; and by a little attention, avoiding as mucl
as possible lrksOme constraint, you may soon fl
I the habit permanently.
. The great difficulty with most parents is, tina
: they are unwilling to devote time to their chill
{ dren. But there are no duties in life more impe
: rious than the careful culture of the minds an,
hearts of the imrnortals intrusted to our care
There are no duties which we can neglect at sucl
an awful hazard. A good son is an inestimabl
treasure: language cannot speak his worth. A ba,
IS son is about the heaviest calamity that can be en-
e dured on earth. Let the parent, then, End tim
e to train up the child in the way he should GO
h IN. Y. W~atchman.