True Democrat. (Paulding, Miss.) 1845-18??, 1846-08-19
LzIS GEE Z q ~ Y.
CHILDREN.
BY MRS. HARRIET BEECHER STOWE.
81 little Child shall lead Mem."

hearty, well Drowned yonng fellow from
the country, with his long cart whip, anC
a long shay coat, holding up little matter
and turning it upon his great fist AnC
what do yod suppose it was? A 6obY,
bennett A little soft, blue satin hood
with swans down border white as the
fallen SNOW, with frill of rich blonde
around the edge BY his side stood a very
pretty woman, holding with 10 small
pride the baby-for evidently it was the
baby. Any one could read that fact in
every glance, as they looked at each other,
and the little hood, and then at the large
blue, unconscious eyes, and fat dlmpIed
cheeks of the little one. 1t was evident
that neither of Them had ever seen baby
/ like that before.
But really, Mary says the young man,
isn't three dollars very high 2
Mary, very prudentIy said nothing, but
taking the little bonnet, tied it on the little
head, and held up the little bonnet, tied it
on the little head, aud help up the baby
The man looked aud grinned; without
another word, down wehtlhe three dollars
and that last weeks butter come to; and
as they walked ont Of the shop. 1t is hard
10 say which looked most delighted with
the bargain.
Ahr thought |, "a little child Shall lead
tbem!" Another day, as was passing a
carriage factory along one of our back
streets saw youlg mechanic at work
on wheel. The rough carriage body
stood beside hln--and there, wrapped up
yl+l Il a., 4 I,ttI.
dark eyed girl, about year old, playing
with great shaggy dog. As | stopped,
the man looked up from his work and
turned admiringIy towards his little com.
pauion, us much us 10 say, See what |
have got here?'
'Yesn thought |, 'and if the little lady
ever gets a glance llom admiriag swans
as sincere as that, she will be ucky.'
All, these children! little witches! pretty
even in all their fouls and absurdties!
winning even in their sins aud impurities!
See for example, yoHder little fellow in
naughty fit--he has shaken his long curlS
over ms deep Blue e1cs--he frail brow Is
bent in trown--lhe rosy lip is pushed up
in infinite deiiance-aud the white shoul.
der thrust naugitily forward. Can any
one but child look so pretty even in their
uaughllHess!
Then comes the instant change-ilaSh-
iug smiles and tears, as the good comes
back all in "a rash, aud you are oyerwhel-
med with protcsiationS, promises and kis-
ses! They are irresistible, too these little
ones. They pull away the scholars pen
tumble about his papers-make somersets /
over his books, and what can he do! They |
tear newspapers litter the carpets break, !
pull, aud upset and then jabbrr unimagin- /
able English, IN self defence, aud what can /
you do for yourself!
III had child says the precise man,
'you should see"
lie docs have a child, and his child tears 4
up his papers, tumhcs over his things, and
pulls las nose, like all other children, and
what has the precise man 10 say for him
self! Nulhiug--h Is like every body else
"a llll,c child shall lead HIM
Poor little children. they bring aud
leach us human beings more good than
hey GET Ia return. How often does the
i.luni, with its soft cheek and helpless
luud, awaken a mother from worIduesS
md euuiSm. 10 n whole world of new aud
higher feelings! How oGeu does the
mother repay this, by doing her best TO
wipe of even before the time, the dew
,nd fresh simplicity of childhood aud
make her daughter too soon a woman of
he world, as She has been.
The hardened heart Of the worldly man
S unlocked by the guileless tones and
impIe eaIcSScs Of lis son-but he repays
{, ia time, by impaHing TO ms boy all the
rocked tricks, aud hard ways, and collouS
naxims which have undone himself
Go to the jail-to The pouiienliary, and
md there the wretch most sullen, brutal
nj hardened Then look al your infant
ou. Such as he is % you, such 10 some
.oor mother was this man. That hard
and was soft and de.Icaic--lhat rough
oice was tender and lisping-fond eyes
lll0wed him as he played--and he was
ocked and Graded as something holy.
So, Of the tender weeping child, IS made
be cailous, hgartless nau---of the all-be-
ewing child, the sueerIug Skepiic---oi lhe
eauiiiul and modest, the shameless and
5andaned--and tins Is what ths W0Fld
oes Tor the little one
There was a time when the Divine One
cod on earth, and lItlle children sought
draw near 90 him. Bnt harsh human