The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-03-10
CHILDREN.
BY MRS. HARRIET BEEcHEn STOWE.

Ohe colu market morning, looked into a
mllner's shop, and there ! saw hale, hearty,
well Drowned young fellow from the country,
with his long cart-whip, and a lion shay coat.
holding up some little matter, and turning il
about on his great fist. And what do you sun
pose ii was? a baby's bonnet! A little soft.
blue. satin hood, with a swans down border
white as the new fallen snow, with frill of rich
blonde around the edge.
by his side stood very pretty woman, hold
ing with no small pride the baby-.for evidently
1t 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 uncon-
scons eyes. and fat dimpled cheeks, of the little
one Ii was evident that neither of them had
ever seen baby like that before
But really, Mary said the young man, isn't
three dollars very high?
Mary very predenty said nothing, but takinc
the little bonnet, tied ii on the little head and
held up the baby. The man looked and grnned
and without another word down went the three
doiias-all that the last weeks butter came to :;
and as they walked out of the shop, il is hard to
say which looked the most delighted with the
bargain.
'Ah!' thought Z "a little child shall lead
themp
Another day, as was passing carriage fac
tory along one of our back streets, | saw a vounq
mechanic at work on a wheel. The rough BODY
OF carriage stood beside him-and there, wrap
ped up snugly, all hooded and cloaked, sat a
little dark eyed girl, about year old. playing
with great shaggy dog. As stopped, the man
looked up from his work and turned admiringly
towards his little companion, as much to saw,
See what have got herep
Yes!' thought |, and if the little LADY, ever
got glance from admiring SWANS as sincere as
that, she will be lucky
All, these children little witches pretty.
even IN all their faults and absurdities winning
even in their sins and iniquiles! See, for ex-
ample, yonder little fellow in a mighty fit-he
has shaken his long curls over his deeD blue ewes
the fair brow is bent in frown-the rose leaf
lip is pursed up in infinite defiance-and the
white shoulder thrust naughtily forward Can
any but child look so pretty even in their
nauGhtness
Then comes the instant chanpe-hashino
smiles, tears, the good comes back all in rush.
and you are overwhelmed with prostrations,
promises and kisses They are irresistible, too,
these little ones. They pull way the scholar
Pen-tumble about his papers--make somersets
over his books, and what can he do2 They tear
up newspapers-litter the carpets-break DULL
and upset, and then jabber unimaginable Eng
lsh in self defence, and what can you do for YOUR
self?'
If had child says the precise man, YOU
should see.'
He does have a child, and his child tears I'M
his papers, tumbIes over his things, and pulls his
nose, like all other children, and what has the
precise man to say for himself2 Nothinp-he is
like every body else--'a little child shall lead
him =
Poor little children they bring and teach MS
human beings, more good than they get in re.
turn! How often does the infant, with its soft
cheek and helpless hand, awaken a mother from
worldIiness and egOtlsm, to a whole world of new
and higher ieelipg How often does the mother
repay this, by doing her best 20 wipe off, even
before the time, the dew and fresh simplicity Of
childhood, and make her daughter too soon a
woman of the world, as she has been
The hardened heart of the worldly man is I'M
locked by the guleless tones and simple caresses
of his son--but he repays it, in time, by impart-
ing to his boy all the crooked tricks, and hard
ways, and calous maxims which have undone
himself
Go to the iail-to the peniteDtiary, and find
there the wretch most sullen brutal and hardened
Then look at your infant SON. Such az ne is ia
you, such TO some mother was this man. That
hard hand was soft and delcate-thai rough voice
was tender and lisping-fond eyes followed him
as he payed-and he was rocked and Graded az
something holy. There was a time when bis
his heart, soft and Unworn, might have opened ia
questlOnlngs Of God, and been sealed with the
seal Of Heaven. But harsh hands seized it
fierce, goblin lneaments were impressed upon i,
and all is over with him foreveri