The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1847-02-06
From the N. Y. Evangelist.
CHILDREN.
BY MRS. II. BEECHER STOWE.
q a LILLE chill shnU Iend fhe,,, -

One cold market morning, | looked in
to milliner's shop, and there saw a
tall, hearty, well-browned young fel-
low from the country, with his long
cart whip, and long shag coat, holding
up little matter, and turning il
about on his great fist. And what do
you suppose it was! A 6aby's bonnet!
A little soft, blue satin hood, with a
ffiIl of rich blonde around the edge.
By his side stood avery pretty woman,
holding with no 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 dimpled
cheeks of the little one. 1t was evident
that neither Of them had ever seen q
baby like that before! .l. 5l..
"But really, Mary" says the young
man, ''isn't three dollars very high?"
Mary very prudently said nothing.
but taking the little bonnet, tied it on
to the little head, and held up the baby.
The man looked, grinned, and without
another word, down went the three
doIars-all that the last weeks butter
came to; as they walked out of the
shop, it is hard to say which looked
most delighted with the bargain. ,.
"Ah!' thougt |, "a little child shall
lead them?" ...t ... ..
Another day, as | was passing car
rIage factory along one of. our back
steets, saw young mechanic at work
on a wheel. The rough body carriage
stood beside him-and there, wrapped
snugly. all hooded and cloaked, sat lit
tie dark-eyed girl, ,abouta a year old, play
ing with a great shaggy .dog.-As /
stopped, the man looked up from his
work and turned admiringly towards
his little companion. as much as to
say, ''see what have got here"
'Yesr thought !, sand fthe little lady
even gets glance from admirlng SWANS
as sincere as that, she will belucky.'
All, these Children! little witches!
pretty even in all their faults and alb
surdities! winning, even in their sins
and iniquities See tor example, yonder
little fellow in a naughty fl-he has
shaken his long curls over his deep eyes
the fair brow is bent in frown-
the rose-leaf lip is pursued up in inf
mite defiance ce-and the white shoulder
thrust doughtily forward. Can any one
but child look SO pretty even in their
naughtiness? ......
Then comes the instant change
flashing smiles and tears, as the good
comes back all in rush, as YOU are
overwhelmed with pro!estations, prom
ises and kissss!-They are irresistible,
too, these little ones. The pull away
the scholars pen--tumble about his
papers--make summersets over his
books, and what can he do' They
tear newspapers--litter the carpets
break, pull and upset, and then jabber
unimaginable English, in self defence,
and what can you do for yourself?
"If had a child" says the precise
man, "you should see."
He does have child, and his child
tears up his papers, tumbles over his
things, and pulls his nose, like all other
children, and what has the precise man
to say for Observation-Disclosures is
like every body else--"a little child shall
lead him." wy ~. .'a''
Poor little children they bring and
teach US, human beings, more good
than they get in return. How often
does the infant, with its soft cheek and
helpless hand, awaken a mother from
worldliness and egotism, 10 whole
world of new and higher feeling!-
How often does the mother ,epay this
by doing her best to wipe off. even be-
fore the time, the dew and fresh sim.
plicity of childhood, and make her
daughter too seon woman Of the
world, as she has been.
The hardened heart Of the worldly
man is unlocked by the guieless tones
and simple caresses Of his son-but he
repays it, in time, by imparting to his
boy all the crooked tricks, and hard
ways, and callods maxims which have
undone himself. at .6a !
Go TO the jail--to the penetentiary.
and find there the wretch most sullen,
brutal and hardened. Then look al
your infant son.--Such as he is to you,
such to some mother was this man.
That hard hand was soft and delicate
that rough voice was tender and lisp
ing--fond eyes followed him as he
played, and he was rocked and era
died as something holy. There was a
time when his heart, soft and unworn,
might have opened the questlonings of
God, and Jesus, and been sealed with
the seal OF Heaven. But harsh hands
seized it-ferce, goblin lineomente