Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1849-08-11

"Certainly. II they do not obey their
parents as children, they will not obey the
laws as men,"
"That is precisely the view l take. And
l make It point to require implicit obedi-
ence in my boy. This is my duty as pa
rent. But it Is hard work"
"It is, doubtless. Still we must perse-
we're, and in patience possessing our SOULS"
"To be patient with boy like mine is a
hard task. Sometimes / feel as if / would
60 Wild" said the mother.
"But, under the influence of such feel
ing" remarked the friend, "what we say
makes little or no impression. A calmly
uttered word, in which there is an express
sion OF interest, and sympathy for the
child, does more good than the sternest
commands. This l have long since dis
covered. l never scold my children
Scolding does no good but harm. My old
est boy is restless, excitable and impulsive.
If were not to provide him with the
means OF employing himself, or in some
way interest him, his hands would be on
everything in the house, and both he and l
would be made unhappy"
"But how can you interest himF -
SIN various ways. Sometimes read TO
him, sometimes set him doing things by
way of assisting me. take him out when
l can, and let him go with the girls when l
send them on errands. Iprovide him with
things suited to his age. In word, l try
TO keep him in my mind, and therefore find
it not very difficult to meet his varying
states. I never thrust him aside, and say
am too busy TO attend him when he comes
with request. II cannot grant it, try
and not say no, for that word comes too
coldly upon the eager desire of an ardent
minded boy" rg- .r. ...
"But how can you help saying no if the
request is one you cannot grant!' f...
"Sometimes l ask il something else will
not do as well. And sometimes endeavor
to create new interest in his mind. There
are various ways in which it must be done,
that readily suggest themselves to those de-
sirous for the good of their children. 1t is
affection that inspires thought. The love
Of children always brings a quick intelli-
gence touching their good.'
Much more was said not needful to re-
peat. When the friend was away, Tom
my's mother, whose heart convicted her OF
wrong to her little boy, went up to the
room where she had sent him to spend four
or five lonely hours as a punishment for
what was in reality her own fault, not his.
Three hours Of the weary time had already y
passed. She did not remember to have
heard sound from him, since she drove
him away with angry words. In fact she
had been too deeply interested in the new
book she was reading, to have heard any
noise that was not extraordinarily loud.
AT the door of the chamber she stood and
listened for moment. All was silent
within. The mothers heart beat with a
a heavy motion. On entering, she found
the order Of the room undisturbed. Tom
my was asleep on the bed. And his moth.
er bent over him, she saw that tears Were
upon his cheeks and eyelids, and that the
pillow was wet. A choking sigh struggled
up from her bosom. She felt a rebukine
conscientiousness of having wronged heI
boy. She laid her hand upon his red cheek
but drew it back instantly. 1t was hol
with fever. She caught up his hand i,
was also in burning glow. Alarm tool
the place Of grief for having wronged hel
child. She tried to awaken him, but ht
only moaned and muttered. The excite.
ment had brought on fever.
When the father came home and laid hi:
hand npon the hot cheek of his sleeping
boy, he uttered an exclamation of alarm
and started off instantly for physician
All night the wretched mother watched by
the side of her sick child, unable from iea
and seli-reproach to sleep. When th'
morning broke, and Thomas looked up int
her face with glance OF affection, his fe
Yer was gone and his pulse calm, the moth
er laid her hand thankfully against that o
her boy, and prayed Heaven for strength Il
bear with him, and wisdom to guide he
feet Alright and as she did so in the Silenc
of her overAowing heart, the lad drew hi
arms around her neck, and kissing he
said
Smother I do love you"
That tears came gushing down the moth
er's face is no cause of wonder, nor that sh
returned half wildly the embrace and kis
of her child.
Let us hope that in her future conduc
towards her ardent, restless boy, she ma
be able to control herself; for then sh
E will not find it hard to bring him into sub
: lection to what is right.
4 LAST DEGREE OF RELATIONSHIP.
, Hoosier stepped on board steamboat ;
: she was lying at certain port on the Obi
river, and bawled out, "Is the captai
: aboardl" . s.s-l l1.#-
/ The captain, who was standing anon
|. the crowd, responded "Yes; what do yo
want with him!" ai ...ss, L.......
I .Oh, nothing particular he'sa distant n
g lation o, mine, and I'd like to see him."
r "a relation of yours" inquired the cal
a tain, somewhat surprised.
j, "Yes, a slight relation; he's the fath'
1 OF my first child" ' '+ 81
o You'd better believe the captain slope,
while the crowd enjoyed the sport to the
|. hearts content. ~ .sl t
A Connecticut dame, the mother of