The literary echo. (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1851, 1851-08-07
STAY DO not Rebuke the Child.

is literal and exact obedience, deserving
commentator rather thyn blame.
Language, whether oral or written is
rarely interpreted literally; our words usu-
ally meaning either more or less than our
intention, and requiring practice and ex-
perience to be truly understood. Hence
daily observation shows that men are, from
misapprehension, unintentional offenders
either in whole Or in part; and very Of
ten where they desire and intend to obey
and please in which case, although we
correct the error, we easily forgive.
But with little children, who cannot
explain the reasons Of their seeming obe-
dience on misconduct, we are often harsh
in unmerited rebukes and threats, and,
sometimes, alas in actual chastisements !;
for the writer we'll knows, and doubtless
many other parents who have distinct re-
membrance of their early childhood, know,
that little children do at first understand
words and commands literally, till by an
act Of reasoning, Or by observing tones and
looks and gestures they comprehend our
intention either in commands or prohibi-
tions. Two instances will, perhaps, Illus
trate my meaning.
A little boy about four years old was IN
room while his aunt was conyersing with
a friend. The little fellow not being inter-
ested with the dialougc was amusing MIN
self by regular tilting back and forth Of
a small chair, which to lis ear made a
very pleasing iteration OF sounds not, per-
haps, musical, but yet most accurately
timed. The child's music was noise to
to the aunt-as with music Of more pre-
tension is yet the case with different hear
ers--on which the old lady with rebuk-
ing mlidness said to the little fellow
make less noise !" The child interpre-
ting the words literally with most common
dable, exact, and implicit obedience, made
the noise less-that is he played the chair
legs less forte-he reduced the sound
Loosing little in mildness now came the
second rebuke, indicating by tone or infex-
ion anger beginning" Make LESS noise
[ tell you !" The tone of the alternate
thumpings became almost an adagio move
ment and the chair legs touched in an
almost inaudible pianissimo upon the floor
and the noise had in fact became the
least possible when the rebuke final came,
in very excited tone" Make LESS noise
I tell you--or l will box your ears y
The terrified and grieved child stood
abashed, in moment arrested the move
ment Of the chair he had been most
honestly aiming all the while at exact obe-
dience, and for that he was threatened
with punishment What does aunty
,nean," said he to himself " Oh now
[ know, when she says make less noise,
she means make no noise - And from
thatinstant the chair-legs thumpod no more.
Two years after, the above little boy
was placed with new guardians. AS he
was excessively timid and bashful, an el-
dcrly lady-a boarder IN the family--with
much kindness insisted that the little or
phan boy should always be b.cu., int into the
parlor when she gave parties On the sec
ond night the little fellow found courage
enough to sit in quiet corner where he
hoped to remain unnoticed but this not
suiting the intention of the benetactress,
she said "my dear bring me a cake" The
cake-baskct was on table near his corner
and with a sudden determination of being
man, up sprsng the child but alas fol
literal Interpretation: he took from the
basket a cake and with a red face and
awkward manner, hurried across the room
and presented the single cake between
his finger and his thumb
The laugh that arose and which is ye
remembered, was, perhaps, unavoidable
but did the child deserve it ?-Weekly Snn