Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1853-04-23
NUMBER l3.
SOLILOOUY OF A BOY.

cVhILVVO1 Vr DUt.
"Oh, would | were boy again"
don't see why in the world father wants to
sing that forlorn ditty SO much for; and there's S
grandpa says with sigh, My dear boy, you'll
never be as happy again as you are now
and grandma looks dolefu, and chimes in
with the golden hours Of childhodl'
Wonder where the gold is If got pen
ny sometimes when was little youngster,
thought was well of, and always felt very
sorry after had spent it-tha. is after the
cakes were all gone, and then somebody was
always ready with-'Why, my dear bov, YOU
can't eat your cent and keep it too Well. |
know that now, but there's something | don't
know, and that is where is the great pleasure
in being boy.
When was five years old, and had Just
begun to enjoy something l must be bun
died off to school, and sit on high bench and
no cricket; and had to say A till everything
looked upon, even my mothers face, seemed
one big A; and to crown the whole, was a
Ounce, for it took me three weeks to get on
to B, and good deal longer learning to c
through the alphabet
And when was older, had the satsfac
ton OF being called a great awkward bow
even by my mother, and when | would try
and do my best was invariably laughed at
If in coming into the room | happened to up.
set half dozen chairs, litter was raised
and oh, he's boy! considered sufficient
apology If played with baby was sure
to make 1t cry, and the nurse would look all
around to see if had pinched it; boys, she
said, were full of such tricks.
Wo be to the boy where there is house
hold ofgirls! Why, have known my sisters
to play all sorts of tricks, and John--thats
Invariably got the blame. And then it
was John, you are younger than Mary, put
up this clothesline; John you are great boy
and must learn to work. just 90 down the
cellar and split up the wood; John run up to
the garret and bring down squash or two;
John run out to the wood house and get some
kindlins'; and on damp days the girls invaria-
bly, held jubilee, and poor John was the
slave
The fact is, I don't believe but what it
would do the girls good to 60 out in wet
weather as well as the boys. But thyre al
ways crying out thin shoes" and "wet feet"
and if ask them why they don't wear thick
ones as do, they only laugh at me, and an
swer that such clumsy things are well enough
for boys
often tell them no wonder they get colds
with nothing but bit of lace over their
shoulders, and piece Of gauze on their arms
1t seems so funny, too, to call boys harder
than girls. Why! if l thought so-thin
sacks. thin slippers, bare arms, and bare
necks, | shouldn't live month. Hardy
they're the hardest mortals alive, for they do
stand such treatment some how or other
though they're mighty delicate and seem to
be proud oft; in fact, think a good mary
of them had rather have fashionable con.
sumption than vulgar good constitution.
wonder how long boy is a boy t. lere's
my sister Louisa came from boarding school
finished, as they call it, at sixteen, while I've
got to study three years longer to know as
much as she does-that is, provided she has
got her educstlon--and am past eighteen
Louisa is going to be married next week
who pretends to call her girl9 Nobody:
It's Miss Louisa Sands, that young Iady,' of
her. and it's my dear boy by mother, and
we must overlook the freaks of 6oy' by
tather-and that's the way they talk to me
and of meme, John Sands, that's next to
the head of the family.
Sisters can do anything they please, even
to wearing false hair and every other false FIX
ing, and nobody says word but the first
time put on dickey, it was almost as much
as my llte was worth to meet with the family
| thought could bear it like hero, but the
obs and 'ahsH the pulling the points up over
my cheeks, the mock salutations to Mr. Sands,
the derisive laughter was more than was
prepared for, and actually I'm from the
house, while all the girls shouted after me,
Goodbye, Mr. Sands; take care of that new
dickey.'
| brought home a nice razor-box the Gay
was eigteen, and for safe keeping, hid it in
the garret between the rafters. Vain pre-
caution When ! got home, box, brushes,
straps, powder, and razor, were all paraded
upon the table and little scrap of paper pin
ned to the wall, on which was written Johny,
dear, be CAREFUL little boys should not play
with edged tools" and all my sisters could
sing that day was "a frog he would a-eour-
ting 60"
Never was so angry in my life, but bore
1t like philosopher, only it did try me. when
of mornings thought myself unobserved. TO
hear ggling outside the door, and my lit
tie, six year old sister lisp, instigatpd by OIL
der and more wicked spirits, johnny, here's
pussy wants 10 be shaved
And so it is in everything; it seems strange
that men who profess 10 so much dignity al
ter they are twenty-one, should have u sub
NIT to indignity up to the very borders LIS
curious, and it puzzles r1e:It' a fact in meta
physics that cent account for, and don't
suppose ever shall. It's martyrdom, and
you won't catch me after Tn twenty-o one,
singng-I would were boy agaiu.'--
OliVe Branch.