The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1853-01-07
SOLILOQUy OF A BOY.

soLILOQUy OF A BOY.
ooh! would were a boy sysin" al don't
see why in the world fathes wants to sing
that folorn dtty go much for; and there's
grandpa says with a sigh, ,"my dear boy you'll
never be as happy again as you are now;" g.
grandma looks doleful, and chimes in "with
the golden hours of childhood!" | wonder
where the gold is! IF I got a penny some-
times when was little youngster,I 1 thought
! was well of, and always felt very sorry after
had spent it-that is, after the cakes were
all gone,-and then somebody was always
ready wi;h-"why my dear boy, you can't eat
your cent and keep it TO-" Well, know
that pow, but there's something don't know,
and that is, where is this great pleasure in
being boy. When / was five years old, g.
had just begun TO enjoy something, must be
bundled off to school, and sit on high bench
and no cricket, had to say A till everything |
looked upon, even my mothers face, seemed
one big A; and to crown the whole, was
Ounce, for it took me three weeks to get on
TO b. and dood deal longer learning to C
through the alphabet.
And when ! was older had the satisfac-
ton Of being called "great awkward boy,"
even by my mother, and when would try g.
do my best. was invariably laughed at. #
in coming into the room I happened to upset
half dozen chairs, litter was raised, and
"Oh he's boy" considered sufficient apollo
gy. If played with the baby was sure to
make 1t cry, and the nurse would look all a.
round to see if had pinched it; boys she said
were always full o such tricks.
Wo be to the boy where there are house.
hold Of girls, why, have known my sisters
to play all sorts OF tricks, and John-that's
l-inyariably got the blame. And then it
was "John, you are younger than Mary, put
up this clothes line; John, you are a great
boy, and must learn to work Just 90 down the
cellar and split up the wood; John, run up
the garret and bring down asguash or two;
John run out to the wo~sS2use and get some
kindlings;" and on dauff " > the girls inva-
riably held jubilee, and poor John was
slave.
The fact is l don't believe but what it
would do the girls good, if they learned to 20
out in wet weather as well as the boys. But
they're always crying out "thin Shoes and
"wet feet" and il ask them why they don't
wear thick shoes as do, they only laugh at
me, and answer that such clumsy things are
well enough for boys.
4 often tell them no wonder they get colds
with nothing but bit OF lace over their
shoulders, ard a piece.of garze or their arms.
1t seems SO funny, 90, to call boys harder
than sgirls. Why! if 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 way, though they're
mighty delicate and seem to be proud of it;
in fact, think good many of them had
rather have fashionable consumption than
a vulgarly good constitution.
wonder how long boy is a boy-there's
my sister Lousia come home from boarding
.shool "tinshed,' as they call it, at sixteen,
while I've go: to study three years longer to
know as much as she does-that is provided
she's got her education, and | am passed
eighteen. Louisa is going to be married next
week-who pretends to call her girl! No
body; ats Miss Louisa Sands, that younq Ia
dy;' of her, and its "my dear boy" by moth
er, and "we must overlook the freaks of a
boy" by father-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
fixing, and nobody saPs word, but the frs,
time put on dckey it was almost as much
as my life was worth to meet with the family
| thought could bear it like a hero, but the
'Ich's," and "ah's!" the pulling the points
up over my cheeks, the mock salutalions to
! Mr. Sands, the dersive laughter was more
than | was prepared for, and | actually ran
from the house while all the girls shouted
after me, goodbye, Mr. Sands, take care o
that new dickey,"
/ j brought home nice razor-box the day
was Is, and for safe-keepng, hid it in tho
garret between the raf,ers. Vain precaution
When | got home, box, brushes straps
powder, and razor, were all paraded upon thr
the table. and a little scrap of paper pinnet
to the wall, on which was written, JOHNNY
dear, be careful; little boys should not play
with edge tools;" and all my sisters coul,
sing that day, was "a frog he would wooin;
60"
Never was so angry in my life, but bor
it like philosopher, only it did try me, whel
of mornings | fondly thought myself unob
served, to hear gigglng outside the door
and my little six year old sister lisp, instgat
ed by older and more wicked spirits, Johnny
here's pussy wants to be shaved
And so it is in everything; it seems strang
that men who profess to much dignity afte
J they are twepty-one, should have TO submi
to so much indignity up to the very borders
It's curious, and it puzzles me; it's fact i
metaphysics that can't account for, and
don't suppose ever shall. It's marydou
and you WON'T catch me after Tn twenty-on
' snging-"I would were boy again.
Olive Branch.
GTAn exchange in describing the effect
of a severe thunder storm, says: "a COY
r was struck by lightning, and instantly killed