Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1856-12-26

"No, Tommy, but your mother has
sent for you and you had better 60,
al don't want to-"
"Just as you like" said Jane indif-
ferently, as she left the kitchen and
went up stairs.
"Where's Tommy" was the ques-
ton with which she was met on re-
turning to the chamber.
"He won't come, ma'am."
"Go and tell him IL he does not
come to me instantly, will put on his
night clothes, and shut him up in the
closet"
The threat Of the closet was gener-
ally uttered ten times where IL was
executed once. II made but little inn
preston upon the child. who was all
absorbed in his fort.
Jane returned. In few moments
afterwards, the quick angry voice Of
the mother was heard ringing down
the stairway.
"You, Toni come up here this in
stant."
"I'm not troubling anything mo-
ther."
"Come up, say"
Margaret says | may play with
the clothes pins. I'm only building a
fort with them"
"Do you hear me?"
"Motherl"
"Tom, II you don't come to me In
a moment, I'll almost skin you. Mar
garet take them clothes pins Iaway.-
Pretty plaything JUDGED. for you TO
give boy like him. No wonder /
have 10 get dozen new ones every
two or three months"
Margaret now spoke.
Tommy. you must 90 to your mo-
ther."
She now took the clothes pins and
commenced putting them into the
basket where they belonged. Her
words and action had more instant
effect than all the mother's.astorm Of
passion. Tho boy left the kitchen In
tears, and went slowly up stairs.
"why didn't you como whom | told
you? Say?"
The mother seized her little boy by
the arms tho moment he came within
reach Of her, and dragged rather than
led him up stairs. uttorlng such excla-
nations M these by the way.
"I never saw such child You
might as we'll talk 10 the Wind I'm
In despairl I'll give upl Humphl
Clothes pins. indeedl Pretty things
10 give a child Everything goas to
rack or ruinl Therel
And as the last word was uttered,
Tommy was thrust into his mothers
room with o force that nearly threw
him PROSTATE.
"Now take of them clothes, sir"
"What for, mother? / havn't done
anything. / didn't hurt the clothes
pins. Margaret said I might play
with them.o
"D'ye hear? Take of them
clothes, say"
IA word more, and I'll box your
ears until they ring for a month";
Take off them clothes, say. I'll
teach you to come when | send for
you. I'll lot you know whether am
TO be minded or not"
Tommy slowly disrobed himself.
while his mother fretted to the point
Of resolution, eyed with unrelenting
aspect. The jacket and trowsers were
removed, and the night drawers or
dered to be put on in their stead
Tommy all the while protesting. tear.
fully. that he had done nothing.
"Wil. you hush?" was all the salts
faction he received for his protesta-
tions.
"Now. Jane. take him up stairs to
bed. He's got to lie there all the af-
ternoon."
1t was then four, and the sun did
not set until nearly eight o'clock
Up stairs the poor child had to 60,
and then the mother had some quiet
Her babe slept soundly in the cradle,
undisturbed by Tommy's racket. and
she enjoyed new novel to the exten,
Of almost entirely forgetting her lone
ly boy shut up in the chamber above
where's Tommy, said friend
who dropped in about six O'Clock. =
"In bed," said the mother with a
sigh.
Whats the matter? Is he sick?'
"Oh, no. / almost wish he were y
"What a strange wish9 Why dc
you wish so?"
"Oh, because he is likea little ange
when he is sick-as good as he can be
Now, l had to send him to bed as {
punishment for disobedience. He
Is hard child TO manage. thinl
/ never saw one just like him. Blu
you know obedlecce is everything. L
Is our duty TO require strict regart
TO this in our children"
Certainly. II they do not Obey
their parents, as children. they will no
obey the laws Of men,"
"That is precisely the view l take
And | make il point to require i'm
plicit obedience in my boy. This u
my duty as a parent. But il is hare
work."
at is doubtless. Still we..must per
severe. and In patience possessing ou
souls"
ITO be patient with boy lik'
mine, Is hard task. Sometimes
feel as IL / would 60 Wild" said tn,
mother.
"But under the influence Of such
feeling" remarked the friend, "wha
we say makes but little or no impres
sion. A calmly uttered word, il
which there is an expression Of inter
est in aud sympathy for the child
does more than the sternest com
.uands. This I have long since dis
co yered. / never scold my children
Scolcing does no good, but harm. M
oldest boy is restless, excitable an
limpulsive. II / were not to provid
him with the naeans Of employin