Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1858-10-22
M1sPLAC1NG THE SWITCH.


A toast recently given, runs thus: "our
parents; the only tenders who never mis-
place the switch"
Now, you may laugh at that--so did l.
but where could yeu find greater fib! Mas
ny q time and oft have parents laid the
switch on their children's back when they
should have applied it to their own; many
time has the lash, which should have descen-
ded upon the back OF the favorite, fallen upon
his much abused brothers.. There is moth
ing in creation which parents SO often mis-
place as the switch, and it need not of neces-
sity be brchen rod or terule, there are
switches which cut deeper than either, of
which many ruined man or woman can
tell you.
/ knew two children-one laundering,
but honest, sincere, self-reliant, speaking
the plain truth on all occasions without
qualification, making his requests in few
words. and smothering his disappointment
as best he might, when refused. The other
wiley, diplomatic, Chesterfieldiah, ever with
soft word on the tip of his tongue, to pave
the way for the mitch desired boon, which
was never refused, SO winning. so courteous,
SO ap parent was the seeker. Follow those
two children. See the latter in the play
ground, boasting to hts voting associates
what he has got from the sold gentleman"
or the cold lady'--boasting what he will
yet get-boasting that he knows how to do
it; rehearsihg to them the disgusting panto-
mime OF the caress, the respectful, deferen-
tial attitude which he uses on such occasions.
Follow the other to his little reom dt The top
Of the house; see him sitting in gloomy 81
lence; too proud to weep, too proud to COM
plain; breeding over injustice done him-rot
hating the ffutetnal ownef Of the "coat of
many colors;" no thanks to those who gave
them both birth, bit looking into the far, dim
future with that wistful longing W hich comes
of unloved, precocious childhood; sitting
there-with his own hands turning the poi
| soned arrow round and round in the fester-
ing wound, incapable Of extracting it, and
yet knowing no balm to assuage its intolera-
BILE anguish.
Follow out their two histories. See the
Chesterieldian favorite sent to College, con-
tracing long livery stable; hotel, and tailor's
bills, with perfect reliance upoii his diplo-
matte abilities to "set 1t all right with the
old gentleman" thanking him, with his
shurnb and finger to his nose; fds his unpar-
aie1led generosity to son SO unworthy; al:
iuding delcately to his pride in him as a
father, and trusting some day to make pro-
per return for all his goodness; ETC.; ETC.
| See the 'fstupid boy" who is 81 mmarily set
down to be wanting in cleverness, accepting
| in silence this verdicti and the consequent
disposal of his time iii some uncongenial,
| C,lo tSI iar cd
out by the silent drop that descetds fiierci-
less.y and unremittinglyi hour by hour, on
his tortured soal, he rushes from home which
has been home only in name ahd wan
! ders forth, with the knawing pain in his
heart for silent company. Merciful God'
what is TO keep himl His blood is young
and warm, his heart throbbing wildly in his
breast for what every human being yearns for.
and need never be ashamed of yearning for
-sympathy-lovei
Years pass on. The College-boy returns,
] with more knowledge of horses, wine and
women, than of Greek, Latin and Mathe-
matics-re:urns, to receive the coDgratula-
tions of partial friends, that he has passed
off for pure gold the glitteriag brass OF his
showy superficiality. The truant's name is
that he may be kept from evil, but "that he
may not disgrace u.s." Meanwhile, the wan
derer lies languishing on bed Of sickness ia
a foreign country. Woman's heart is the
same in all lands, when pity knocks at it,
} else had he closed his eyes in sunny Italy
! PITY he had not-pity he returned to be ask
ed, with cold tones and ayerted eyes, why
he did not stay there. Pity that he coult
} not smother that unconquerable longing
which approaching death brings, to look ou
) last upon our native land Pity that error
born of neglected childhood and forsakeI
youth should have been held up to him b,
the pharisaical hands which goaded him int
them, even at the .omb's portal. Pity tina
9 sinful man may not be merciful, as holy
il plying God.