Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1858-01-23
From the N. Y. Independent.
DEcEsvING caILDREN.

/ was spending few days with an
intimate friend, and never did / see q
more systematic housewife, and what
then seemed to me one who had so quiz
ct and complete control of her child
But the secret of the latter Isoon learn
ed. One evening she wished 70 spend
with me at neighbor's-it was q small
social gathering of friends, therefore
she was very DESTROYS Of attending; but
her child demanded her presence with
him, and, hearing him say his prayers,
she said:
Willie, did you not see that pretty
little kitten in the street to-day %
EYES, I did," he replied, /" l wish l
had her wasn't she pretty 2"
"Yes, gerry; now don't you want me
to buy the kitten for you? Perhaps
the man will sell her."
so, yes, mother, do buy her
"Well, then, be a good boy while /
am gone" Thus saying, she closed
the door, but he Immediately called her
back. .,....
Don't 60 till morning, then / can
20 with you won't you stay p
"No, Willie the man won't sell if
l don't 60 tonight SO be good
boy"
He said no moro but quietly lay
down.
"Is this the way you govern your
children :" said l, after We had gained
the street i" if you but knew the injury
you are doing, you would take differ
ent course" -
Injury !" she repeated, "what harm
have l done? l did not tell l wouH
see the mani only asked him if /
should."
" But you gave him to understand
that you would. He is not old enough
to detect the difference now, but he
soon will be. Then l fear you will per-
ceive your error too late. You have
yourself grated thorn in the young
rose which will eventually pierce you
most bitterly. You cannot break off
the thorn, or club the point, to make it
less piercing. On your return he will
not see the kitten, therefore you will
have to invent another falsehood to
conceal the first"
Wehad now gained our friends door,
which ended our conversation. During
the evening she seemed gayer than usu-
al my words had little or no effect up
on her. She did not think her little
one was doing all he could to keep
awake to see the coveted kitten on her
return, wondering what made "mother
gone so long" 1t was late ere I re-
minded her we ought to return. But
little was said during our homeward
walk. Shs went noiselessly into the
room, supposing her boy asleep; but
he heard her and said:
Mother, is that you? Hare you
brought the kitten? l kept awake to
see it, and I was SO sleepy?''
"No, my dear; the man would not
sell her."
"Why won't he, mother 20 he asked
with quivering lips.
II don't know l suppose he wants
her to catch rats and mice.'
"Did he say so, mother :"
"He did not say just that, but I
thought he meant So" u
81 did want it so bad, mother. p
The little lips quivered, and the tears
started to his eyes. He rubbed them
with his little hands, winking very fast
to keep them back, but they would
come; at last he fell asleep with the
pearly drops glistening on his rosy
cheeks. The mothers glistening also.
As she knelt to kiss them away, he
murmured softly in his broken slumber,
81 did want it so bad." She turned
her dewy eyes towards me, saying
+" You have led me to see my error.
Never will again, let what will be the
consequence, deceive my child to please
myself"
Mother, are You practicing the same
deception /? II you are, pause and
think Of the consequences ere it is too
late. Does it not lessen your conf
dence in person when You find out
they have been deceiving you? Will it
not also that of your children in you,
when they become old enough to detect
it? Besides, it would be very strange
if they themselves did not initiate you
in things of more Importance.
1t is the pride and Joy of mothers
heart to gain and retain the entire con-
fidence Of her child, and it is in her
power to do SO if she but exercise that
power by precept and example.
THE DEAD OF 1857.--The neurology
Of the past year contains an unusual