The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1858-12-01

4 Boys Trials.
The Springfield Republican has ,
capital article on this subject. Here are
some extracts:
MS REGULATIONS WITH THE "oLp MAN."
We suppose that the FIRST severe tri.
al boy has to undergo is to submit his
will to the old man, whom he is taught
to consider his father. To be restrained
in doors at nj ght, to be forbidden to 90
in swimming Eve times day, or to Be
hindered from pinching the rest of the
children just for fun, is All interference
with natural inalienable rights. every
way injurious to the feelings. And then
when upon some overwhelming temp.
tation, the boy asserts his independence
of parental control, and receives a tan.
ming wi'h a switch from ounce bush,
either upon his back or his bare feet, i,
becomes really a very serious thing,
We never cauld see that the smart Of an
operation like this was at all assuaped
0y the atfectionate assurance that it was
OootoWeu out OF pure love.
SITTING WITH THE GIRLS.
The next great trial of that boy is to
be obliged by cruel master to sit with
the girls at school. This usually comes
before the development of those undeni-
able affinities which. in after life, would
tend to make the punishment more en- j.
durable. To be pointed out as "rsl
boy" to be smiled at grimly by the
master, who is so far delighted with his
own ineffable pleasantly as to give the
little boys license to laugh aloud, and to
be placed by the side Of girl who had
no handkerchief, and no knowledge of
the use of that article, is, we submit, a
trial of no mean magnitude. Yet we
havs been there. and have been obliged
to "sit up close" with big Rachel, laugh
ing and blushing till we came TO hate
her name. We wonder where the over
grown frowzy creature is now. and
what the condition Of her head is?
THE FIRST LoNG-TAILED COAT.
We do not believe that any boy ever
put on his first long tailed coat without
a sense of shame. He FIRST twists his
back half off locking at it in the glass,
and then when he steps out of doors it
seems to him as if all creation was in .
broad grin. The sun lauy yhs in the sky !;
the cows turn to look at him there are
faces at every window his very shadow
mocks him. When he walks by the
cottage where Jane lives, he dares not
look up for his life. The very boards
creak with consciousness of the strange
spectacle, and the old pair of pantaloons
that stop light in the garret window
nod with derision. If he is obliged to
pass group Of men and boys, the trial
assumes its most terrific stage. His legs
gets all mixed up with embarrassment,
and the flap of the dangling appendage
is felt upon them. moved by the wind of
his own agitation he could not feel
worse were it dishcloth, worn as
badge of disgrace. 1t is a happy time
for him when he gets to church and sits
down with his coat tails under him but
he is still apprehensive with thinking
'f the Sunday school, and wonders #
my Of the children will ask him to
swing his long tail blue"
GOING HOME WITH THE GIRLS.
The entrance into society may be
said to take place after hoy hood has
passed away, yet multitude take the
initiative. before their boards are pre-
tits great trial, either to a
ender or tough age. For an over
.rown boy to 80 to a door, knowing
hat there are dozen girls inside, and
o knock or ring with absolute certainty
hat in two minutes all their eyes will be
lpon him, is severe test of courage.
10 go before these girls and make a sat
sfactory tour of the room without STEP
ing on their toes, and then to sit down
nd dispose of ones hands without put
ing them into ones pockets, is an
chievement which few boys can boast. |!
{ boy can get SO far as to measure off |
en- yards Of tape with one Of these girls,
nd cut it short at each end, he may
tand chance TO pass pleasant even
1g, but let him not fatter himself that
Il the trials of the evening are over.
here comes at last the breaking up.-
he dear girls don their hoods, and put
n their shawls, and look So saucy. and
'ischievous, and unimpressible, as if
ley did not wish any cne to 20 home
18th them. Then comes the pinch, and
'e boy that has the most pluck makes
P to the p,ettiest girl, his heart in his
lroat. and his tongue clinging to the
,of OF his mouth, and crooking his
bow, stammers out the words, "Shall
see you home p She touches her
ngers to his arm, and they walk home
bout foot apart, feeling as awkward
= couple Of goslings. As soon as
le il safe inside her own doors, he
ruts home, and thinks he has really
zen and gone and done it. Sleep
'nes to him at last, with dreams of
Aroline and calico, and he awakes in
e morning and finds the doors Of life
zen to him. and the pigs squealing for {
'eakfast.
CONCLUDING REFLECTIONS.
We have passed over churning, and I
lrning the catechism. because we are
arful Of making this article too long. =,
though we might have talked Of but
that would not be persuaded to come. t
d perplexities OF literary turn of
ind, and head that measured seven
d aquarter when asked what the chief
d Of man was. Boyhood is a green I,
ssage in mans experience in more ),
nses than one. 1t is a pleasant thing =
think over and laugh about now, tho .
was serious enough then. Many Of b
I present trials are as ridiculous as
ose which now touch the risibles in