Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1858-12-28

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the supper table with child in his arms, ad-
dressing some remarks to me when called his
attention to the child, who Was Just in the act
of putting his fingers into the blaze of the candle
Gilbert ierked him away suddenly which 80 in
censed master John Gilbert, that he screamed
insufferably. Gilbert tossed him, patted him
candle.
lie moved him out of sight of the luminary,
but that only made things worse. He now
commenced his first lessons in the principles of
good government. He brought the child to
wards the candle, ind the nearer it approached,
the more pacific it became. The child extend
ed its arms to catch the blaze and Gilbert bore
it slowly towards the flame until the hand came
nearly in contact with it, when he snatched it
away, crying bunny finnies" which is by inter.
pretation you'll burn your fingersn Eliza and
exchanged smiles but neither of us said any
thing.
The child construed this into wanton teasing
aud became more obstrep5rous than ever. Gil
bert now resorted 10 another expsdieut He
put his own fingers into the blaze, Withdrew
them suddenly, blew tten, shook them, aud
gave every sign uf acute agony. This not only
qnieted but delighted the child, who signiied to
him to do il again. He instantly perceived
(what was practically demonstrated the minute
atterwards,) that the child was putting most
dangerous Interpretation upon his last illustra-
tion. He determined therefore not to repeat it.
| The child, not satisfied with the sport, deter
mined to repeat it himself; which the father
opposing, he began to reach and cry as before.
There was but one experiment left and that was
to let the child feel the flame little This he
resolved to try, but how to conduct it properly
was not so easily settled. 1t would not do to
allow the infant to put his hand into the blaze
because it would burn too little, or too much
He therefore resolved to direct the hand to a
point so near the flame, that the increasing heat
would induce the child to withdraw his hand
himself. Accordingly he brought the extended
arm slowly towards the flame the child becom'
ing more and more impatient with every mo
meut's s;ponenlent of its qualification, until the
hand came within about an inch of the wick
when he held his child stationary. But John
would not let his hand remain stationary, nor al
the chosen point. He kept snatcbing st the
candle, till finding all his efforts truitess, he
threw himself violently back, gave his father q
tremendous thump on the nose with the back oi
his head, and kicked aud screamed most outra
geously.
''You little rascal said Gilbert, I've good
mind to give you good spanking.
"Give him to me- said Mrs. Butler.
You'd better not take him. said Gilbert in an
undertone, 'wmle he is in such passion
| No danger she said. hand hun to me-
As she received him, hush sir, said she sharp
ly; aud the child hushed instantly and Was asleep
in Il few minutes.
Strange" suid Mr. Butler, Show much soon.
or the mother acquires coutrol over a child than
the father"
''Not at ALL" said Mrs. Butler. You might
have controlled him as easily as'l did, if you had
given him the same lesson before hand that
did. He got in just such an uproar the other
day, and finding nothing else would quiet him
spanked it out of him; and have had no more
tronble in 9uietiug him since"
| II begin to think, Dntler," said |, "that Eliza
was right in the only point of difference between
| you, touching the management of children.
observed that you addressed the child just now in
| the gibberish you 50 much condemned before you
| became father; and though it seemed rdicu
lous enough, especially in you, think it would
have appeared sill more ridiculous, it you had
said to chilA 50 yo1ng, 'johnny son do mol
put your fingers into the ilsne of the candle, II
will burn them. Aud yonr experiment has
Taught YOU the absolute impossblity Of govern
ing children of very tender years by prescribed
rules"
II am half inclined to your opinion" said
Butler. Elias pine has performed several
good Offices. Ii has relieved us of Johns insuf
ierabIe noise has taught him 70 control his TEN
temper at its first appearance, aud it learned the
meaning of word (hushD which will often sup
| pig the place ot correction, and always torewar
him of desires unlawful.
Long before the second son arrived at the rea
soninq age, Gilbert ablicated. unreseryedly, in
favor OF his wife; conlentILg himself with the
subordinate station of her ministerial officer; IN
which he executed her orders in cases requiring
more physical strength than she possessed.
Passing over the intermediate period, !
now introduce the reader to this family, after
most of the children had reached the age ol rea'
son. In contemplating the scene which am
about to sketch, he will be pleased to turn his
thoughts occasionally to Gilbert's principles ol
good government
Sarah was about two years and half old,
when Gilbert invited me TO breakfast with MIN
one December, coming near the Christmas holl-
DAYS. 1t was the morning appointed tor his sec.
ond killing of hogs; which, as the southern
went, and found all the children at home, and
Gilbert's mother added to the family circle
John and Ann had reached the age when they
We're permitted 10 take seats at fbe INST table
though npon this occasion, John being engaged
about the pork, did not avail himself VI his
privilege the rest of the children were taught
to wait for the second table. Breakfast was an
nounced, and after The adults and Auna had dis
patched their meal, the children were summon
ed As they were bdden, and there were some
preparatory arrangements to be made, they al
gathered round the fire, canorous with tile g
vents OF tue morning,
BY Jockey SAID William, 'didnt the old oar
rah weigh a heap
Took here, young gentleman said his mother
where did YOU pick up such Language as that
Now let me ever hear you jocEing or 6y Ing
any ything else again, and I'll be jocky you will
witness, iii warrant you
But the little black barrah, said George
sdIdn't weigh as much for Ills size Is the bot
Tail specke, though
He did
He didn't'
| Hush your dlsputing-this instant stop it
Won shall not contradict each other in that man
ner. Aud let US hear NO more OF your hog per
wonders. Nobody wants To hear them
AT this instant William snatched a pig tail ou
of Isaacs hand.
Ma said Isaac, make Bill gi' me muh tall
You William, give him his-thing. And if
was near you, I'd box your ears for that snatch
ing Mr.. Butler you will really have to tak'
that fellow in hand. Hes getting 50 that Cal
do nothing with him.
Ma said Bill, he took my blatha.'
i HUSH
Il didn't
You did
Don't tell you to hush your disputing.'
We'll, INA, uncle York give 1t To me-
He didn't; uncle Monday give it to me
He didu't.'