The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1858-11-24
What is to be done with Our Charleyl
BY HARRIET BEECHER STOWE.
rFrom the Independent, Nov. 4.

EFrom the Independent, Nov. Al
Yes-that is the question! The fact
is, there seems to be no place in the
heaven above, or earth beneath, exactly
safe and suitable, except the bed. While
be is asleep there our souls have rest-we
know where he is and what he is about,
and sleep is gracious state; but then he
wakes up bright and early, and begins
footing, pounding, hammering, singing,
meddling, and asking questions; in short,
overturning the peace of society generally
for about thirteen hours out of twenty
four.
Everybody wants to know what to do
with him-everybody is qnite sure that he
can't stay where they are. The cook
can't have him in the kitchen, where he
infests the pantry to get -four to make
paste for his kites, or melt lard in the
new saucepan. If he goes into the wood
shed, he is sure to pull the wood-pile
down upon his head. If he be sent up
into the garrett you think fo. while
that you have settled the ploblem, till you
find what boundless field for activity is
at ence opened, amid all the packages.
boxes. bags, barrels, and cast off rubbish
there. Old letters, newspapers, trunks Of
miscellaneous contents, are all rummaged,
and the very reign of chaos and old night
is instituted. He sees, endless capac tiles
in all, and he is always hammering smooth
ing, or knocking something apart, or saw
ing, planning, or drawing boxes and bar
rels in all directions to build cities or
railroad tracks, till everybody's head aches
quite down to the lower floor, and every
body declares that Charley must keep out
of the garret. .8s
Then you send Charley to school, and
hope you are farley rid Of him for few
hours at least. But he comes home nois-
ier and moore breezy than ever, having
learned from some twenty other Chareys
every separate resource for keeping up a
commotion that superintendent vitality
, Of each can originate. He can dance like
7 jim Smith-he has learned to smack bis
lips like Joe Brown-and Will Briggs has
[ shown him how to new like u cat, and he
enters the premises with d new war-whooE
learned from Tom Evans. He feels large
!, and valorous; be has learned that he is {
boy, and has a general impression that b,
i is growing immensely strong and knowing
: and despises more than ever the couven
;, tionalities of parlor life; in fact, he is NOR
0 than ever an interruption in the way o
!. decent folks who want to be quiet.
b 1t is true, that if entertaining person
3 will devote themselves exclusively to him
e reading and telling stories, he may b
kept quiet; but then this is discouragin,
6 work, for he swallows story as Rove
o does piece of moat, and looks at 20
Of for another and another, without tn
ID slightest consideration, So that this re
Of source is of short duration, and then tn
old question comes back. What is to b
t. done with him? Z aaa' 71sa e.
al But after all, Charley cannot be who'll
y shirked, for he is an institution-a solem
Mt and awful fact; and on the answer to th
I'd question, What is to be done with him
- depends future.
IS Many hard, morose, bitter man hs
IN come from Charley turned off and nes
d. lected; many q parental heart ache hs
it come from Charley left to run the street
FL that mamma and sisters might play G
iy the piano and write letters in peace
n. is easy to get rid of him; there are tif
ce ways of doing that He is spirit tn
d. can be promptly laid, but if'not laid arig
will come back, by and by, a strong ms
s- armed, when you cannot send him off
Sc, pleasure. -4 4a erae a.
'rt Mamma and sisters had better pay
ge little tax to Charley now. than territ
he one by and by. There is something 81
ng ni6cant in the old English phrase, wi
which our Scriptures render us famili.
a MAN child-.a MAN child. There y
is have the word that should make you thi
more than twice before you answer t
he question: "What shall we do with Oh,
The ley?" i. l.t =.
For to-day he is at your feet; tod
Vas you can make him laugh, you can ma
him cry, you can persuade. coax, and tu
ny him to your pleasure; you can make
fill and his bosom swell with recitals
good and noble deeds; in short, you c
the mould him if you viii take the trouble.
gu But look ahead some years, when Il
OF little voice shall ring deep bass tones; wi
that small foot shall have a mans weis
and tramp; when a rough beard 81
cover that little, round chin, and the v
full strength Of manhood fill out that fol
are Then you would give worlds for the
to his heart, to be able to turn and gu
him to your will; but if you will lose t
key now he is little, you may search.fo
carefully, with tears, some other day,
nerer find it.
Old housekeepers have proverb,
tole one hour lost in the morning is never fo,
all day. 1t has O significance in
lease.
do One thing is to be noticed sbeut CT