The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1859-11-08
A BOY 3 TRIAL.

We suppose that the first severe trial n
boy has to undergo is t, submit his will 70
the old msn whom hc taugh, 10 consider
his father. To be restrained indoors a,
night. TO bc forbidden TO 60 IN swimming
tSe times day. or 10 be Kindred from pin.
ching the rest Of the children just FIR fun.
Is an interference with natural inalenahle
rights, everyway injurious to the feelings.
Aid then when upon some overwhelming
temptation the boy asserts his independence
OF control, and receives tanning with
a switch. from ounce bush either upon
his back or his bare feet, 1t becomes really
serious thing. We never could see that
the smart of an operation lik, this was at
all assuaged by the affectionate assurance
that 1t was bestowed ont of pure love
SITTING WITH THE GIRLS
The next great trial of that body is TO be
obliged by a cruel mast r TO SIT with the
girls at school. This usually comes tef,re
: the development of those undenial afiinities
which. IN after life. would tend to make the
punishment more endurabIe. To be point.
; ed out asa "ga boy" to be smiled at grim.
ly by the master. who is 50 far delighted
with his own lneffable pleasantly as to give
the little boys license 10 laugh aloud, and
to be placed by the side Of a girl that had
no handkerchief. and no knowledge of the
use of that article. Is. We submit a trial of
the meancst magnitude. Yet We have been
oblic iced TO " sit up close" with big Rachel
laughing and blushing. ill We came to bate
her name. We wonder where the over.
grown frowsy creature is now, and what the
condition Of her head is
/ THE FIRST LoNa.TAILED COAT.
/ We do not believe that any boy ever nut
his first long-taled coat on without 4 sense
of shame. He first twists his back half off.
looking at it in the glass and then when he
steps out Of doors II seems 10 him a. If all
the creation was in broad grin The sun
laughs in the sky the cows turn to look at
him there are faces at every ndow his
shadow mocks him. When by the cottage
where Jane lives. he darcs not look up for
his life. The very boards creak with con-
sciousness Of the strange spectacle and the
old pair ofpantalcons ,ha; stop light in
the garnet window nod with derision. Ii
he is obliged to pass a group of men and
boys. the trial assumes its most terrific stage
His legs get all mixed up with embarrass-
ment. and the flap of the dangling appen.
dage is felt among them. moved by the
wind of his own agitation. He could not
feel worse were it a dish cloth, worn Us
badge of disgrace. 1t is happy time for
him when he gets to church and =its down
with his coat tail under him bu, he is still
apprchenslve with thinking of the sunday
school. and wonders if any of the children
will ask him to Swing bis long g-tailed blue"
GOING HOME WITH THE GIRLS.
The entrance into society may be said to
take place after boyhood had passed away.
yet multitude take the initiative before
their boards are presentable. 1t is great
trial either TO a tender or a tough age.
, For an overgrown boy to 90 20 door. know
. ing tha. there is a dozen girls inside, aud
, 10 knock or ring with absolute certainty
that in two minutes all their eyes will be
, upon him. is severe test Of courag-. To
. 90 before these girls aud make satisfactory
: tour Of the room. without stepping on their
toes. and then to sit down and dispose Of
. ones hands withou, putting them in ones
| pocket, is an achievement which few bows
/ can boast If boy can get SO far as {,
| measure of ten yards of tape with one of
{ these girls. and cut il short at each end. he
may stand chance 10 spend pleasant
, evening, but let him not fatter h'inself all
I the trials Of the evening are over. There
comes at last the breaking up. The dear
girls don their hoods and put on their
{ sbauls. and look SO saucy aud miscbevous
and unimprcssible as # they did not wish
any one to 60 home with them Then
comes the pinch, aud the boy who has the
mos, pluck, makes up to the pretics, girl,
bis heart in his throat. and his tongue
I clinging to the roof Of bis mouth and
crooking his elbow, stammers ont the words
;. shall see you home ~ She torches
4 her fingers to his elbow, and they walk
!. home about foot apart, feeling rs awkward
as couple Of gosings As soon ~ she is
safe within her own doors. he struts home,
:. and thinks be has been and gone aud done
it. Sleep comes TO him a, last, with dreams
Of crinoline and calico. aud he awakes in
the morning to find the doors Of life open
b. to him. and the pigs squesIing for their
{ breakfast.
. CONCLUDING REFLECTIONS
We have passed over churning and learn.
e ing the ca.echism. because we are fearful Of
e making this article too long, although We
> might have talked Of butter that would not
e come, and perplexites Of literary turn Of
mind. and head that Measured seven and
quarter when asked what the chief end Of
: man was. Boyhood is a green passage in
in mans experience in more senses than
/ one. 1t is pleasant thing % think over
: and laugh about now. though it was serious
! enough then. Many Of our trials are a.
J., ridiculous as those which now touch tie
' risibles in the recollection, and when we
get to the other world aud look upon this
0 infancy Of soul. through which We passed
f here. We have no doubt that We shall grin
l. over the trials which We experienced when
/ We LIST our fortunes. when our mills we're
i; swep, away or burned, aud We did mt get
= elected to the legislature. Men are but
; boys of large growth.