Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1859-01-13
A BOYS TRIALS.

| have never forgotten.
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A BOYS TRIALS.
The Springfield Republican has capital
article on this subject. Here are some ex-
tracts:
HIS REGULATIONS WITH THE GOLD MAN.
We suppose the first trial boy has to
undergo, is to submit his will to the old
man, whom he is taught to consider his ia
ther. To be restrained in doors at night,
to be forbidden to go in swimming five times
a day, or to be hindered from pinching the
rest of the children just for fun, is an inter-
ference with the 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 tanning"
switch from ounce bush, either upon
his back or bare feet it becomes really very
serious thing. We never could see the
smart of an operation like this was at all as
sauged by the affectionate assurance that it
was bestowed out Of pure love.
SITTING WITH THE GIRLS
The next great trial of the boy is, to be
obliged by cruel master to sit with the
girls at school. This usually comes before
the development of those undeniable afini-
ties which, in after life, would tend to make
the punishment more endurable. To be
pointed out as "gal-boy," to be smiled at
grimly by the master, who is SO far delight
ed with bis, own efable 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 the article, is, we submit. a trial of no
mean magnitude. Yet we have been there,
and have been obliged to ''set up close with
big Rachel, laughing and blushing till we
came to hate her name. We wonder where
the overgrown 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 sense
of shame He first twists his neck half off
looking at it in the glass, and then when he
steps out of doors it seems to him as if all
creation was in a broad grin. The sun
laughs 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
crack with consciousness Of the strange spec
tacle, and the old pair of pants that stop a
hole in the garrett window nod with derision.
If he is obliged to pass group of men and
boys, the trial assumes its most terrific
stage His legs get all mixed up with en-
barrassment, and the flap of the dangling ap-
pendage is felt upon them moved by the wind
were it dish cloth worn as badge of dis
grace. It is happy time for him when he
gets to the church and sits down with his
coat tail under him. but he is still appre-
hensive with thinking of the Sunday School,
and wonders if any 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 boyhood has passed away,
yet multitude take the initiative, before
their boards are presentable. 1t is great
trial, either to tender or a tough age
For an overgrown boy to 60 to door, know
ing that there are dozen girls inside, and
to knock or ring with absolute certainty that
in two minutes their eyes will be upon him
is severe test Of courage To 60 before
these girls and make satisfactory tour of
the room without stepping upon their toes,
and then to sit down and dispose of ones
hands without putting them into ones pock-
cts, is an achievement which few boys can
boast. IF boy can get so far as to measure
off ten yards of tape with one Of those girls,
and cut it short at each end, he may stand
a chance to pass pleasant evening, but let
him not fatter himself that all the trials of
the evening are over. There comes at last !
the breaking up. The dear girls don their
hoods and put on their shawls, and look SO
saucy and mischievous, and unimpressible.
as if they did not wish any one to go home
with them. Then comes the pinch, and the
boy that has the mostsp spluck makes up to the
prettiest girl his heart is in his throat, and
his tongue clinging to the roof of his mouth,
and crooking his elbows, stammers out the