Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1859-02-23
A BOY,s TRIALS.

The Springfield RpuJEcm has capital
article on this subject. Here are some
extracts:
MS RELATIONS WITH THE "oLD MAN"
We suppose that the first severe trial
boy has TO undergo, is to submit his will
to the "old man." whom he is taugh. to
consider his father. To be restrained in
doors at night TO be forbidden to 20 in
swimming five times a day, or to be him
dred from pinching the rest Of the child
rem just for fun, is am Interference with
natural inalienable rights, every way iniu.
rious TO tho feelings. And then, when
upon some overwhelming temptation, the
boy asserts his independence of parental
control, and receives tanning" with q
switch from q ounce bush, either upon
his back or his bare feet it becomes really
a very serious thing. We never could see
that the smart of an operation like this
was at all assuaged by the aiiectionate as
surance that it was bestowed out of pure
love.
SITTING WITH THE GIRis.
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 deyelOpement Of those undeniable af-
iinties 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 delighted with his own inefiabie pleas
antry as to give the little boys licence to
laugh aloud, and to be placed by the side
o! girl that has no hankerchief and no
knowledge of the use of that article, we
submit is trial OF no mean magnitude
Yet we have been obliged TO "sit up close"
with big Rachel laughing and blushing
| till we came to hate her name. We won
der where the overgrown trowzy creature
is now, and what the condition of her
head is?
TIE FIRST LoNG-TAILED COAT.
We do not believe that any boy ever
! put ON his lOng-tailed coat without a
sense of shame. lie first twists his back k
half of looking at it in the glass, and then
when he steps out of doors 1t 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 VIM
Wv ms oibhbh lli'NNs Iilils W llNl llN
walks by the cottage where Jane lives, he
dares not look up for his life. The very
| boards creak with conciOusness of the
strange spectacle, and the old pair of pan
falcons that stop light in the garret win
dow, nod with derision. If he is obliged
to pass group of men and boys, the trial
assumes most terrific stage. His legs get
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
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
hc is still apprehensive with thinking ssoi
the Sunday school, and wonders if any o.
the children will .ask him 10 "swing hi:
long-tailed blue"
GOING HOME WITH THE GIRLS.
The entrance into society may be said
to take place after boyhood has passed a.
way, 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 to a
door, knowing that there are dozen girls
inside, and to knock or ring with absolute
certainty that in two minutes all theil
eyes will be upon him, is a severe test o.
courage. To 20 before these girls ant
make satisfactory tour OF the room With
out stepping on their toes, and then 81
down and dispose of ones hands without
putting them into ones pockets, is an a.
chievement which few boys can boast
If n boy can get so far as to measure of
ten yards of tape with one of these girls
and cut it short at each end, he may stanc
a chance to pass pleasant evening, bu
let him not flattor himself that all tho
trials of the evening are over. Their,
comes at last the breaking up. The deal
girls don their hoods, and put on theil
shawls and look saucy and mischevious
and impressible, as if they did not wish
any one to 20 home them. Then come,
the pinch, and the boy vino has the mos
pluck makes up 10 the prettiest girl, hi
heart in his,throat, and his tongue clinging
to the roof of his mounth, and crookinl
his elbow, stammers out OF the words
"Shall see you home" She touches heI
fingers to his arm and they walk home q
bout foot apart, feeling as couple o
young goslings. As soon as she is safely
inside her door he struts home, and thinks
he has really been and gone and done it
Sleep comes to him at last, with dreams o
crinoline and calico, and he awales in th,
morning and finds the doors of life oper
to him-and the pigs squeallng for break
fast.
A LITTLE Girl. only ten years old, wa