East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1860-03-08
MAKING THEM HAPPY.


If any one will take the pains to re.
connoitre in many of our fashionable ball.
rooms, during the winter season, it will
be seen that girls under eighteen consti-
tute by far the greater part of the crowds
there collected. He will note too, often,
instead of the modest countenance and
gentle manners that should characterize
such youthful creatures, bold, conceted
mien, loud, vacant laughter, bare arms
and boSoms, eXtravagant attire, and
among many of TIE young ladies law
less and conspicuous desire to attract ev
cry gentleman who comes within the
sphere of their influence.
Should any one be sufficiently aston
ished to ask, "Why are these children
here alone without parents or guardians?
the answer would be "Their parents new.
er accompany them;" and young Miss
American Of eleven years, or thcreabouts
should she chance to hear the question
would turn up her little nose with as
much contempt as that feature would al.
low, and exclam in high dudgeon, 81
guess I'm old enough to take care of my
self"
The children Of our noble country are
allowed wide license. In the streets
they march along dressed in silks and
| hounces, and talking slyly of their con
quests, when they had much better be
at home, or engaged in childish sports.-
And we cannot but think that the con
., ha ,,l nj "A
act so like silly child, has great deal
to do with this false state of things
! God made children we mar the works OF
His hands and try to falsify His wisdom
/ lie made them to act, to reason as chill
drcn, and we train them until they are q
sort of hybrid go-between-neither wom
an nor girl, boy nor man-with all the
impertinent follies of incipient age, ano
the over ripened wisdom of what was
meant to be holy childhood.
Let the children be children. Drcs.
them in simple clothing, and teach then
the exceeding sinfulness of a slavsh obed
ience to fashion. Cease To talk to then
about beauX and conquests in that foolisl
mysterious manner, that calls bushes tC
the cheek of the most ingenious child
giving it shyness and awkwardness that
too soon change into vulgarity and ef
lrontery. And when they are old enough
to go out into the world, and meet in lit
tie parties with children of their own age
90 with them not to he an icicle in The
midst of their sunny circle, but to smile
upon them-to see how far certain sports
can be commended, and certain compan
ions retained.
We were visiting once at the house o.
a iudicious woman, one of the very few
who know how to train the young mind
and not fetter its best impulses, nor sad
den its most joyous hours. A beautiful
little child flew into the room, one shin
ing morning, her eyes dancing witt
pleasure, like sunbeams glancing along {
river, as she rushed from place to place
calling with her silvery voice for "Moth
en-" And when the pleasant little WON
an came, the wild, good news, burst forth
Sarah Smith was going to have reO
party, and "Oh mother, may / go?"
Certainly, my daughter" was the re
ply; "but you know you never go alone.
"Uh, no, mother; they want you t
come, cause they say you're just like
little girl among the children, and know
how to make them happy"
We thought that mother bad receive,
compliment to be proud of-and tina
! it was glorious thing for the child tina
she had such mother. No trying t
break away from irksome restraint ther
no wishing, with pouts, to go whcr
mother cannot accompany her-no eros
, moods to fly from--no sour visage
distortion of pleasure. What he
mother could not safely commend sh
could not enjoy, for there seemed pei
feet sympathy between child and parent
How much better would it be for til
young, every way, five grown-up, world
: ly wiseacres could be "just like childre
/ among children, and know just how t
make them happy" Better men and be
ter women would bless the world by-anC
) by.-Peterson's Magazine.