The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1862-08-08
Written for the JciIersonian Democrat.
Throwing off Responsibility.

"See, Kate, I've got Jackie Schirarty
10 come home with me, and let you sec
his kite, so you can help me make ONE
You said you did not know how. His sis.
Ter made his. Amt it beauty?" said
little Ralph, as he came rushing into the
parlor where bis sister was sitting, holding
The kite in one hand, and pulling along
fresh-looking little Dutch boy with The
other.
ooh, you naughty boyl GO right back
this minute. Just look at your boots.
You aught TO be-" And Kate stopped,
as il language was too feeble to express
bis desert, and went quickly toward him,
he, meantime, ,retreaIirg towards the door,
and inierceding for little help.
"What time have l 10 make kites, l
should like TO know ?"
II should think you'd have as much
time as Jackie's sister, for he says she
works in the factory, and is not at home
days at all. and she has plenty OF time
He says she helps him get his lessons, too,
sometimes. Do, Katie, help me just q
few minutes"
If Kate felt disinclned to help him at
! first, his unfortunate comparison Of herself
and "Jack's sister," would strengthen the
feeling, and she only replied as she closed
the door, that ittook all of her time 10
pick up after him he had better 90 and
live with the Dutch folks they would
not care how much dirt he tracked in, mol
how be threw things about.
Ralph was very angry, and, after q
muttered execration on the sisterhood gen
orally, he and his little friend returned to
the street, that hot.bed Of the evil one,
where he raises the crop that fills our
streets with thieves and incendiaries, our
prisons with inmates, and the hearts oil
friends with anguish worse than death.
We need notfollow The history OF Ralph
We know that an active, stirring boy, il
left to choose his own associates, will have
a vdriety, though il will seldom bear II,
prefix "choice." AS he seemed 10 NEE
with so little sympathy at home, il wa
not strange that he should seek it else
where, for il is equally true Of children
and grown people, that they must have
sympathy. |! is TO the inner life what The
atmosphere is TO the outer.
Kate was really a good girl. though
careless. and, though she knew that mucl
OF her mothers time was occupied will
other cares, the thought tha: she could re
lieve her OF part by throwing restrain
ing influence around her brother. had new
er occurred to her. She seemed TO re
gard him as the embodiment of mischief
intent on upsetting her work basket, anC
annoying her in other ways as much a.
possible. Thus. instead Of trying to in.
still in the careless little head love o
order and neatness, and soften down the
asperiiies Of his nature, that troubled he
so much, as only a watchful mother O
sister can, she ever thrust him from her
little knowing the great wrong she wa
thereby doing. In after years how di
her heart bleed, as she saw chronicled il
the daily paper OF her native town. th,
following paragraph:
"We are panied at having 20 record th,
death Of R. M. only son of Judge M
He was mortally wounded in an afIra,
concerning some debts Of honor"
Poor Kate Little did she realize hov
large share of her grief was the rcsul
Of her former indiscretion, though III
burden of her grief was, "If he had onl
been quiet, home.loving boy, he woul
never have come 10 this"
, Are there not many sister Hates in ou
, land ? kind. good hearted girls, br
though,less They are sure their inf,
ence "cannot be of any consequence, an
, way" and one would hardly think The
were accountable beings. at hearing the
, estimate of it. But throwing off re-
sponsibiity does not lessen it in the leas
Duty is no less a duty because neglected
} and, though word is but "breath {
passing air." the destiny OF an individut
may often depend upon it.
QUlvIS.