The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-09-23
nuRr1NG A oHrLD,s HEART.
BY T. S. ARTHUR.

cusation.. The face of the speaker wore al
injured look.
boy between fourteen and fifteen years
of age, sat reading. He moved uneasiiy, as
if pain had disturbed him; but he did not
lift his eyes from the page on which they
We're resting. @ E
'' The harder mother slaves for her chill
dpen the less. they care for herr -,
The boy moved again almost withza start,
as though the pain felt an instant before had
suddenly increased es. a7s.a
cali children are thankless '' So the
speaker kept on, talking TO friend, yet real
ly thrusting at the boy. asa
Not at all, answered the friend. 81 have
a mother, and know my heart in regard to
her. 1t is full of love and gratitude, and |
cannotremember the time whenit was not so.
I ssThefe are exceptions to all rules. And,
besides there are few women like your moth
er. That would be cold heart, indeed, into
which she did not inspire love" II rs4
sLove begets love. That is the old tritc
story; andas true to-day asst was thousand
years ago. If children grow up cold and
thankless towards their parents-if they ear
ly separate from athem. going off into the
world and treating them with neglect, the
fsult,in most cases, rests with the parents
They did not make themselves lovely in
their children's eyes" @
There followed to this dead silence for
some minutes. The boy had let his book fall
from before his eyes, and was listening intent
ly. His mother saw this, and had a quick
perception of what was passing in his mind
Edward said she, don't like boys in
my bedroom Go down stairs" This was
not spoken harshly. The mothers tone o.
voice had changed considerably. z
The boy arose without hesitation and lef
the room.
Il don't think it's always good to talk be
fore children" remarked the lads mother, a.
soon as he had retired,
"A proper regard to our language and con
duct before children,' was answered, 'tis
theory of the gravcst consideration. The,
have keen ainstincts-their eyes are sharp
! they read us, and know us sometimes bette
than we know ourselves"
"They are sharp enough, suppose bu
not qaite so sharp as all that,7 was answered
{. Pm not one of those that make children o
so much importance
"Our estimate in the case will not alter tn
result my friend. OF that we may be certain
AS we are to our children, so will they be
us. Love begets love, and kindness good
will. If we do not hurt them wantonlv, the
will not, in turn, wound us by neglect"
Hurt them wanlonly! 1 am not sur
that get your meanings
-. .. Are YOU much surprised that Tom BALD
win made his escape from home at the fir
good opportunity ?o
f" "Wel, looked forit, must confess; bt
that don't excuse him. He's proved himse
to be an ungrateful boy, after all his motht
has done for him. But, as I sad a little viii
ago, all children are thankless. don't calcr
late on anything from mine. They'll gro
up, and scatter themselves cast and west, ge
ting off as far from home as possible and L
probably be left to an asylum in the poo
touse when get old and helpless.''
i You talk in that way before your chi
| dren!" said the friend.
"They know my sentiments.''
$50 l inferred. In that way you hu
them. You put their future on trial, al
write out verdict of condemnation, when
is impossible for them to vindicate themselv
against your cruel charges. l saw your b,
stand and wrthe little while ago. und
your sharp thrusts at him. He was no par
to Tom Baldwin's unflial act and it was
hard thing in you, my friend, to make Ton
delinquency the occasion for shifting your o,
son, whom you may bind to you, if you vi
by triple cords of love, not to be broken !;
push away to a distance, where he can feel
/ warmth and no attraction. Take carel Y
are on dangerous ground"
t "Oh, you make too much Of Children v
; answered, but with little obstruction in m;
f ner a
They are simply human beings. tt
i have sensitive souls, quick to receive impr
! sions. Tender to love, but hard or. resent
- toward all unkindness.g They are creatu
of feeling rather than thought, not genera
9 holding malice, but rarely losing the mem
of pain from unjust inflction. In after ye
: this memory is often revived. 1t is my OF
: ion that, in large number of cases, VIII
!, children neglect their parents in old age
cause lies just here"
s'All of which is simply vindictive," s
; the lads mother and poor compliment
human nature.o
"Human nature doesn't often suffer uni
. ly through hard Judgment" was answered
But am not offering an apology for
I'd shortcomings only looking after the ca
as To prevent is better than to cure. Forewi
re ed, forearnled Is it not much the W
"a course for us to make sure of our childr
y, love in the future by offering them love in
ut present ?" = = sf
ii "You speak as though l didn't love
ut children.n A red stain marked the won
if cheeks. There were sudden flashes in
of eyes. She was woman of quick temper
Every feeling has its sign" was cal
m, replied. Love, anger, dislike-each
W, presses itself in a different way. Aud t
as signs every one knows. Even the tab
in one brief S. miner may read them. Why
he that Edward feels that you do not love hi
lis . Who says that he feels SO "'- The m
lie. er started. There was ninghng of a
,ed with surprise in her face.
yer Must it not be that you withhold, to-
we ten, the signs of love ?'' s.s sa,.s, e