The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1863-07-22
NO PLACE FOR THE BOYs.

there is actually no place Tor the boys
We do not mean the little boys~-there Is
always room for them; they are petted
and caressed there is room for them on
papa's knee and at mammals footstOol, if
not in her arms there are loving words,
and many, often too many, indulgenoles.
But the class We speak of now are the
school boys, great noisy Tompiug fellows,
who tread on your dress, and upset your
work-basket, and stand il your light, and
whistle, and drum, and shout, and ask
questions, and contradics.
So what is to be done with themY Do
they nor want to be loved and cherished
now as dearly as they we're in that veil
remembered time when they we're The
little ones, and we're INDUCED, petted and
csres5ed !? But they are SO noisy, and
they wear cut the carpet with their thick
boots, and it is SO quiet when they are
gone, say the tired mother, aud the fas
tidious sister, and the nervous aunt J;
anything Tor peace sake :" so away 50
the BOYS TO "loaf' on street corners, and
listen to the prolane aud coarse language
OF wicked men, or to the railroad station,
OF TO the wharves, or to the common
places Of rendezvous Of those who have
nothing to do or nc place 10 stay. We
protest against the usages Of those homes
where the boys are driven out because
their presence i uuwelcome, aad they are
scoided when they come in, checked,
hushed, and restrained at every outbutst
Of merriment
Mrs Barton has four Bows between the
ages Of seven and fouTteen-ecuve, mer-
", intelligent lads Their father i in
biz store until late in the evening, very
often, and the boys arc mostly under their
mother training. When they choose to
play out after school, they DO SC, but
within certain limits. When they choose
to stay in, they are made heartily vel
come. There is no scoldjng about the
thick boots making uoise or wesriuEou
the carpet. Tor from the earliest GAYS he
aw of the house has enforced the putting
Of the boots and the putting on Of the
slippers when they come in. There are
books for those who choose to read, and
"a Des for those who choose tc play
light and warmth and pleasant words,
sympathy FOR all. aud csresses for those
Who love caresses. and companionship
aud conversation for the elder ones who
begin to be compauionabIe, aud discus,
the questions of the day Who believes
that the sons Of such family will be
willingly euticed into haunts Of wicked
ness. or easily alionated from the love Of
such home?
If Mrs. Gray. who calls vacation gera-
lion, and daesn't see what il Is Tor, and
who. when her children come in after
school, exclaims, There, CosOut, and
don't let me see one Of YOU in here again
uII supper ume." should consider for :
moment that she i upking home but q
sleeping place and ea'ing-place Tor her
children. and preparing the way for future
modification and sorrow, she would. per
hsps, consider before it is too late. \
remark Of one of her children might en-
Tighten her:
Mother doesn't love US a bit. She
loves Willie, though, because he's the
baby
But sta won't when he is as old as
We are" says Charlie shell drive him
out then, just as she does US
Yet Mrs. Gray does love her children
dearly. # any one doubts it, let him
strike or iDjure one Of them or instead,
let him look into the family sitting-room
at eleven o'clock on a Saturday night,
sad see the tired form as she bends to
the basket of stockings, or folds neatly
the mended garments, and brushes care
fully the Sunday suits. So much for
the body; but how with the impressibie
young hearts? She makes them learn
the Sunday school lessons, and gives
them oil a New Yesr's present Of Bible,
and then turns thom into the street. God
pity the bows Tor whom there Is no place
in the house. If they escape c0ntami.
nation and vice, it Is Of His mercy VINO
sufereth uet sparrow to fall to the
ground without his noj;ce, and Who call
ed little children un:o bim sad b,essed
them
The parents nay do well who carefully
lap up money for their children, educate
them at school, aud set them up in busi-
ness; but they Go infinitely better who
never suffer the love that warmed the
cradle-side 10 grow cold who lay aside
their own comfort a8d convenience to
make home attractive to their sons, and
send them out to fight the battle Of life.
armed with the pauoply of frm princi-
pies, and warmed and invigorsted by the
cherishing leve whose vigils began at the
cradle aud will eud only at the grave
Nothsr's Hagu-ias.