Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-06-20
G)e Obio 5tatesnra,r
HURTING A CHILDM HEART.
~ T. Q. ARTHUR.

1T To D. ARTHUR,
az don't expect ANYTHING Of my children!"
The tone was ffe!ful, with q quality Of ao-
ousation. The face Of the speaker wore an H.
jused look.
A boy, between fourteen and fifteen years oil
age, cat reading. He moved uneasily, as II
pain had disturbsd him; bat he did not lift hli
eyes from the page on which they were resting
1.-THE harder mother slaves for her children
the less they care for her."
The boy moved again; almost with start, sl
though the pain felt an instant before had sud
denly increased.
Gall children are thankless!" So the speaker
kept on, talking TO friend, yet really thrussine
at the boy.
"Not at ALL" answered the friend" l Ihave
o mother, and know my heart In regard 4
her. II is full Of love and gratitude, and can
not remember the time when IL was not So"
"TheFe are exceptions TO oil rules. And be-
sides, there are few women like your Mother
That would be a cold heart indeed, iuto which
che did not inspire love-"
Glove begets love. That Ia the old tritt
story; and as true to-day as II was q thousand
years ago. IL children grow up cold aud thank
less toward their parent,-if they early separ
ate from them, going of iuto the world, and
treating them with neglect, the fault, 10 mos
cases, rests with the parents. They did mol
make themselves lovely In their children's
eyss"
There followed to this Q dead silence for some
minutes. The boy had 10. his book fall from
before bis eyes, and was listening intently. -
His mother saw this, and had Q quick psrosp-
tIon Of what was passing In his mind.
edward" said she, II DONE like boys In my
kaI- On Anuyn akaiRa fHhia tun mn
spoken harsbly. The mothers tone Of voice
had changed considerably.
The boy arose without hebitation and left the
room.
II don't think tie always good to talk before
childrep," remarked the lads mother, as soon
as be had retired.
"a proper regard to our lapgusge aud con-
duct before cnildrep," was answered, "is the.
oFy of the Ir4vest consideration. They have
keen InstlDots-their eyes s'e shaIp-they read
Dc, and know u sometimes better tnsn We know
ourselves"
"Tbsy are sharp enough, I suppose; but not
quite 90 sharp as all that" was ansWered.--
I'm nos one Of those that make children Of 10
much Importance"
"Our estimate In the case will not otter the
reeult, my friend. or that We may DO certain.
As NC are to our children, 90 will they be to
us. Love begets lave, and kindness good will.
II We do not hurt them wsntonly, they will not,
In turn, wound Us BY neglect"
"Hurt them wantonly! l am not sure thu.
get your meaning"
"Are you much eurprlsed that Tom Baldwin
m'ds bis escape from home at the first good
opportunity
"Well, looked for IL, I must confess; but
that don't excuse him. He's proved himself to
be an upgrateful boy, after all his mother has
done for him. But, as said little while ago,
all children are tbankless I dont calculate on
anything from mine. They'll grow up, and
scatter themselves east and west, getting of as
far from home as possible; and III probably be
left TO ON asylum In the poor house when get
old and helpless"
"You talk In that way before your children ~
said the friend.
"They know my sentiments"
$50 inferred. In that way you hurt them.
You put their future on trial, and write out q
writ Of condemnation when Il 10 impossible for
them to vindicate themselves against your cruel
charges. ] saw your boy stand end writhe q
little while ago under your sharp thrusts at
bin. He was no party to Tom Baldwin's un-
friend, to make Toms delinquency the occasion
to you, If you will, by triple cords Of love, no.
to be broken; or push away 10 q dlstance
where he can feel no warmth and no attraction.
Take care! You are on dangerous ground"
"Oh, you make too much OF Children" was
answered, but with little obstruction il man
ner.
"They are simply human beings. They have
sensitive souls, quick to receive impressions.
Tender to love, but hard or resentfnl toward all
unklndness. They are creatures Of feeling
rather than thought, not generally holding mall
ice, but rarely losing the memory of pain from
unjust inAction. In after years this memory is
often revived. II 10 my opinion that, in large
number of cases, where children neglect their
parents In old age, the case lies jlst here"
"All of which Is simply vindlctive," said the
lads mother, "and poor compliment to human
nature"
"Human nature dosen't often suffer upjustly
through hard Judgment" was answered. "Bat
am not Offering an apology for her short COM
ings; only looking for the cause. To prevent
10 better than to cure. Forewarned, foresrmed.
10 IL not much the wiser o1urse for as to make
sure Of our children's love In the future by of.
fering them love In the present?'
"You speak as though didn't love my child
rem" A red stain marked the woman's cheeks.
There were sudden fsshes In her eyes. She
was woman Of quick temper.
every feeling has lie sign," was calmly re-
piled. "Loye, anger, dislike-each expresses
itself In different way. And these signs eve.
ry one knows. Even the babe of one brief
summer may read them Why 10 it that Ed
ward feels that You do not love him7"
"Who says that he feels so7" The mother
started. There was mingling Of anger with
surprise In her face.
"Mustit not be that you withhold, too often,
the signs of lovei" .U
~ shall get angry with you If You talk to me
any longer In this strain"
"No, my dear friend, you mus! not get angry
with me. Too many sweet memories Of the
past are shared between 10. Bear with me,
now, as one uho holds you in her heart. Shall
relate to you an incident thSt occurred in my
house only yesterdsy7 Il Is under the warrant
OF this incident that have ventured on the
plainness of speech which has disturbed you"
The rsd spots faded or from the mothers
cheeks. The keen light went out of her eyes.
"Go on" she said, her voice dropping down
from its sharp key.
Edward had called over to see the children.
We always like to have him come. He Ia never
rude, nor coarse in bis manners, but gentleman
IL in bearing beyond what is usually seen In lads
Of his age. have, more than on,e, compared
him with my Oldest son, and wished that John
resembled him In many things The two boys
we're In the pArlor alone. John, am sorry 70
say, 10 NOT always to be trusted. He is ever
cu,ious and ant n msddla with thinOa that