Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1864-03-23


that to bring up children to be upright, true,
generous and religious, needs so much discip-
line, so much restraint and correction, and so
many rules and regulations that ii Is all that
the parents can carry out, and all the chill
dren can bear. There is oElv a certain
amount of the vital force for parents or chill
dren TO in this business Of education and
one must choose what it shall be used for
The Aunt Zeruah faction choose to use ii for
keeping the house and furniture and the chill
drens education proceeded accordingly.
The rules of right and wrong of which they
heard most frequently, were all of this sort ::
Naughty children were those who went up
the front stairs, or sat on the best sofa, or I'm
gered anv Of the best books in the library or
got out one of tine best tea cups, drank out
Of the cut glass goblets.
Why did they ever want to do ii : -Ethere
ever is a forbidden fruit in an Eden. viii not
your young Adams and Ewes risk soul and
body to find out how it tastes? Little Tom,
the oldest boy, had the courage ana enter
prise and perseverance of a Captain Parry or
DIR. Kane, and he used them all in VOYAGES
of discovery to forbidden grounds. He stole
Aunt Zeruah's keys unlocked her cupboards
and closets, saw, handled and tasted every
thing for himself, and sloried in his sins.
. Don't you know, Ton" said the nurse TO
him once, - if you are so noisy and rude,
she may die, if you're not CAREFUL
" Will she DIE" said TEN graveIy.
Why, she may"
Them" said Tom, turning on his heel
then I'll 90 up the front stairs
As soon as ever the little rebel was old
enough he was sent away to boarding school,
and then there was never found a time when
it was convenient to have him come home
again. He could not cone insthe spring for
then they were house cleaning nor in the
autumn, because they were house cleaning:
and so he spent his VACATIONS at school, unless
by good luck, a companion who was so fortu-
hate to have a home invited him there
His associations, associates, habits, principles
We're as little known to his mother as if she
had sent him to ChinB. Aunt Zeruah used
to congratulate herself on the rest there was
at home, now he was gone, and say she was
only living in hopes of the time when Charlie
and jim, would be big enough TO send away
too; and meanwhile Charlie and jim, turned
out of the charmed circle which should hold
growing boys TO the fathers and mothers
sides, detesting the dingy, lonely playroom,
used 10 run the city streets, and hang round
the railroad dep0ts and docks. Parents may
depend that, if they do not make home an
attractive resort for their bows, Satan will.
There are places enough, kept warm andlight
and bright and merry, where boys can 90
whose mothers parl0rS are to fine for them
TO sit in. There are enough to be found to
clap~them on the back and tell them stories
that their mothers must not hear, and laugh
when they compass with their little piping
voices the dreadful litanies Of sin and shame.
In middle life poor Sophia, who as girl was
so gay and frOicSOme, so full Of spirit, had
sharpenea into a hard-yisaged angular NO.
man csfeful and troubled about many things
and fprgetful thai one thing is needful.
One of the boys had run away TO sea- l
believe he has never been heard of. As
to Tom, the Oldest he ran a career wild and
hard enough 70, a time, first at school and
then in college, and then came time when
he came home in the full might of six feet
two, and almost broke his mothers heart
with his assertions of his home rights and
privileges Mothers who throw away the KEY
Of their childrens hearts in childhood some
times have sad retribution. As the children
never were considered when they were little
and helpless, so they DO not consider when
they are strong and powerful. Tom spread
wide desolation among the household goods,
lOunging on the sofas, splitting tobacco Juice
on the carpet, scattering books and engrav-
lngs hither and thlther, and throwing all the
family traditions into wild disorder, is he
would never nave done had not all his childish
remembrance of them been embittered by
the association vf restraint and privation.
lie actually seemed to hate any appearance
of luxury or taste or order-he was perfect
'Philistine.
As for my friend Bill, from being the pleas
ATTEST and most genial of fellows, he became
a morose, misanthropic man. DR.. Franklin
has a significant proverb, Silks and satins
PIT out the kitchen fire" Silks and satns-
meaning by them the Injuries of housekeep-
ing-often put out not only the paror fire,
but that more sacred flame, the fire of de-
nestle love. 1t is the greatest possible mis-
cry to a man and to his children to be home
less; and many man has a splendid house
but no home.