The Monmouth inquirer., 1865-08-03
"Well / looked for it, I must confess

less. don't calculate on anything from
mine. They'll grow up, and scatter them
selves east and west. getting off as far
from home as possible; and I'll probably
be left to an asylum in the poor-house
when I get old and helpless" H 4
do you talk 50 before yourchildren?"
said the friend.
They know my sentiments"
$50 inferred. In that way you hurt
them. You put your future on trial, and
write out verdict Of condemnation when
| it is impossible for them to defend them
selves against your cruel charges saw
your boy stand and writhe little while
ago. under your sharp thrusts at him. He
was no party to Tom Baldwin's unfilial
act, and it was hard thing in you, my
friend. to make Toms delinquency the
occasion for shifting your own son, whom
you may bind to you, if you will, by tri-
pie cords of love, not to be broken--or
push away to distance, where he can
feel no warmth and no attraction. Take
carel You are on dangerous groundl'
80, you make too much of children" I"
was answered, with little obstruction in
manner.
They are simply human beings. They
have sensitive souls, quick to receive i'm
pressions. Tender to love, but hard or
resentful to all unkindness. They are
creatures Of feeling rather than thought,
not generally holding malice, but rarely
losing the memory Of pain from unjust
inHiction. In after years this memory is
often revived. 1t is my opinion that, in
large number Of cases, where children
neglect their parents in old age, the cause
lies just here"
"All Of which is simply vindictive," )"
said the lads mother, and poor COM
pliment to human nature" a rs
Human nature does not often suffer
unjustly through hard judgment" was an
swered. But / am not offering an apol
ogy for her short-comings-only look as-
ter the cause To prevent is better than
to cure. Forwarned, -forearmed. Is it
not much the wiser course for US to make
sure of our children s.love in future by
offering them love in the present -
You speak to me as if l didn't love
my children"
"A crimson stain marked the woman's
cheeks; there were sudden flashes in her
eyes, She was woman of quick, pas
sionate temper. aS
Every feeling has its sign" was calm
ly replied. Love, anger, dislike-each
expresses itself in different way. And
these signs every one knows. Even the
babe of one brief summer may read them
Why is it that Edward feels that you do
not love him 7"
Who says that he feels SO -
The mother started. There was min
Cling of anger with surprise in her face
Must it not be that you withhold too
often the signs Of love p
II shall get angry at you if you talk
to me ia this strain"
"No, my dear friend, you must not get
angry at me. Toe many sweet memories
of the past are shared between us. Bear
with me, now, as one who holds you in
her heart. Shall I relate to you an Incl
dent that occurred in my house only yes
terday? 1t is under the warrant of this
incident that / have ventured on the
plainness of speech which has disturbed
yoa." ,e
The red spots faded off from the moth
er's cheeks The keen light vanished from
her eyes
$50 on" she said, her voice dropping
down from its sharp key.
Edward had called to see the chill
dren We always like to have him come.
He is never rude nor coarse in his man
ners, but gentlemanly in bearing bayond
what is usually seen in lads of his age
have more than once compared him with
my oldest sou, and eacn time wished that
John resembled him in many things. The
two boys were in the parlor alone. John,
| am sorry to say, is not always to be
trusted. He is over curious, and apt to
meddle with things that should be sacred
from bis touch. Recently he has become
interested in insects, and has begun to
collect and preserve them. 8
There was vase Of wax flowers on
the parlor mantel-piece, the ingenious ma
ker of which had placed several ialita-
tions of moths and beetles among the
leaves The vase was covered with glass.
Johns new-formed interest in chronology
had given special attraction to these
wax moths and beetles; and on this oc-
casion he went so far as to lift the glass
covering, that he might obtain closer
view In venturing to do this, one Of
these accidents that so frequently happen
with children and grown people, when
they are not doing right, occurred The
glass shield slipped from Johns hand and
cracked to pieces ON the foor The noise
startled and excited me. went hastily
to the parlor and saw at glance the
damage which had been done, and also
comprehended the cause of the disaster.
Edward looked pale and frightened; John
flushed and grieved. Repentance and
self condemnation had come with the acci-
dent. Even through my Indignation.
which could not be stayed, l saw that
Hard words were struggling to come thro'
my lips, but reprsssed them Expert
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