Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1866-08-03

From the American chronological Journal,
How to Punish a Child.
A FATHERS EXPERIENCE.

the world, but the other has been gone
six years, and | mourn for him with
mourning that is full of regret, for was
a stranger to the wisdom necessary to
train him Alright until he was taken from
me. Could have known that he was to
stay with me only little more than eight
years, think ! should not have been so
slow to learn that there is more excel
lent way of governing and disciplining
children than that too generally received
by parents.
/ read in my Bible, "Chasten thy son
while there is hope, and let not thy soul
spare for his crying" That and kindred
commands settled the question in my
mind as TO the mode of government best
adapted 10 children, but j forgot that
those commands belonged to very differ
ent period of the world from the present,
period when man, in one instance at
least, was stoned to death for Sabbath |
breaking. As God does not command
nor justify such a mode of procedure with
Sabbath-breakers in the present enlighten-
ed period of the world, had no reason to |
suppose he would command or justify the |
use of the rod now. But l was ignorant,
' and wrested the Bible to the injury of my
child, and to my own lasting sorrow. My
rod, it was true, was nothing more than
my hand, but it did severe justice as |
shall ever remember with great grief.
l. / gave my Harry his first whipping
when he was two years old, and it appear
ed TO be success; but ! soon learned
that children, like their parents, are weak
= and wayward and inclined to evil, and
" that neither whipping nor any other pun
ishment will work a speedy cure. But
this only made me more determined that
the child should feel the strokes of my
hand whenever thought he needed them.
D. did not believe in very frequent whip
per pings, but did believe in very severe
i" in. ones, and especially for the sin of false
me hood.
My boy was guilty of untruthfulnes
=, twice before he was seven years old, an'
ior was whipped severely for it. When h
ab was eight years old, he told another lie
mi- under the pressure Of strong temptation
ess, There was, however, an artfulness abou
snd a@i il that alarmed me, but 1 did not stop +
.l "a c,,r. = II,
not have used if he had not had grea
For horror Of a whipping. He was very sure
| would never hear of his falsehood, bu
/ accidentally found it out, and at once re
:. solved to make thorough work and punisl
him with added severity. As usual
talked to him kindly about the sin 0
last falsehood; / then led him to my room
seif and taking him upon my lap, brought m,
aoh hand down upon his tender flesh witt
great force; he writhed and screame
sity at and begged, but did not pause seconC
I'M, ! 10 until l had given him six blows, when
i'S- stopped moment and told him how sorr
was to whip him so hard
,n, Papa papa!" he sobbed out, "pleas
y to don't whip me any more, and | won't eve
:, tell another lie.'
Per But did not heed him until ha
given him five more blows. Havir
= whipped him sufficiently, l kissed hr
( and asked him to kiss me, which he
without any apparent reluctance.
DO you think papa has whipped "
es, any harder than he ought to r | said.
pc, No, sir" was the prompt but sobbil
answer.
/" Don't you think he would have dol
wrong if he hadn't punished you We
the hard y l asked, to assure myself that
,r,s was satisfied that / had done perfect
'ER right.
now, {" Yes, sir" he answered, and | felt ii
which | had done my work well.
ss, fOr Two hours later he was kneeling by
se. bed saying his evening prayer, Now
". lay me down to Sleep" etc. When he b
finished it he turned to his nurse a
said, That's my taught prayer, but l
got prayer of n'y o,cn and I'm going
l say it tonight and ever so many nights
Fo,ding his hands again, he beg
'ion' % My Father up in heaven, please forgi
j also my papa for striking so heavy, and ma
l. Ca - 1 -, =,
papers him grow good like Freddie's papa"
d For, From an adjoining room, the door
ndersd nd red which stood ajar, overheard my chi
,ments s q petition for me, and my soul was at OF
fae, in trouble. That prayer of his own, {
a'"'S followed his "taught prayer was to
: o. s14 ns revelations revelation of the fact
5 Jae@ even while smariing under my blows
had told two falsehoods as serious as
nd s.s- one for which l whipped him. / thou
in's'- of my questions and his answers: $
|. sn., u. you think papa has whipped you
/, oriAy, harder than be ought io! mo, $
a firm -,
zion at :. Don't you think he would have d
tents. wrong if he hadn't whipped you :
uut II Z