Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1867-11-08

What Childhood should be.

II Il were not too serionsa a. subject for
mirth, one night often laugh ~ the super.
human virtue required by adsiis of little
children. -f3e good ssys tire rutocrst Of
the fanily--wethcr. father. uncle, or
aunt, Us ihe case may be-"be good"
Now being good in this' instance may
mean, that restless little creature, brim-
ming with pent up riiuliiy shall nnt touch
finger 20 any article in small. confped'
room. except TOYS whose magic virtues lie
has long since exhausted. having turned
them over day after day for weeks witbour
solitary word Of interest or sympathy
having been addressed him in his efforts
to extinct amusemeni from the same. At
length he cr'e~--esies simply because rs
is weary and has nothing to do @Ds
good" tluuders the family autocsuiL"bu
good;' which translated. nlesus, don',
trouble ms. Nsw il Instead, the aurosrr.
were TO take the lifle creature in bis OF
her lap, in an easy position. so az Ia rest
the little tired limbs, and tell il story 10
withdraw its thonghts n white from i,sslf,
aud give il material out of which 10 build
little play, which you should presently
see him JUMP down from the lap 10 glee 20
rehearse, would il not bo vastly moro
sensible, as well rs reasonsblc2
"NSnghtiness." SO styled, is oftcner
than anything else, in young children.
want of occupation. confued apartments
aud insufficient ventilation. The truth is,
that "al cut doors" us tie phrase Is, is
the only proper apartment for them.
There is variety; there Is space; there is
fresh air. A child brought up in the city,
accustomed only to the limitations of q
daily walk, is really defrsnded If its child
hood;' and, what is more mournfiI. the
theft can never be atfoned for in sfter life.
Aothiag can make up Tor il, for tire glce--
ful delight Of picking shells npo1 the seq
shore, or padding with oinipled feet i1
the foam of the waves or plncking hands
fu OF flowers, wheresoever il chooses 10
stray, or looking at the snimsl creation
every one of which. from a caterpilla.
to an c1, is marvel and q wonder. COM
pared to which toyshop is Of no inter
est whateyer. Simply as an educating
process, without regard tn health or pleas
ure, it is of more value tlan any other to
childhood; We are takng il for granted
that such child is neither fctiered by fine
clothes, or tyranuized over 10y stupid,
ignorant selfish nurse. who replies 10
every intelligent query. Hold your
tonguel' or "Uon'l bolhcil'
think that | can always select from
cut the grown people ! meef, those aho,.
when they came iDto the world, Brought
their welcome with them. and over whose
infancy heavens dew aud suuehino fell,
without stint az linit What rros~rs So
ever in after life they may have been call
ed to bear in world Of mutation, still the
eye, at times hrightens aud the worn hands
clasp each other, while the eyes seem to
be looking back through far years, as
you hear from their lips the slowly
voiced words, II had such tapPy child
hood" and now, when the chosen ,oites
that promised TO cherish. Is harsh, and
stern, and cold, aud duty" is in place
Of love, and the years move all too slowly
aud wearily 10 the coveted gave. there
still will remain this blessed men..
oty Perhaps some one scene, stands out
in bold relioi against all the dark years;
some day when the childish gfiet had
reached It's climax; ani sympathy and
love came raining into the littlc aching
heart. healing whelesocyor il tuuched, ill
smiles chased the tears away aud sohs were
turned 10 kisses Aud IL, atsuuh mem.
ory aud iia dark contrast, The ngonixed
cry ehuuld escape, "Oh. mothor' motheiG'
who shall tell me that eternity has sever.
ed such strong heart siringA What we're
life WORTH IL Que believed this.
FANNY fEnN.