Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1868-11-25


polite, more considerate, more orderly, as
general rule, than our own; but they need
to be dealt with in different way, You
must treat with them as persons who have a
will of their own, and a right to exercise il.
You must appeal to their reason and good
sense. If You appeal merely to your own
authority, you are apt to get pert answer.
Remember who you are talking to, sir?"
said an indignant parent to a fractions boy ;
Il am your father, sir. ;"
We'll, who's to blame for that?" said
young impertinence; 'Taint me.
One little boy to whom have already re
ferred, was making himself very disagreea-
BILE on one occasion when his mother had him
with her on visit to some friends She
took him to the bed room and told him if
he did not behave himself she would shut
him up in the closet.
''You cant. There ain closet here, -
said the child triumphantly.
Il Il put you into that wardrobe, then. y
mo you won't"
Il will. "
you try it."
She took him instantly, put him in, and
turned the lock.
Thereupon Young America began to kick
up IA tremendous noise inside, battering the
doors of the wardrobe as if he would have
knocked them off their hinges. His mother,
fearful that he would do mischief either to
himself or to the furniture, and remember
ing that the house was not hers, took him
out and said, in great distress, 20, George,
l don t know what to do with you p
Don't you?" said he, looking up into
her face.
mo, indeed, don't"
Then" said he, IF that is So II be-
have" which he accordingly did, marching
into the other room with her, and conduct
ing himself for the rest of the evening like
little gentleman. She had capitulated-
given up the struggle for authority. He
was now behavingOn his own responsibility.
A gentlemanin Northampton, with whom
spent very delightful week, and who be
longs to one of the old Puritan families, tolc
me that for several years he had tried whip.
ping with his boy, but found it Intellectual
On one occasion the boy was caught in ar
oft-repeated fault. His father took him to
his room, upraided him for his disobedence
reminded him (which was probably unnec
esSary) that he had several times beer
obliged to apply the rod of correction, thai
- h-,, IaI
he was much disheartened, and was at a los,
what to do with him i bright thought oc
Cured to The boz. Father" said he. sup
pose you pray.
The father was good man. and could not
refuse to do this But having a suspi, iOr
that the boy had suggested this in order tC
escape punishment, he pray ed for the young
reprobate firSt.and whipped him atterward
He told me, however, that he had never
been able to make anything of the boy til
he gaveup fogging and appealed to the boy
sense oc what was right and proper.
The precocity of American children ans
the democratic ideas that pervade society
and filter down even into the minds of IN,
youngest, account. probably, for three fact:
first, that American parents, guardians
and teachers do not expect the same rev
erence and unquestionabie obedience that /:
looked for and uculcated here; second, tha
the children there viii not be governed tl
mere authority and force and third, tha
happily, as counterpoise. they become a
an exceedingly early age amenablc to reason
A STRANGE DISCOVERY queer exhu
nation was made in the Strip Vein Goa